Swardeston Cricket Club have received some valuable financial backing for their youth coaching from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Bob Annable, Corporate Director at RBS’s Norwich office, handed over a cheque for £500 to the club at its weekly youth coaching night.
“It’s great to see boys and girls enjoying their cricket so much and having a strong local presence we are very pleased to provide financial support in this way to help develop the game in the community,” said Mr Annable.
For the first time this year Swardeston have moved all their youth coaching to take place on one night. In previous seasons they had run practice sessions for different age groups on different nights.
The new club night has attracted more than 80 youngsters each week from the age of seven, who are given an introduction to the game via Kwik cricket, right up to under-15 squad members.
Swardeston youth co-ordinator Stuart Shearing said the new arrangements had been, despite the weather, a huge success and enabled club coaches not just to carry out net sessions but also concentrate on other skills such as fielding, agility and fitness.
Swardeston run teams at Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and Under-17 and for the past six years have developed a partnership with CEYMS which sees the teams play under the joint Swardeston/CEYMS name. “The CEYMS partnership has been a tremendous help to the club. RBS’ contribution has been a most welcome boost and has enabled us to develop our youth structure further with the setting-up of the new club night,” said Shearing.
Kevin Cooper, one of the Swardeston coaches who helps run the session, received the money on behalf of the club. He said: “We are delighted that RBS has chosen to back us in this way. The money has gone towards kit and equipment for the new club night. The enjoyment we see on the youngsters’ faces shows the money has been well spent.”
