Whalley Range Cricket Club opens £25,000 practice nets complex



Whalley Range CC officially opened its £25,000 state of the arts practice nets complex on Sunday 8 July, the latest element of its ambitious plans for the club.

The two-bay nets complex, plus bowling machine, was funded with £10,000 each from Manchester city council and the England and Wales Cricket Trust, plus donations from Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund and members and friends of the cricket club.

"The nets have already proved their worth this miserable summer, allowing us to practice when everywhere else on the ground is wet,” said Mike Hill, head junior coach. “And the players – from U11 starters to 1st team regulars – have improved their skills no end.”


Fallowfield councillor Mike Amesbury commented: “The cricket section is just part of a community club offering sport to local residents, including tennis and softball, and we are delighted to support the club’s ambitions.” Cricket Development officer Paul McGuffog added: “The city council have a keen focus on all sports in Manchester, and cricket participation in Manchester is increasing, through clubs like Whalley Range CC, and elsewhere.”

Bobby Denning, Cricket Development Manager for Lancashire Cricket Board, said: “The strength of the county championship winning Lancashire side is built on a platform of strong local clubs with their roots in the community, and the LCB is committed to strengthening facilities throughout the region. Whalley Range CC is a clubmark and focus club, which through this investment, has the capacity to produce better cricketers playing to a higher standard.”





Note to editors:



Whalley Range CC was founded in the 1850s, and has played at Kingsbrook Road since 1921. It has three senior teams in the Manchester & District Cricket Association, a Midweek XI and Sunday Friendly XI, plus junior teams from U9s to U18s. It has 110 junior members, 24 of whom represented City of Manchester district teams, and two have represented Lancashire at U13s and U14s. The 1st XI played in the prestigious Lancashire Cup this season.



For more details, please contact Mike Hill on 07894 961530.



Pic caption: L-R Cllr Mike Amesbury, Whalley Range CC chairman Dave Rushforth, head junior coach Mike Hill holding memorial plaque, LCB’s Bobby Denning, Manchester cricket development officer Paul McGuffog