Young cricketers bowled over by donation (02/06/10)

A bowling machine used to train youngsters at a cricket club in Aldridge has been replaced by Walsall Housing Group (whg) after being stolen last year.

whg, Walsall’s biggest social landlord, awarded Aldridge Cricket Club around £2,500 from its Local Neighbourhood Fund (LNF) to buy a new bowling machine so training could continue.

Steve McGregor, whg Service Manager for Aldridge & Brownhills, said: “We were delighted to be able to assist the club and step in at a time when they were suffering at the hands of thieves. We are sure the machine will be well-used and will help develop the borough’s cricketers of the future.”

The previous bowling machine was stolen in September last year when the club was broken into. Other pieces of equipment were taken and damage caused so the club has now stepped up security.

Neil Steadman, Chairman of Aldridge Cricket Club’s youth academy, said the bowling machine will be used primarily by youth players but is available for everyone at the club to use.

He commented: “It was a real setback when we had the break-in as we used that bowling machine a lot and it was an essential piece of equipment in our training sessions so we are extremely grateful to whg for the grant.

“The machine is basically a mechanical bowler so it can bowl a ball at anything from 30mph to 100mph and it will go in the same place every time which means, as coaches, we can work on and develop particular techniques.”

whg’s Local Neighbourhood Fund was launched last year to support good work in the community. It has so far benefited a range of groups across Walsall from providing new equipment to funding youth projects.

Anyone who is interested in joining Aldridge Cricket Club should call Neil Steadman on 07838 129283.

Photo shows Aldridge Cricket Club youth players George Taylor, aged 12,  Pierce Brookes, aged 13, and whg colleague Cliff Baker with the new bowling machine.