Borstal Cricket Club are on the lookout for some fresh new talent to strengthen the 130 year old club near Rochester.

Indoor nets and coaching started at the beginning of February at Kings School in Rochester for 8-16 year olds on Saturday afternoons.

With ambitious plans for the 2013 season to run a 2nd U-13 team, several 16 year olds making the step up to senior cricket, there are still spaces at all age groups for boys and girls to join the friendly club.

Last year’s successes included the U-11 league champions and several players representing the Medway District Team. This season they are looking to build on these successes by increasing the number of coaches providing training with the emphasis on skill development in a fun environment.

Adult training sessions will be beginning in March and they welcome enquires from new players of all abilities.

For more information, please contact Chairman Lee Round at Email: [email protected] or Tel: 01634 312485 or via the website at http:/borstalcc.btck.co.uk

Meanwhile, Borstal Cricket Club is preparing to take part in NatWest CricketForce from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th April 2013, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) initiative aimed at rejuvenating local cricket clubs and giving volunteers an opportunity to get involved.

Borstal Cricket Club is expecting volunteers, parents and players from the club to help with various improvements around the ground including fencing, painting, pitch repairs and general cleaning and tidying of the hedgerows.

The volunteer work would have cost an estimated £1,200 to complete, meaning a huge injection of funds for cricket clubs across the country.

Club Chairman Lee Round had this to say of the Natwest Cricketforce weekend:

“NatWest CricketForce will enable much needed work to take place at Brambletrees ensuring the 2013 season gets off to the best possible start for our many junior and senior teams.”

“All players start their cricket careers at local clubs and it is crucial that we support the game’s development. Good facilities and a fun environment can be the difference between youngsters staying with cricket or not and NatWest CricketForce helps make clubs a real focus for community sports activities and volunteering opportunities”.

“We are looking for local organisations to sign up to support the project by donating materials, manpower and other resources that will make the weekend a success.”

Dave Leighton, ECB Club Programmes Manager, said: “We saw clubs do more for themselves in two days last year than they had for years before. It made a real difference to clubs including increased revenue, improved facilities, increased participation and a great sense of community spirit”.

Anyone belonging to a cricket club who would like to take part in the initiative should visit www.ecb.co.uk/natwestcricketforce for details of how to sign up.

Or, if you could spare a few hours from Friday 5th – Sunday 7th April 2013 to help your local club please leave your details with [email protected]