PLYMSTOCK Cricket Club are hoping sports fans in the region can help them win £5,000 to buy new equipment to keep their junior and senior players safe.
The Dean Cross-based Devon League side are one of 91 projects in with a chance of winning an award courtesy of the One Family Foundation.
The prize will be awarded on the most number of public votes and Plymstock currently lie second with just days to go before the competition closes. Voting will end on July 20.
Plymstock have the support of England women’s cricket captain Heather Knight, who started her career at Dean Cross, but they are still looking for more support.
Club spokesman Paul Birleson said: “Our ground at Dean Cross, Plymstock, is a council-owned pitch as well as a public park. We cannot leave any equipment out due to theft/vandalism. So all cricket equipment needs to be stored in our garage area.
“Buying new equipment and replacing old is a constant requirement, so to be fortunate to win this award would give everyone at the club a great boost and allow us to carry on providing a cricket club to the Plymstock area.
“We have been raising money for the last few seasons to buy a concertina-style mobile nets which can be neatly stored but will offer a modern training facilities for all club members from our five to 55-year old players.
“It will also offer protection to members of the public, dog walkers, family and friends from any stray cricket balls.
“We have been unsuccessful in recent grant applications to Sport England and Devon Cricket Board, so it would be great to eventually win one.”
He added: “We are one of the biggest cricket clubs in Plymouth and have over 80 children practicing every Friday evening and our sole aim is to give our boys and girls the safest and best chance to participate in the sport.
“Our junior section s is thriving and we are seeing the results with success on the pitch. Our youngest team (under-9s) have won two out of two tournaments this season, the most recent was winning Buckland’s tournament on the 3rd July.”
Anyone who wants to vote for Plymstock can do so HERE