Ketton Sports Cricket Club Appeal

Many of you will have heard about the despicable theft that took place at Ketton Sports Community Club during the early hours of Wednesday 14th February 2024. This was really upsetting news – especially for our groundsman, Malcolm Holmes, who has spent countless hours throughout the year preparing our grounds to ensure grassroots cricket and football can be played.

This was obviously a premeditated attack, with thieves who clearly knew what they were doing. The theft had all the hallmarks of a professional job. Multiple pieces of cricket machinery were stolen, as well as a tractor which belonged to Blackstones Junior Football Club. The tractor has since been recovered, and whilst we are thankful for this, the impact to the cricket club remains considerable.

We only have until 13th April 2024 ( at the time of writing - this is 8 weeks away) to get the ground ready for the start of our cricket season. At the moment, we don’t have any grounds machinery to prepare the square or the outfield. Although we are pursuing our insurance claim and are relying heavily on the generosity of loans of equipment from other local organisations, we desperately need our own equipment within the next four weeks to be able to get the ground ready and get our games on.

Whilst our losses were considerably more, we are hoping to raise an initial £15,000 to buy the bare minimum of machinery to get our grounds ready for the start of the season.

We are hopeful that if lots of people give a small amount, we will be able to raise sufficient funds in the next few weeks to buy the necessary machinery to ensure grassroots cricket is able to take place from the middle of April.

Please consider giving – even a small amount, we will be grateful for. We are a not-for-profit club and provide excellent facilities to our members. We want to continue making Ketton a fabulous place to play cricket!

For the sake of our U9s who are just beginning their cricketing journey and looking forward to multiple festivals with other local clubs….

For the sake of our U11s who are taking their first steps into hardball cricket and will be donning their pads and helmets for the first time…

For the sake of our U13s who are playing real cricket for the first time – when you’re out, you’re out!

For the sake of our U15s who are improving day on day and taking their first steps into senior cricket

For the sake of all our senior players to enjoy the sport they love, keeping active, being part of a team and community.

Thank you again for any donations that you can offer. We really appreciate it.

Ketton Sports Cricket Club Committee