This season the club celebrates it's 130 year annivesary of playing cricket in the local community of Kenn in Devon. Like all other clubs it's been a tough ride, there was a time when we went through the pandemic and wondered if that was it. There was a spell where we struggled to get both our saturday teams out in sufficient numbers and it was clear we had to work hard, change the structure and get us up and running, a little like a small business but with the aim of "playing points with your mates".

With all the changes we have made we have entered into a successful stage with the two senior sides, both regualrly winning. However, the true success is down to the most amazing youth section you can imagine. The number of youngsters involved and volunteer coaches, helpers and parents is staggering. The commitment is a pleasure to see. We want to continue this drive.

We are always reluctant to ask for funds when people are struggling so much and work hard to make the club viable, but mainly so we can encourage and develop the youth section.

The crossroads has now been reached and we must bite the bullet and take the next steps. The true reality is if we don't then we are stuck and the hard work we have already undertaken would have been wasted.

Here is a taste of some of the projects we have or would like to undertake.

Car Park - The car park is not ours and without the fantastic agreement with the land owner, there will be no car park and no cricket for anyone. We are about to talk about trying to take some control but this will involve at least legal costs.

Drainage - without exception each of the recent seasons has been impacted by the weather, resulting in the flooding of the lower part of the ground and nets. To sustain playing and damage we will need to laying down new drainage pipes from the square.

Youth Development - We would like to be able to seek the services of a Level 4 Coach to work alongside our commited band of volunteer coaches. Ideallly a unique individual with coaching qualifications, a player and someone to help with groundwork.

Artificial pitch - This is now old and worn, it's integral to things like the youth cricket, all coaching and being able to stage shorter format matches. Thus increasing the capacity withot deteroiating the playing surface.

Expansion of the ground (village end) - the fence posts are rotten, the entire surround will need replacing before long. If we are going to do this then it would seem sensible to see if we can with the land owners consent buy some more land. This will allow us to remove equipment from, again there will be significant funds required for this.

Social Area - at the top of the ground we have a raised area, a small Shed Bar, and lots of wasteland. It would be brilliant if we could develop this land and make it more usesful. We need some of the area patiod so we can properly run social events.

Club Mark - At the close of the 2024 season we will be working with the Devon Cricket Association to move into this status. This should open us for further development.

We have tried to think about several funding opertaions, for example becoming club sponsors, match sponsors, ball sponsors, vice presidents and so on.

We are very much open to suggestions and negotation before you click the button. For example we would be delighted to explore sponsorship deals which invovle a package of measures. Once again next season, for example,we will have a club brochure with plenty of opportunities to advertise.