Crawley Eagles honoured at Sussex Sports Awards

Amna Shafiq, Crawley Eagles CC Women's Captain, is presented with the award.

Sussex Cricket affiliated club, Crawley Eagles CC, have won the Inclusion & Diversity Award at the 2021 Sussex Sports Awards.

The club were announced as winners of the award at a ceremony held at The 1st Central County Ground and hosted by BBC Sussex Sports Editor, Tim Durrans last week.

The award recognises a project or organisation which has tackled inequalities through sport and physical activity, removed barriers and improved participant’s experience of sport/physical activity and championed, inspired or empowered underrepresented groups, resulting in sustained or increased engagement over the past 12 months.

Crawley Eagles were particularly noted for their work in the local community to provide cricketing opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and genders, including setting up a women & girls section with support from the Sussex Cricket Foundation and Active Sussex.

The club’s fantastic work links to Sussex Cricket Foundation’s Urban Cricket Plan for Crawley which was launched this summer. The plan focuses on increasing participation, enhancing facilities and raising awareness of the game amongst local communities.

After winning the award, Crawley Eagles Chair, Ish Jalal said: “We are proud and honoured to have won this prestigious award. I would like to thank the team at Active Sussex and the Sussex Cricket Foundation team for their support over the last 18 months.

“Our Women & Girls teams are a great example of how a local community can take responsibility and show real meaningful success to enhance the wellbeing of its members.”

Gary Wallis-Tayler, Sussex Cricket’s Community Director, added: “We are thrilled that Crawley Eagles CC have been recognised locally for their outstanding work in the community.

“Developing cricket in Crawley is of high importance to us at the Foundation, with the development of women & girls cricket a key part of our Urban Cricket Plan for the area.

“We hope this award will continue to raise the profile of Women & Girls Cricket and encourage other clubs in the local area follow suit in providing opportunities for women & girls to access cricket”.

A full list of the Sussex Sports Awards winners is available on the Active Sussex website.