By Lucy Wilde
England fast bowler Lauren Filer hopes to see more families make cricket a household activity after the creation of 100 new community pitches.
As part of the Everyone In initiative to encourage more people to get active through cricket, The Hundred and KP Snacks have teamed up to fund more than 100 new cricket pitches across the UK.
To mark the occasion in Manchester – where a non-turf pitch was installed last year – local families took part in a masterclass delivered by Lionesses star Lauren Hemp and Manchester Originals’ Filer.
European Championship winner Hemp played cricket at junior level for Norfolk women. And England’s fast-rising pace bowler Filer knows exactly how important local clubs can be for increasing accessibility, having played as a junior with her own family.
“KP’s scheme of putting artificial pitches into local communities like at Cheetham Hill Sports Club in Manchester is making sure men and women, boys and girls can play cricket at any time,” Filer said, speaking at an event hosted at Cheetham Hill, one of the non-turf pitches installed in 2023 as part of the KP Snacks Everyone In Pitch Initiative.
“Whether it’s raining or snowing, the non-turf pitches can be played on by anyone who wants to take up the bat. That can be children or parents too.
“I remember when I was young my mum played softball and that got us all – my mum, my dad and my twin sister – active and doing something together.”
It was at her local cricket club, Weston-Super-Mare, that Filer first got a taste for cricket after being handed a leaflet at school which invited her and her sister to a trial session for a new girls’ team.
Being introduced to cricket at a local level and having the opportunity to try it out in a safe space was the apple seed that blossomed into a professional career for Filer – and she hopes to see other children follow suit.
“I think it’s so important to have facilities like the non-turf pitch in Manchester which offer families the chance to play cricket together,” said the 23-year-old, speaking at an event supporting KP Snacks, who in partnership with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), have committed to installing and refurbishing 100 new non-turf cricket pitches over the next three years focusing on cities and urban areas where facilities might not exist or need refurbishing over three years.
As we celebrate the 2nd year of our commitment to installing 100 all-weather cricket pitches across England and Wales, we took England Star Lauren_Hemp to Cheetham Hill along with @TheHundred @ManchesterOriginal players to inspire the local footballing community to try cricket! pic.twitter.com/3VtxnQW9BE
— KP Nuts (@KPNutsOfficial) July 23, 2024
“My childhood cricket club had an artificial pitch which I played on a lot when I was younger.
“Having access to these spaces creates the opportunity for anyone to get involved, but especially for people who haven’t played cricket before or don’t necessarily want to play at a high level.
“I think it’s key to introduce as many adults and children as possible to the sport of cricket, which we all know and love, so it’s so great to see KP Snacks facilitating that.
“The whole day has been so enjoyable, and the kids have had a great time. They’ve really got stuck in – I even got some flak for my bowling! That’s what it’s all about though, just having fun and being active.”
Despite being a local Hundred star for Manchester Originals, Filer was also a keen footballer growing up and credited the new pitches for enabling children to try a new sport they might otherwise miss out on.
“Cricket is such an inclusive sport,” she added. “It can be a real family thing and to have pitches like these on your doorstep means your local families can discover that for themselves.
“The Hundred is a great one too. For kids, mums, dads to come and enjoy the cricket, check out all the interactive activities. It’s a sport that anyone who tries it loves, so everyone should get involved.”
KP Snacks are hosting a Cricket coaching masterclass with local football supporting families in Manchester introducing new audiences to the joys of a different sport. If forms part of KP Snack’s Everyone In Campaign which aims to inspire and enable families and communities to get active through cricket.
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