Village cricket club ready for action

From the archive, first published Thursday 12th Apr 2007.

A cricket club has reformed after an absence of seven years.

Finchingfield Cricket Club, which disbanded in 2000 due to lack of interest, was officially relaunched on Friday at an event at its Recreation Ground home.

Residents, Finchingfield Parish Council, other local teams and Essex County Cricket development officers have helped get the club going again.

Ridgeons timber and building merchants also helped return the club's two-tonne roller from Wethersfield Cricket Club.

Sponsorship money from estate agents Carl Fisher will enable the club to invest in practice nets, improving the cricket square on the village playing fields, and in new teams.

Finchingfield Cricket Club has 13 fixtures arranged this summer, and will take part in the national village cup competition.

Damon Knight, club chairman, described the sponsorship deal as "exceptional news".

He added: "The sponsorship will provide much-needed investment in major facilities - the nets and square - and buy equipment for the new colts section.

"It will also be a big boost in our aim to be an important part of the community of Finchingfield."

The club was visited by Essex County Cricket Club members Grant Flower, Jahid Ahmed and Pete Williams, Essex County Cricket development manager, who were promoting the Cricket Force scheme which encourages communities to help out their local cricket teams.

Anyone interested in playing for the club or wanting to help out can call Jeremy Toynbee on 01371 705000 or visit finchingfield.plus.com