Notts sport gives a new generation of cricketers the chance to shine

Notts Sport, the world’s leading supplier of non-turf cricket pitch systems, is giving youngsters the “Chance to shine” by providing 10 brand new installations at primary and secondary schools across the country.

The company has been selected as a major supplier to the Chance to shine campaign, run by the Cricket Foundation, an independent charity.

Chance to shine is opening cricketing opportunities to more youngsters

Driven by the desire to enhance the education of young people through competitive cricket, Chance to shine is the single biggest grass roots sports initiative ever undertaken in England and Wales.

And as one of only three cricket pitch suppliers selected to assist with the scheme this year, Notts Sport will help Chance to shine to achieve the regeneration of competitive cricket in a third of state schools by 2015.

A Notts Sport NottsBase D pitch has just been installed at the Chance to shine project at Shepperton Cricket Club in Surrey.

It means that boys and girls from local schools – as well as the club’s two England women’s squad players – are now practicing and playing club matches on a surface which replicates the bounce and play characteristics of natural grass, yet needs far less maintenance.

Notts Sport was congratulated for its delivery of the high-quality system by Wasim Khan, Operations Director for Chance to shine, who commented: “By working in partnership with companies such as Notts Sport, and being able to offer cricket playing facilities of this standard, we are giving children the opportunity to play cricket competitively.

“They learn about teamwork, respect for authority through accepting the umpire’s decision and how to take individual responsibility. Projects such as this also bring communities together with real, sustainable partnerships between cricket clubs and their surrounding schools.”

Shaun Patrick, Chief Executive of Notts Sport, adds: “It was a great pleasure to be chosen to work on the flagship project at Shepperton and the club is thoroughly deserving of a brand new non-turf pitch.

“The club coaches, the administration team and all the members, both children and adults, show such enthusiasm for playing and developing the sport that we know our installation will be extremely well-used, and it is this which makes us happy.”

Notts Sport is continuing its work with the Chance to shine project and is due to install a NottsBase D System pitch at Southfield School for Girls in Loddington, Northants, which has specialist sports college status and is encouraging more girls and young women to take up cricket.

Members of Hertfordshire Disability Cricket Club are also set to benefit from a Notts Sport synthetic turf pitch. This facility, due to be installed at Welwyn playing fields in Hertfordshire, will enable those with special educational needs to play at a national and international level.

In addition to facilities such as Notts Sport’s systems for coaching, practice and matchplay, the Chance to shine campaign also provides coaching for 1,300 schools and 100,000 children along with teacher training initiatives, school holiday activities and equipment.

Learn more about Notts Sports Ltd visit    www.nottssports.com

The Association of Play Industries Federation House Stoneleigh Park Warwickshire CV8 2RF

T +44(0) 24 76 414999 ext 208
F +44(0) 24 76 414990
E api@api-play.org