Over 200 clubs to hold an Ashes Open Day this weekend
12th July 2013Clubs up and down the country are planning to capitalise upon Ashes fever this weekend, by throwing open their doors to their communities and inviting guests to watch the Investec Ashes live on Sky Sports whilst keeping an eye on their local team out in the middle.
During the Series, 309 cricket clubs are holding 1,554 Open Days – which the ECB are supporting to help increase attendance and participation at club level, and is part of the governing body’s #RISE for England campaign.
Mike Gatting, ECB’s Managing Director – Cricket Partnerships, added: “We want to capitalise on the huge public interest in this summer’s Investec Ashes Series by encouraging greater participation in our wider grassroots game – which is where the next generation of England men’s and women’s cricketers will come from. So this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has an interest in cricket to visit their nearest club and find out more about how they can become actively involved in the sport.
“Our national network of recreational clubs always welcomes new players, but there are other ways in which people can be a part of their local club as well and there are also more opportunities at grassroots level than ever before for women, girls and disability cricketers to play the game too.”
2005 Ashes legend Matthew Hoggard will be visiting Mansfield Hosiery Mills CC this Saturday morning (10.00 – 12.00), and will be assisting with coaching club juniors and signing autographs for guests.
One of the clubs holding an Open Day later in the summer is Burnley CC – James Anderson’s first club, and in this video, he reveals how the club influenced his rise to the top: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpjxnGwO0to