Saintfield Cricket Club is celebrating after receiving a Community Grant from Northern Bank for a winter coaching academy.

The academy is designed to focus on improving the skills levels of players particularly within the youth section and to build on the existing good relations the club has within the local community. It will run until April 2008.

Pictured below: Conor Simms aged 17 of Saintfield, Club Development Officer Bill Radcliffe, Alastair Graham aged 19 from Saintfield, Pamela McNamara, Branch Manager, Northern Bank Saintfield and Gareth Harrison aged 18 from Crossgar.

Club Development Officer Bill Radcliffe views the academy as a further indication of the club’s intention to enhance its profile and raise the performance and achievement of individuals and teams. He said, “We wish to build upon recent success and see the winter academy as a very important element in improving quality and raising standards. The support from Northern Bank will help us work towards these aims as part of our overall development strategy.”

Saintfield Chairman Noel McCarey added, “The academy would not have been possible without the community grant from Northern Bank. Now we will be able to provide coaching during the closed season so participants can continue to develop their personal and sporting skills.”

Pictured below right: Club Development Officer Bill Radcliffe, Thomas Donnan aged 12 from Saintfield and Pamela McNamara, Branch Manager, Northern Bank Saintfield.

Pamela McNamara, Branch Manager, Northern Bank Saintfield said, “This is a great example of what our Community Grants programme is all about, supporting a local grass roots project and enhancing the local community through sport. It is an excellent opportunity to develop young people’s interests in the sport and to benefit from the expertise of qualified coaches through a sustained programme of coaching. We wish the club every success for the academy."

The Northern Bank Community Grants programme distributes £100,000 to community groups right across Northern Ireland involved in promoting and increasing local access to projects relating to knowledge or learning, culture or the arts or community sport. Details about how and when to apply for the next round of grants will be available later this year.