When we set out to raise £12,000 to replace our artificial wicket, we had no idea quite how much support we would get or whether we'd hit our ambitious target. Chair of the cricket club, Jane Taylor, explains why it was so important to raise the money, and how the entire community pulled together to save the club.

The threat of closure

“Our committee knew our artificial wicket would only survive one more season, and if we couldn’t then raise the money to replace it, we ran the risk of there not even being a club. Having worked so hard to rebuild it after Covid, and celebrating 20 years of youth cricket this year, we were determined not to let the threat of closure become a reality.”

Community Crowdfunding

“In April, we launched our ECB Crowdfunder, and as donations rolled in, and pledges were bought, thanks to the generosity of The White Hart, Sarah Forbes Physiotherapy, Town & Country Cars, Holybourne Shop, Dummer Down and The Workshop, we applied for match-funding from Sports England. But it came with conditions.”

Stubby’s raffle and pizza night and the Highland Fling

“Meanwhile, Stubby’s raised even more for our club with their online raffle and sell-out pizza night, and a group of cricket and Alton Scout’s parents hosted the spectacular Highland Fling. However, the clock was furiously ticking, and no achievable end-goal in sight.”

The Holybourne Recreation and Sports Field Trust come to the rescue

“But just as we began to lose faith, The Holybourne Recreation and Sports Field Trust came to our rescue with their very generous donation of £3,000, which not only secured us match funding, but took us over our original target of £10k.

It takes a community to build a cricket club

“Thanks to over 80 donations, Holybourne CC has raised a grand total of £11,800. This was then boosted by a generous grant of £9,000 from East Hampshire District Council. Our community has helped us replace our artificial wicket and save our club, and we cannot thank everyone enough.”