Urban Cricket graces Sheffield

Michael Vaughan was brought up and still lives in Sheffield

With help from children at Firshill Primary School, England Test captain Michael Vaughan has announced plans for an npower Urban Cricket facility to be built in Abbeyfield Park, Burngreave, Sheffield.

The facility is one of five purpose-built cricket facilities, which will be opened across the country as part of the Urban Cricket initiative. It will provide a permanent space for children in the area to learn and practise their cricket skills, turning them into possible stars of the future.

In addition to the facility, five school playgrounds in the Sheffield area will be redeveloped into Urban Cricket zones. These will help children with an interest in cricket develop their skills for the game.

Working in partnership with Sheffield City Council, the development of the Sheffield facility and its five supporting zones creates a tiered community development programme with a clear route for children to follow, from learning basic skills all the way up to playing club cricket.

Vaughan said: "It's great to see how grassroots schemes like npower Urban Cricket are making a real difference to the local community.

An artist's impression of the Urban Cricket facility

"Having been brought up in Sheffield I know how popular cricket is in this area and I know local kids will love having a safe, purpose built space in which they can play cricket and practise their skills - you never know it might help produce the next Michael Vaughan!"

Tim Rippon, cabinet member for economic regeneration, culture and planning at Sheffield City Council commented: "The npower Urban Cricket arena at Abbeyfield Park will really benefit the local area. Not only will it add to the facilities in the area and encourage children to play cricket, it will also help kids lead more active lifestyles.

“The Urban Cricket programme has been rolled out into other areas of the UK to great success. We are very fortunate to have it here in Sheffield too."

npower Urban Cricket, a grassroots project run in conjunction with the ECB, was launched in 2006 with one clear goal - to get more children playing cricket. Since its launch in 2006, npower and the ECB have distributed over 40,000 Urban Cricket kits to children in the UK.

In 2007 and 2008, the focus for Urban Cricket has shifted to the development of five facilities with five Urban Cricket zones in school playgrounds surrounding each of the facilities.

The first facility was opened by Monty Panesar in South London in August 2007. Additional facilities are planned for Cardiff, Birmingham and Newcastle.