Harrogate Spring Water, the official water of England Cricket and Yorkshire Cricket, has lifted a financial cloud over North Yorkshire Schools’ Cricket with a three-year sponsorship package.
It ends a period of uncertainty in the association’s 50 year history after the withdrawal of public funding left the association in a financial fix and needing urgent help to keep its grassroots network running.
The three-year sponsorship has given a new lease of life to the association, which has nurtured Yorkshire and England players such as Jonny Bairstow, Adam Lyth and Ryan Sidebottom.
Association Chairman Adrian Grayson said:
We used to be directly funded by North Yorkshire County Council but this ended two years ago and we faced a difficult future. We managed to keep things going last year but were facing severe financial hardship before Harrogate Spring stepped in with a generous three-year package.
It is great news for the youngsters who put so much hard work and dedication into cricket, training throughout the winter in preparation for the season ahead.
Nicky Cain, marketing manager of Harrogate Spring, said:
North Yorkshire has a long history of producing great cricketers who have gone on to play for Yorkshire and England. We are proud to be helping a new generation of cricketers who may one day be playing for their county and country.
The association has seven teams from under-nines to under-15s, which play in Yorkshire Festival matches against South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, Kirklees and Wakefield, Bradford and Calderdale and Leeds Central. These matches act as trials for the Yorkshire Schools’ Cricket teams.
As well as being the official water of England Cricket and Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Harrogate Spring is also the official water of Ascot Racecourse and Royal Ascot.
