SANDFORD Cricket Club’s junior sections are going from strength-to-strength with at least nine teams for girls and boys ranging from Under 10s to Under 15s with an under 19s side playing in the county 20/20 competition.

During the winter a very successful Emerging Player Programme was set up for the more promising younger players and great progress was made at the Cricket Centre, Exeter University. This will continue in the summer months at Creedy Park.

Friday night training for the younger players and teams continues to be a great success for players and families alike who are able to socialise in the beautiful surroundings of Creedy Park.

It is not unusual to have up to 100 children taking part. The bar is open and it has become a great social occasion.

The English Cricket Boards initiative “All Stars Cricket” attracts the younger age group of five-eight year-olds and this year we already have more than 60 boys and girls taking part.

This is an introduction to cricket and if you have any children interested then please come to the club on a Friday night and our officials will help you join.

With two Senior sides on Saturdays and Sundays and a Ladies team there is plenty of cricket for everyone and the club’s future looks incredibly positive in times when many clubs are struggling for players.

Availability at this time of year can be difficult with players away at University and exams for our younger players etc, but captains do an incredible job and all fixtures have been fulfilled with player numbers increasing as the season progresses.

With 20 young cricketers under the age of 15 joining the Emerging Player Programme the club has made a very careful and calculated decision to form a Third Eleven next season to compete on Saturdays in the Devon League alongside our other two teams.

Much progress has already been made on a home ground, umpires, scorers etc and the very experienced Mat Theedom has volunteered to captain the side and pass on his vast cricketing knowledge to these up and coming young players.

With this extra team on a Saturday the club is reviewing Sunday cricket and may change the number of teams playing on a Sunday but that decision will be carefully decided later in the season.

In two games played last Saturday, June 15 the First Eleven lost to Tiverton Heathcote by eight wickets and the Second Eleven beat Feniton by five wickets.

One fixture for tomorrow, Saturday, June 22: Second Eleven v Upottery, 1.30pm start.

Chris Theedom