COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club have been left bowled over by an impressive new practice nets complex.
Around 300 members, sponsors and their guests were at Castle Park for the opening of the significant new facility, which will aid the development of cricket in the area.
The practice nets complex, which cost around £72,000 funded by grants and donations, offers a first-class standard facility and will be available to support amateur and schools cricket in North Essex.
It is a remarkable fundraising achievement, coming a mere two years after the £650,000 refurbishment of the main pavilion.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted by Essex cricket legend Graham Napier and Alice Fey from the club’s Diamond sponsor, Howden Insurance.
The event coincided with an Open Day, during which both Colchester men’s and women’s first XI teams enjoyed the new facilities, along with dozens of juniors, including trialists from local schools.
The driving force behind the fundraising project, Martin Bashall, explained that the nets had been funded by grants and generous donations, notably from sponsors Howden, Hills Construction, Ellisons Solicitors, Nationwide Precast Concrete, Sibbons, plus hundreds of smaller contributions.
The Howden’s partnership with Colchester and East Essex CC is notably innovative, as each time the club introduces a new policyholder it will benefit from a further donation that will help it maintain such fine facilities.
Colchester and East Essex club chairman Tim Spelling highlighted that Napier is one of a long succession of past Colchester players to go on to succeed in First Class cricket, also including Neil Foster, Reece Topley and Ben Foakes.
Within the 2025 Colchester team, Charlie Allison, Simon Fernandes, Joe MacGregor, Joe Austin and Dan Gladwell have all represented the Essex Second XI with Charlie and Simon making their Essex First XI debuts in 2024, whilst Esmae MacGregor and Bella Johnson feature for Essex or Sunrisers Women.
Napier highlighted the importance of the new facility and how without such major investment at a grassroots level identifying talent and progressing that through into the professional game would be more difficult.
This latest development means that Castle Park has been restored to its position as the premier cricket ground in North Essex, with the fact that Essex Second XI has elected to repeatedly play there in the early part of the season is testimony to that.
The pitch and out-ground maintained by Essex Premier League Groundsman of the Year, Jez Sadler, looks in astonishing condition and a batter’s paradise.
During the season’s warm-up Essex match against Somerset Seconds, Colchester captain, Simon Fernandes, hit 66 and 118 not out for the county.
With his Colchester squad retaining most of its players from 2024, an exciting season beckons in the Men’s Essex Premier League.
The Women’s XI hope to retain their Essex Women’s Premier League title and also have a strong squad.
Admission to all Colchester and East Essex fixtures in Castle Park is free and the Bar/Pavilion is always welcoming.
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