FELIXSTOWE & Corinthians Youth Cricket Club chairman Rob Jones has got his sites set on turning the coastal club into one of the very best of its kind in the country.

Stuart Watson

FELIXSTOWE & Corinthians Youth Cricket Club chairman Rob Jones has got his sites set on turning the coastal club into one of the very best of its kind in the country.

Jones proved the crucial go-between two years ago in persuading rival cricket clubs Felixstowe and the Felixstowe Corinthians to put aside local rivalry in the name of grassroots cricket.

“It just made sense that, rather than fighting over the same kids, the two clubs should form under the same umbrella when it came to youth cricket,” explained Jones.

As a result, the Felixstowe & Corinthians Youth Cricket Club was formed and, after a modest start of around half a dozen members, it has gone from strength-to-strength.

By the start of last year the club's numbers had rapidly risen to around 30 and, following a hugely successful 2007, membership now stands at over just over 100 children aged between six and 15.

As a result, the club - which now runs four junior boys' sides as well as a friendly girls' team - has not only achieved Sport England's ClubMark status, but has also been selected by the ECB as its prestigious 'focus club' for the Felixstowe area.

Consequently, strong links have been made with the various primary and secondary schools in the Felixstowe area, while much needed funding has been attracted to build a £50,000 four-lane net facility at the club's home of Dellwood Avenue.

Jones said: “The aim of this club is now two-fold. By going into the schools we obviously want to bring cricket to as many youngsters as possible.

“But we also want to help our particularly talented players to be the best they can be. The talent is already here at the club and I think in a few years time we are going to see a fruition of the work that has been going on.

“We want to push on the talent within the club. You never know we could have a future England cricketer, be they male or female, within our ranks.

“We set ours sites high. Not only are we trying to be the best junior cricket club in this county, but we are trying to be one of the best junior cricket clubs in the entire country.”

Jones' comments come following another hugely successful festival of school cricket run by the club at Dellwood Avenue recently.

Jointly organised with Felixstowe School Sports Co-ordinator Sarah Logan, the day saw over 80 children from five different primary schools enjoy a taste of the sport.

Logan said: “The day went fantastically well and was yet another successful important link between schools and clubs. All the youngsters really enjoyed themselves and showed real interest in the sport.”

Kingsfleet Primary School were one of the five schools to take part in the day, their PE instructor Annabel Bennett said: “We sent two teams of year five girls and boys along on the day and they thoroughly enjoyed it.

“For many of them it was their first taste of full cricket and it proved a step learning curve. But we have told them that they can go back to school and teach the years sixes about how to play and that is something they are all looking forward to.”