Fraserburgh cricket club is casting its net wide to find a new generation of players dedicated to the organisation’s future.
The organisation at Kessock Park, which has been running for over 150 years, has seen a decline in interest from youngsters in recent times.
But now, a number of projects have been launched in a bid to ensure the club isn’t stumped in moving forward.
Their members have created an All Stars Cricket programme for four to eight-year-olds and offered coaching session to children during the summer months.
Recently, they hosted a stall at Fraserburgh Super Saturdays, took part in Active Fraserburgh Week and entertained 100 primary schoolchildren at an Active School’s cricket festival.
Vice president Michael Watson said a lot of effort has been made to persuade locals to sample the summer sport.
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He said: “In recent years, cricket clubs in the area have encountered a steady decline in youngsters looking to try and ultimately take up the sport.
“This has sparked worries among club veterans and stalwarts as to where future players will come from to feed and sustain their history-laden amateur clubs which could soon face extinction.
“That would rob youngsters of any opportunity to play a game so many have grown up with over the years.
“The club’s finest hour to date was in 1973 when we were the Aberdeenshire Cup-winning team, followed by the senior team this year picking up the Bon Accord Cup.”
Following the end of the season, work has started at Fraserburgh in an effort to entice younger players to the game.
The major revamp includes repairing and improving the ground in the aftermath of the season and working on surrounding buildings.
Mr Watson added: “The Washhouse, has been used as a store for sports equipment by various groups including the cricket club.
“With half the store now dedicated to us and the increased size and volume of equipment we’re holding, the club organised a squad to head down and open up the interior of the store.
“We hope this will create more usable space which suits our requirements by taking out the old broken and unused units.
“In recent times, the exterior has also been subject to vandalism and graffiti.
“We’re looking for thoughts and ideas from the local community for a mural design or something similar to freshen up the outer walls and hopefully stop the vandalism.”
If you have any ideas for the mural or are interested in the sport, email brochcc@btinternet.com
