A building company is backing a cricket club by donating funds for a new facility upgrade.
Hatfield Peverel Cricket Club is set to receive a significant financial boost from homebuilder Bellway to upgrade the club’s ageing sporting facilities.
Bellway is currently constructing homes in Hatfield Peverel, less than a mile from the club's ground at its Hatfield Grove development on Station Road.
The firm has now made a donation of £1,000 to aid the club's revitalisation project.
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Simon Cheek, the captain of the club’s second team, said: "We were very excited when Bellway offered to sponsor us because with everyone feeling the pinch on their spending money, we rely heavily on the support and sponsorship of local businesses.
"Without such funding, we would struggle to support the sport in our area, so I and everyone involved with the club would like to thank everybody at Bellway for their very kind donation."
The club, having provided cricket facilities and sporting spirit to the community since 1885, had recently faced the grim prospect of closure due to financial strain following the Covid pandemic.
However, a two-year turnaround, marked by hosting community events such as beer festivals, music festivals, and firework displays alongside regular cricket matches, has injected new life into the club.
The club caters to over 100 adult members as well as more than 50 boys and girls in its junior section.
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Jenny Walker, sales director at Bellway, said: "Our support for Hatfield Peverel Cricket Club, which is so close to our Hatfield Grove development, will help them in upgrading their facilities for budding cricketers as well as life-long cricket enthusiasts in the local community.
"We hope that this will enable the club to go from strength to strength, both for playing and enjoying cricket and also as a focal point for events which bring the whole community together."
Bellway is building a total of 195 homes off Station Road across two phases at Hatfield Grove.
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