Sussex Cricket Foundation Impact Report 2023

Sussex Cricket Foundation Releases 2023 Impact Report

The Sussex Cricket Foundation has published its Impact Report for 2023. The annual report recognizes a number of achievements across the County for the Foundation. 

• Significant investment in Crawley through the Urban Cricket Plan
• Launch of the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League
• Another record attendance for DIScoverABILITY Day
• Alfie Pyle England debut, a product of the county’s disability cricket pathway
• Even more growth for recreational cricket across all levels of the game

It has been yet another outstanding year for the Foundation and the latest Impact Report supports the notion that cricket is continuing to grow rapidly across Sussex, thanks to the passionate work of the Foundation team.

One of the major success stories of 2023 was the investment made into cricket in Crawley, through the Foundation’s ambitious Urban Cricket Plan. 

By the end of 2024, over £200,000 will have been invested into indoor & outdoor facilities, equipment, and programmes thanks to some generous support from the Cama Cricket Charitable Trust, Roffey Homes and funds ringfenced from the Sussex Cricket Foundation.

As well as the installation of seven new non-turf pitches, a state-of-the-art, three-lane indoor net facility opened at the Apple Tree Centre in the heart of the Crawley community.

2023 also saw the launch of the first Women’s Club Premier League in Sussex, as well as a second division one step below.

The Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League has not only helped to grow participation numbers in Women’s cricket, but also serves as a clear pathway from recreational amateur cricket to the regional and professional game. 

The growth & development of Women & Girls Cricket across the County continues to be of high importance to the Foundation. 

Yet again in 2023 DIScoverABILITY Day broke participation records, with 650 participants attending the annual disability cricket showcase.

32 organisations came together, made up of 150 volunteers, to give members of the local community an opportunity to play games on the pitch at The 1st Central County Ground.

History-maker Alfie Pyle achieved every young cricketer’s dream in 2023, when he made his debut for the England Learning Disability team.

Alfie became the first every participant of the Lord’s Taverners Super 1s programme, held in Crawley, to go from a hub setting, through the county system and then on to represent England. 

Speaking on the report, Gary-Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket Director, said: “I am proud of all our achievements during 2023, my team deserve huge credit for all their hard work and commitment, to growing the game across Sussex and making it accessible to all. 

We have much to look forward to during 2024 including, greater focus in Brighton & Hove through our Urban Cricket Plan, continuing our work with the LGBTQ+ community and continuing to strengthen our relationship with Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club as well as the wider Sussex community.

"A particular highlight this year will be our festival of Disability Cricket in May, where we will be running our annual DIScoverABILITY Day and hosting both our Sussex Sharks VI team and D40 team at The 1st Central County Ground, for what will be a spectacular weekend."

Ish Jalal, Chair, Sussex Cricket Foundation, added: “2023 has been one of the most successful years for the Foundation in delivering high quality and impactful projects and programmes that have made a positive change in people lives, many of these have been highlighted the report.

“Sussex cricket has a clear objective to be the most inclusive sports club in the country and the Foundation is playing a pivotal role in achieving this objective.”

To read about the growth of the game across Sussex, you can read the full Impact Report here: https://www.instantflipbook.com/flipbooks/cfa6b3615a/?page=1

Supporting the Sussex Cricket Foundation

There are many ways in which you can help to support the important work that the Sussex Cricket Foundation carries out. 

Your next opportunity is to support the Foundation is by attending the flagship fundraiser, ‘Where Cricket Meets…Michael Vaughan AND Phil Tufnell’.

There are a handful of tickets left to the event which will include plenty of stories and anecdotes from two England cricketing legends, plus a fantastic three-course lunch and plenty of ways to join in the fun and raise money along the way.

Full information on the event can be found here, as well as instructions on how to purchase your tickets. 

If anyone would like to learn more about the Sussex Cricket Foundation or support any of their initiatives, then please contact Community Cricket Director, Gary Wallis-Tayler on gary.wallis-tayler@sussexcricket.co.uk