The newly-launched girls teams at Hornchurch Athletic Cricket Club have been awarded £300 by UK Power Networks.

Mark Taylor is an electrical project manager for UK Power Networks Services and he applied for the money under a special Team Sport Award scheme run by the company.

Mark, is on the club’s committee, coaches the junior/colts sections and has played at the club for more than 40 years. He said that the club has been around since 1936 and is a big part of the local community in the area. They have five adult Saturday League teams, one Sunday team and colts/junior cricket from the ages of five up to 18.

He said: “Around three years ago, we started girls’ cricket at the club which has gradually grown and brings a fantastic new dynamic to our club.”

“A big highlight last season was playing regular girls matches against local clubs in the Essex area.”

The club hopes the new equipment for indoor winter training will help the girls’ teams to play during the off season and compete in the indoor leagues, then up their game for the 2024 season.

In the summer the club is based at Hylands Park in Hornchurch and carry out their indoor training at Campion School in Romford

Mark said: “I think the UK Power Networks’ Team Sports Award scheme is fantastic, enabling grass roots sport to have additional funding especially at a time when costs for equipment and pitches are costing more and more.”

Club chairman Chris Martin said; “We will utilise this financial support by increasing the amount of equipment available to our girls cricket teams. Girls and women’s cricket is the growth area of our sport and whilst it has taken us some time to develop our girls cricket section, our first competitive and ‘hard ball’ games occurred during the 2023 season.

“The award provided will be incredibly helpful in terms of building upon our initial success and ensuring that our girls section is well equipped. In doing so the award also ensures that our club is fully inclusive of girls’ cricket.”

The company’s Team Sport Award scheme encourages staff to volunteer in the community, support grassroots sport, promote healthy living, teamwork and develop sports opportunities. Hundreds of community and sports groups have benefited from grants since the scheme was set up. During 2023, 104 teams benefited from a share in £30,600 which proved a welcome boost during the 'cost of living’ crisis.