All hands to the pump for Cricket Force

A total of 35 clubs county-wide were signed up to the NatWest sponsored event.

Hard-working locals have given up their time to help their clubs prepare for the 2016 season, which gets under way in a couple of weeks.

Twenty of the Shropshire clubs involved were also registered to the Jewson Privilege Account Scheme, with the Wolverhampton builders merchants investing £6,000 to help clubs prepare.

Each club signed to the Jewson Scheme received £300 in the bank to spend on tools or any other refurbishing means.

Odd-jobs from painting and decorating, gardening and cleaning were carried out by the likes of Birmingham League sides Shrewsbury, Shifnal, Oswestry, Bridgnorth, Whitchurch and Worfield.

Shropshire County Cricket League members Forton, Broseley, Quatt, Sentinel and Willey also got involved.

For SCCL Division Two side Cae Glas, the event was another opportunity for the club to progress with work on their new pavilion.

As the season draws nearer, Bridgnorth hosted a club development meeting, with 12 clubs attending.

They discussed topical issues such as insurance policies and the 'Chance to Shine scheme' for getting youngsters involved in the game.

Shrewsbury and other north west county sides will attend a development meeting at Oswestry on Wednesday while Telford and north easterly clubs meet at Madeley on Friday.

NatWest originally sponsored Cricket Force in 2005, where 665 clubs were involved in the nationwide weekend of regeneration.

By 2009, the number of clubs had grown to 1,500 and membership continues to rise year on year.

Shropshire clubs have previously enjoyed recognition on the national front from their CricketForce achievements.

Shifnal – who have taken part every year since 2004 – were acknowledged in 2010 after carrying out £32,500 worth of work across the weekend.

In 2009, Much Wenlock made £20,000 improvements in one year thanks to 200 hours of labour from skilled volunteers.

Two years ago, Mike Gatting, Matthew Hoggard and Danielle Wyatt descended on Forton to inspect the fine work carried out by local community members as the club embarked on regeneration.

In total, 2,166 clubs across Great Britain took part in Cricket Force this year.

Bridgnorth chairman Jonathan Martin was one of several volunteers to help the Birmingham League Division One side spruce up their patch ahead of the season opener.

He said: "Clubs are run by volunteers and the help from the sponsors is important. We had people painting fences and the ladies were making the tea. We now think the club is as ready as it can be."