County Grants Fund continues to help recreational Cricket Clubs

Since 2021, Steelbacks Foundation have allocated £316,611 of ECB funding to 54 specific club projects at 30 cricket clubs across Northamptonshire.

Support themes have included Creating Welcoming Environments linked to social space, Enhanced practice facilities and playing opportunities driving the women’s and girls’ game and Tackling Climate Change making the game sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The impact of the scheme has helped to transform playing opportunities for new groups to the game, inspire more volunteers to get involved and save cricket clubs energy reducing running costs and volunteer time.

Old Cricket Club Chairman Declan Ryan commented on the scheme.

“We are very appreciative of the Foundation financial support through the County Grants Fund; the scheme has really helped the club to become more diverse. Funding towards a non-turf pitch provided an ideal practice and match facility for the female teams and the recently supported project to repurpose the existing kitchen area into a children’s tuck shop has provided a focal point and social space that everyone involved with the cricket club can celebrate and call their own”.

Earls Barton Cricket Club received a grant towards a new two-lane practice facility in 2025. The club treasurer, Matt Kennedy  said  “The grant contribution towards the nets meant we were able to complete project without impacting on club reserves as much as we had planned. The club have not had separate practice facilities for some years, so the new nets will have a huge impact for everyone at the club, especially the girls’ teams that we’ve grown in the past two years.”

In 2026 the scheme has already supported 5 further projects taking the support levels to over £380,000.