Press Release 28th December 2018
The Essex and Southend Sports Trust continued and enhanced its support to cricket across the county in the summer of 2017 with a grant to Essex County Cricket Board of £31,000.
The cheque was presented to Essex Cricket CEO, Derek Bowden, on behalf of Essex County Cricket Board, during the Surrey T20 Blast game. The Trust is a long term supporter of the development and opportunities that sport can provide to the community of Essex.
Apart from grants to individual cricket clubs and schools this work has been specifically focused on two projects. These are the sustainability of Garon Park for the use of Essex development programmes and support for the women and girls’ game in the County. The increase in this year’s grant has also seen EASST support the development of the new junior talent identification programme and help Essex Cricket to put cricket back into schools with programmes in over 30 schools across the region.
Key highlights in 2017, following the support from EASST, have been the Essex Women’s team promoted to Division Two of the County Championship along with the Under 15 girls reaching the finals weekend and hosting a development festival at Felsted School.
The wider impact of the programme has also been seen with Essex seeing a further increase in girls trialling and taking part in local clubs, along with over 350 women and 50 teams taking part in Women soft ball festivals throughout the County.
Through the support of EASST this year, high profile events have been hosted at Garon Park throughout the summer of 2017. In July and August Essex hosted Holland and the USA as they prepared for their respective Women’s T20 World Cup.
In June Garon Park hosted Holland and Denmark as Essex looked to build up its links with Europe, to support the development of the game.
Peter Butler, EASST chairman, said “We are proud of our continued relationship with Essex Cricket and were delighted to pass over a cheque for £31,000 to the Essex County Cricket Board.”
“The Essex Cricket Pathway continues to go from strength to strength and is helping the county develop a new junior talent identification programme. Increased participation in schools has been very rewarding and shows the value of our support and partnership with Essex Cricket”
Derek Bowden, Essex Cricket CEO commented, “Garon Park has played host to a number of Second Xl and Academy matches over the past few years and continues to provide a place for future Essex Cricketers to ply their trade.”
“Easst’s ongoing and generous support allows the Board to continue its excellent work and helps develop the Essex Cricket pathway across the region”
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