Chaddleworth Cricket Club come together to ensure their survival

Members of a 40-year-old village cricket team have come together to help save their beloved club from fading out of existence.

Chaddleworth Cricket Club (CCC) held its AGM last Friday evening to determine why membership was dwindling and to try and find ways to revitalise the club.

Despite the recent setback of the pandemic and it’s personal and financial ramifications, CCC is feeling a lot more positive about its survival with the hope it can raise awareness about the club and grow its player base in the future.

One of CCC’s founding members, Tony Mills, said: “I know the last two years have been hard with the pandemic and it's taken its toll on our club, as well as other village clubs.

“Let's not be a statistic of another village cricket club going by the wayside; let's be a cricket club with a future. Let's make this, our 40th year, count and turn out and play.”

The owner of the club’s ground, as well as many of Chaddleworth’s core players, were in attendance on Friday at the AGM which took place at Chaddleworth Village Hall.

The AGM established that the club’s low intake of new players was the major hurdle it needs to overcome.

Club secretary Jim Wilson said: “We discussed various issues but the most important was the lack of players.

“Some of this is due to Covid and it’s also partly, I believe, due to people having busier lives nowadays.

“A cricket match, if away, can take up to eight hours with travelling time. Some folk simply can’t commit to that on a Sunday.”

The club also received two generous offers of financial support from local residents at the meeting; one to pay the annual club insurance, and one to become a kit sponsor.

Six new players have already joined CCC following the meeting, strengthening the squad in the run up to summer.

Those interested in joining Chaddleworth Cricket Club should contact Mr Wilson via his email jimmybobwilson@gmail.com