PROTECTING the future of cricket for our hundreds of junior players and in generations to come has been one of the key messages the club has been putting forward in support of its £1million ground relocation plan.
Younger members have long been the heartbeat of the club, with many former juniors now playing in all the senior sides.
KPCC had a terrific season last year, with the juniors winning trophy after trophy and, without doubt, has one of the strongest girls’ sections in the region.
While there are high achievers, the club is just as proud to say it has brought cricket into the lives of thousands of other young people who play at every level.
The new ground will secure that legacy and perhaps inspire some youngsters to even greater heights.
Chairman of the junior section Russell Haggar said: ‘If you want to see all that is best in young people nowadays, just turn up on a Saturday or Sunday morning in the summer and watch the dozens of boys and girls of all ages, sizes, shapes and ethnic backgrounds playing, practising and really enjoying their cricket.
‘Without a new ground, Knebworth will lose claim to having one of the best and most vibrant junior cricket clubs in the region.’
‘KPCC is one of the strongest clubs for junior cricket in the county. It is a truly local club, taking children from all of Knebworth (not just Old Knebworth), and from local schools across the area.
‘It has won the ECB’s sought-after Clubmark child welfare accreditation status and provides cricket for all abilities, yet consistently develops high quality players at all ages that have gone on to play for county – and we have the strongest girls cricket club in the county.
‘All our coaches are ECB-qualified and give up large amounts of their own time to work with the children from this area. We are a major village asset providing a social centre for the community and a focus of sporting excellence.
‘We have families here at the club where generation after generation have started out as a junior player, before becoming an adult player and then bringing their own kids along. It would be a tragedy to lose all of this if the club has to close because it cannot find a new location.’
