Clifton will continue to host All Stars of the future
CLIFTON Cricket club will run its award-winning All Stars and Dynamos junior programmes again this summer.
Both initiatives have proved enormously popular and have introduced hundreds of youngsters to the sport since All Stars was launched five years ago.
Last year, over 60 five-to eight-year-olds enjoyed the All Stars course on Friday evenings at Clifton’s picturesque Chapel Lane ground, with over a quarter of them girls enjoying cricket for the first time.
Dynamos came in two years ago as the next step after All Stars for eight-to-11-year-olds and is slightly more focused on the game of cricket, particularly The Hundred.
The emphasis, though, is very much on fun in a safe and friendly environment.
All Stars is an eight-week programme aimed to develop sports-based skills for children with the aim to have fun while learning basic cricket skills.
With parents, extended families and siblings joining the attendees, the club saw well over 150 people on the ground on Friday evenings.
Last year, Clifton’s Nick Webster won the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation All Stars Activator of the Year award and is looking to build on the success this summer.
“Last year was incredible and after the various lockdowns, the club was reignited on Friday evenings as large numbers of children enjoyed some exercise and acticvities as parents and families visited the ground and enjoyed some social interaction,” he said.
“Seeing the ground full on a sunny evening was a wonderful sight and everyone who visited us saw how we are working with the community, offering the chance for children to develop in a safe and fun environment.”
Amongst the awards Clifton won last year was the Derbyshire Cricket Foundation Community Club of the Year prize and the junior evenings, all performed in line with the Club Mark safeguarding standards, were a huge part in achieving the prestigious award.
This year, the club will be running the two courses on Friday evenings, beginning on May 27 and running through to Clif-fest on Sunday, July 17, where all registered All Stars and Dynamos will receive a trophy donated by the club.
The cost of the eight week programme is £40 and registration is through the ECB website at www.ecb.co.uk.