Ardmore Cricket Club, Londonderry

Established in 1879, Ardmore Cricket Club aims “to be a vibrant community focussed club, offering cricket from the playground to the pitch”, and their facilities help bridge sectarian and racial divides.  The Club sought assistance with the purchase of a 25m long x 8m wide translucent lay flat cricket cover for their pitch as the existing one is past its natural lifespan, beyond repair and no longer fit for purpose.  The Committee recognised the importance of protecting the pitch from inclement weather and ensuring that matches are not called off during the cricket season (April to September) but, in line with applications from other sporting clubs, accepted they could only offer a maximum of £700 towards replacing this vital piece of kit.