KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, have launched an initiative funding brand new community cricket pitches across Greater Manchester as part of KP Snacks’ initiative to give back to local communities and encourage more people to get active through cricket.
Manchester Originals stars Max Holden, Katie George and Ellie Threlkeld, were at Cheetham Hill Sports Club as part of a community launch event encouraging local families to pick up a bat and ball and give Cricket a try.
Over the next three years and in collaboration with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) 100 non-turf cricket pitches will be installed or refurbished across England and Wales.
Suitable areas were identified by assessing against key measures of population reach and bringing cricket to those who may not have had access to facilities previously or whose facilities have degenerated over time. The pitches will be maintained and run by the respective local council within the borough. 6 pitches will be installed and ready to use and play on this year, with more completed over the next two years.
The KP Snacks community pitch initiative will have a significant impact on local communities, offering greater access to sport for more people. It reflects KP Snacks’ commitment to investing in local communities to promote healthier lifestyles by facilitating access to sports and encouraging families to become more physically active. This is a fundamental aspect of KP Snacks’ People & Planet responsible business programme and forms part of England & Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB’s) commitment to drive the participation and growth of the game.
The ‘Everyone In’ campaign is part of KP Snacks’ commitment to get people active through cricket over the course of their 5-year partnership with The Hundred.
Max Holden Manchester Originals said: “When interest in the game of Cricket rises it’s important to have top class facilities to back it up and allow everyone to play, whatever their level. Facilities like these – funded by KP Snacks – are so important to the growth of the game that I love”.
Kevin McNair, Marketing Director at KP Snacks said: “At KP Snacks, we recognise we have a responsibility to our consumers and communities, and we are proud to be championing healthier lifestyles for them. Throughout our five-year partnership with The Hundred, we’re aiming to help thousands of families across Manchester become more active and we’re building on this with our new community pitch initiative which invests in local communities and improves access to cricket across the region.”
Tony Singh, Chief Commercial Officer at the ECB said, “We have been working with local authorities and Sport England on Playing Pitch Strategies over the last 10 years and we know that in urban areas in Manchester, demand for cricket significantly outstrips supply. The ECB’s Non-Turf Pitch programme, now boosted by the brilliant partnership with KP, is one way in which we are investing to meet this demand, creating new opportunities for local communities across Manchester to access high quality cricket facilities in parks and recreation grounds where they live. These new facilities are getting more people active, whether that is with their local club, school, or through All Stars and Dynamos, as well as supporting the rapid growth in Women’s and Girls’ cricket.”
Pitches in the Greater Manchester area are:
Ready to play:
Openshaw Park, BL9 7EY
Heaton Mersey Village CC, SK4 4HQ
Oldham Edge, OL1 3EN
Cheetham Hill Sports Club, M8 4HF
To be installed:
Firgrove Playing Fields, OL16 3AY
Springfield Park, OL11 4RE
