Who are we?
About Us:
Walsall Cricket Club (WCC) is a fantastic, fun, friendly, and inclusive place with a diverse and engaged membership. Founded in 1812, WCC has seen generations of children grow and some even go on to play world-class cricket internationally, learning to love the game right here at Walsall. We have three Senior Men's Teams, Women’s and Girls’ Teams, and several Junior Teams, all competing in the South Staffordshire County League.
The Club actively encourages young people to develop their cricket skills under the guidance of our Level 1-3 cricket coaches in a safe, inclusive, and friendly environment. Many of our coaches played at WCC as children and have maintained strong ties to the club.
Women and Girls’ Cricket:
Female cricket has been developing at WCC over the past few years. We now have a group of talented and enthusiastic women and girls enjoying the game. It’s a massive achievement to have established a women’s and girls’ team in a club that’s over 200 years old!
Our Activities:
We run a full program of activities, managed by volunteers and parents, from April to September. Junior training sessions are held on Friday nights for a cost of £5.00 for a 1.5 hour session. We run Dynamos and All-Stars cricket sessions, attracting over 100 children on Friday nights. We are proud to hold the ECB Clubmark and follow all guidelines.
Financial Struggles and Fundraising Needs:
As a not-for-profit organisation, we struggle financially to maintain our equipment and facilities. While we generate income from membership subscriptions, social events, bar sales, and room and kitchen hire, these funds only keep us afloat. With an electricity bill this year of over £14,000, along with the lasting financial impacts of Covid, the energy crisis, and the rising cost of living, the club is just breaking even, leaving very little for significant projects. Our practice nets, 45 and 23 years old respectively, have been repaired numerous times. It’s time to invest in new nets to serve the next generation of cricketers for the next 40 years. Our spectator seating area is in disrepair and dangerous, and our wooden picnic tables are rotten and need replacing.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We need new, safe practice nets! We have received quotes of around £55,000 to install three new cricket nets, with an option to add three more for the same price. To proceed, we need to hire a bid writer with expertise in securing ECB and Sport England grants, and raise approximately £10,000 to cover their fees and the 10% down payment required. Additionally, we need to update our equipment and repair our facilities.
Our goal is to galvanise our membership, engage in fundraising events, and invite the local community and businesses to support us in raising money for the club. We have been incredibly fortunate to secure match-funding by the Sport England Movement Fund, up to £15,000. This means if we raise £15,000, we will be match-funded to reach our £30,000 target!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure the future of WCC for the next 40 years, so now is the perfect time to act!
How we will spend the money raised
We will spend the funds on deposits for three new practice nets and, if possible, a further three. In addition to preparing a bid to the ECB for funds to replace our nets, we aim to raise a further £6,000 to purchase new garden furniture for the terrace and a new lawnmower, as well as a secure storage unit for our groundsman's equipment, since our current storage solutions leave us vulnerable to break-ins.
Community impact
Walsall Cricket Club is more than just a sports facility; it’s a community hub. Our facilities benefit the entire community, offering a place for social gatherings, events, and more. Our club facilities have been provided free of charge to the community to raise charitable funds for Macmillan Cancer Charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, Acorns Children’s Hospice, and Cruse Bereavement Care. We also have a bowling green attached to our club, which hosts weekly coffee mornings, inviting in the older local community. Supporting our club means investing in a resource that enriches our community and fosters a sense of belonging and pride.
Join Us:
Your support will help ensure WCC continues to thrive and provide a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environment for all. Whether through donations or participation in our fundraising events, every bit helps us reach our goal and every bit you put in will be match funded to double by Sport England Movement fund! Thank you for being part of our journey and supporting the future of Walsall Cricket Club. Please see our video of our members below:
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!