Bells Yew Green Cricket Club - Cricket Force

NATIONAL FAME FOR BELLS YEW GREEN CRICKET CLUB

ECB picks Village Club as one of four Focus Clubs in Diamond Jubilee Year

Bells Yew Green CC have already started to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee Year by being picked as just one of four out of over 1,000 clubs by the England an Wales Cricket Board as a national focus club for NatWest Cricket Force 2007.

BYGCC, the only village club selected, will benefit from national media coverage including the ECB DVD which will be shot over the week-end of March 31-April 1, 2007. There will also be visits from England and Sussex players and other celebrities and event management support from ECB’s highly qualified team.

Local sponsors will also be encouraged to take part and benefit from the national exposure the event will bring.

NatWest CricketForce encourages cricket supporters, their friends and families to give something back to their local community cricket club by volunteering to undertake major and minor renovations to clubhouses and grounds.

This takes place during the first week-end of the summer when cricket clubs traditionally hold a “spring clean” to prepare their ground for the new season.

BYG start this season with their brand new pavilion, the first proper one in the club’s history, having raised over £120,000 over the past ten years which included a grant from the Foundation for Sports and the Arts.

Club President, comedian Bob “the Cat” Bevan, said “It was a fantastic day for us when our selection was announced to a packed meeting in the local village hall. I think the size of the attendance, at short notice, so impressed the ECB officials they told us on the spot.”

He said “the fact that we had senior and junior players as well as friends and supporters of all ages made a massive impact. It is also further recognition of the hard work put in by many of members and the junior parents. We already have some 400 people supporting our club and this can only help grow that number”

NatWest CricketForce 2007 takes place on the weekend of March 31 - April 1. To date, more than 775 clubs are registered nationwide and many more set to participate.

Over 1,000 clubs across England and Wales registered to take part in NatWest CricketForce 2006, seeing around 70,000 volunteers at work, and bringing £25 million worth of investment to clubs from the local community and businesses. This year the ECB is using the event to help recruit key volunteers into clubs and contribute to the target of 85,000 volunteers.

Further information from Bob Bevan 01892 75009 or mobile 07836 250835 email bob@bobthecatbevan.co.uk