Local Farncombe Clubs benefit from new coaching programme
Pupils from Godalming Junior School revelled in the finale of the Chance to Shine coaching programme at Broadwater recently. A day of competitive cricket was hosted by neighbouring clubs Farncombe – in the Travelbag Surrey Championship – and Farncombe Wanderers, of the I’Anson Cup. More than 20 youngsters have joined clubs in Waverley this year through Chance to Shine, a national charity which aims to restore the game to state schools across the country and which was set up after England won the Ashes in 2005.
The Surrey Cricket Foundation manage the programme across the county and the project at Broadwater encouraged boys to join Farncombe’s juniors and girls to play at the Wanderers.
Community Coach Vicki Howard launched the coaching programme at a Godalming Junior assembly and has been delivering sessions during the school day to a range of year groups, aiming to inspire the pupils to extend their interest. She also staged a training session for the teachers so that they would have greater knowledge and confidence to run cricket-based PE sessions throughout the year. Godalming Junior entered local Kwik Cricket competitions and a number of the girls involved represented Waverley at the Surrey Youth Games. At the finale, young leaders from Broadwater School were drafted in to umpire and score an intraschool competition.
Simon Hards, Cricket Development Operations manager for the Foundation, said: “This has been a fantastic example of how strong school-club links in cricket can have a positive impact on our game.
“The project has been a great success with more than 20 new members joining the clubs – hopefully over the years to come, many more children will start to play at local clubs as a result of Chance to Shine funding.
“The key to success has been the commitment of the school, both clubs and our community coach, all of whom have worked together to deliver the programme.”
Carolyn Dawkins, from Farncombe Wanderers, added: “Our numbers increased this year from 12 to 23, which delighted us, nearly all new members coming from Godalming Junior. We were able to field a squad for the Surrey Youth Games girls cricket for the first time, over half of which were from the school, and came a very creditable seventh from 12 teams.
“Our girls section continues to flourish but we always welcome new members.”