Media

Release

from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

and the Southend Cricket Festival Committee

Thousands of youngsters across South Essex are set to benefit from a new centre which will provide first-class cricket facilities and help to improve their cricket skills.

Essex Cricket is to establish a Centre of Cricketing Excellence at Garons Park in Eastern Avenue, Southend, to enhance cricketing talents from grass roots to county level, and is launching a fund raising appeal to get the project going.

The new centre is expected to open in 2006 and follows months of discussions between the Essex Cricket Board, Essex County Cricket Club, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the Norman Garon Trust, which owns the cricket ground at Garons Park, and Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST), the Essex-based charity for sport.

The centre will provide facilities for the whole South Essex District Cricket Board region and the intention is to at least match the amenities available at Essex’s first centre of excellence at Billericay which covers the central Essex area.

Mr Alan Lilley, Director of Essex Cricket Operations, says: “Over time we aim to provide first-class facilities for thousands of boys and girls in South Essex to enjoy cricket and improve their cricketing skills. Our first priority is to provide and equip a full-time qualified groundsman to look after the square and get the outfield up to the standard of Chelmsford and Billericay.”

It is envisaged that the centre will be used for up to 40 days of competitive matches each summer, including inter-county age group matches for boys and girls, inter-district cricket, Essex 2^nd XI fixtures, and the annual Essex Ford Southend Cricket Festival first-class games.

Mr Peter Butler, Chairman of the Essex Ford Southend Cricket Festival Committee, says: “Essex Cricket needs to raise £200,000 over five years to set up the facility. Financial resources of the County Cricket Club, the Essex County Cricket Board and the Council are already fully stretched.  However, thanks to the support of Essex and Southend Sports Trust and the Norman Garon Trust, we are launching a public appeal to ensure the funds are raised.”

Essex are looking for at least 50 cricket lovers in South-East Essex to become patrons of the Garons Park Centre of Cricketing Excellence who are prepared to donate £25 a month (or £300 p.a.) for five years to EASST. Provided these donations are made under the Gift Aid scheme, EASST will be able to further boost the donation by claiming tax back from the Inland Revenue. 

The Trustees of EASST have also agreed to match pound for pound every donation received from this public appeal up to a maximum of £100,000 over the five years; these monies will be granted from the existing resources of the trust. There will be an annual dinner for patrons and their names will be permanently recorded on a board to be displayed inside the pavilion.  All funds raised will be used exclusively for the Garons Park Centre of Excellence project.

Councillor Tony North, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Leisure, Culture and Sport says, “The new centre will be a real boost to cricket in Southend. It will provide an opportunity for cricket lovers across South Essex to enjoy cricket and improve their skills as they learn from professional sports people, who will harvest their talents and guide them in the right direction.”

The fundraising scheme is being supported at the highest level in Southend and the Mayor, Councillor Roger Weaver and Mayoress, Councillor Mrs Verina Weaver, acting in a personal capacity, have agreed to become the first patron and contribute £1,500 over five years.

Southend’s Mayor, Councillor Roger Weaver, says: “We believe this is an important project, and Verina and I are pleased to support a venture that promises to do so much for young people in the area.”

Anyone interested in becoming a patron is asked to call Peter Butler on 01245 360303 or Peter Coster on 07771 605279.

The fund raising scheme will also be launched at the all star dinner and dance to celebrate the centenary of county cricket in Southend, which is being held at the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea on Friday 18^th March 2005.

Notes to journalists:

Garons Park

The Garons Park site has been established through a joint venture between the Norman Garon Trust and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council.  It is approximately 35 hectares in size and accommodates a golf complex, a comprehensive leisure centre (also known as the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre) which opened in March 1996 and includes an athletics stadium, a tennis centre as well as a country-sized cricket arena with ample on-site parking and staging areas.

South Essex District Cricket Board (SEDCB)

One of five regional district boards incorporated into Essex County Cricket Board (ECCB).  All recreational and development cricket activity is channelled via the ECCB and its regional representatives. SEDCB encompasses a large geographic area stretching from Thurrock in the West to Southend in the East.  It is made up of the local authorities of Southend-on-Sea, Castle Point, Rochford, Basildon and Thurrock.

The Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST)

An Essex-based charity that supports charitable sporting activities in Southend and Essex.  For further information please visit the website at www.easst.org.uk