Rochdale Rotary Club donate £2,000 to Rochdale Cricket Development Group

Bobby Cross receiving the cheque from John Holder

The Rotary Club of Rochdale has made a donation of £2,000 to the Rochdale Cricket Development Group to help further develop the cricketing skills of young men and women from across the borough.

The money was presented to Bobby Cross, from the Rochdale Cricket Development Group, by former Test Umpire Rotarian John Holder during a Rotary club meeting last week.

Speaking about the donation, Mr Cross, the former Captain of Heywood Cricket Club, said: “Since Rochdale Rotary Club has been raising money for youth cricket there has been a dramatic improvement in the skill levels and enjoyment in the game by Rochdale's young people. This new money will be of great help to continue the good progress already made.

"The Rochdale Cricket Development Group have the responsibility of delivering a programme of district cricket for the borough. This sits above school and club cricket and acts as a stepping stone to county age group cricket. There is very limited funding available to help provide coaching, facilities and kit for this programme and the generosity of Rochdale Rotary Club is invaluable to us.

"Cricket promotes many of the values that are shared with Rotary and we are delighted that this relationship continues to flourish in Rochdale.

"We are incredibly grateful and look forward to the next charity dinner in September."

The Rotary Club raised the money through a number of charity dinners held at the club.