England cricketers make over for CricketForce Day

England and Surrey cricketer Mark Ramprakash today joined forces with over 100 volunteers to renovate Lingfield Cricket Club, Croydon. The project showcases the ECB's NatWest Volunteer programme 'Get Involved' which aims to recruit 10,000 volunteers to grass roots cricket.

The team, which included England's world record run scorer Caroline Atkins, local residents and members of the ECB Development Team, spent the day painting, scraping, sanding and rejuvenating the club's facilities for use by the local community.

Mark Ramprakash said: "This is a fantastic project and a great scheme. Thousands of cricket clubs across the country need the support of volunteers and today proves how much can be achieved when people pull together."

Neil Henderson from Lingfield Cricket Club said: "We've had tremendous support from both local and national organisations. Alldridge and Trillwood has provided paint, Lingfield florist supplied plants and The Star Inn gave us a keg of beer! Companies such as The Body Shop, B&Q and The Whitbread Group have supported us too. We now have excellent sport facilities for the community and we'll really make the most of them this summer and beyond."

The Get Involved programme, now in its second year, continues to go from strength to strength. With a target of 10,000 volunteers by 2005, the feedback to date suggests that we are well on our way to achieving this.

Keith Pont, ECB's Director of Development said: "I really hope other clubs and communities will look at what we have achieved here today and replicate the project, on whatever scale, in their own areas. Good facilities will encourage young girls and boys to join their local clubs and play cricket in a welcoming environment."

Abi Searle, Sponsorship Manager, NatWest said: "Lingfield like many other cricket clubs across the UK are reaping the benefits of the NatWest 'Get Involved Programme'. We fully recognise the importance of grassroots cricket to the development and future of the sport and are delighted that this initiative along with our other grassroots activities are proving so successful."