Cricket clubs walk across south Wales to raise money for young cricketers

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Twelve cricket clubs from across the Valleys have completed four days of walking around south Wales to raise money for young cricketers.

It’s the second time Blackwood Town Cricket Club has taken part in the walk, helping raise thousands for their club alone, which will go towards new equipment and kit for their 60 or so youth players.

Andrew Shelton has been a cricketer at the club for 40 years. Now the club’s secretary, Andrew spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the walks and said: “It was a great couple of days, Blackwood hosted one of the legs where everyone finished the day then started off the following.

“We had the bar open, laid-out some food before making everyone bacon rolls and the likes the next morning.”

Andrew and most of Blackwood Town Cricket Club walked the leg from Blackwood to Machen, but some walked all four days across the Valleys, ending at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Andrew continued: “It was quite a tough trip up and down over the mountain, some people like Dan and Sara Wilkinson did all four legs which was really impressive.

“Their five-year-old daughter walked two days I believe, she might be the youngest to ever do it.”

By doing so, the club alone has raised more than £2,700 – with thousands more being raised amongst all 12 clubs.

“It’ll be a great help because the club is growing massively. We have around 60 players across our U11s through to our U17s and this is the time of year where we’re looking to recruit.

“It does become difficult to retain players past youth, we’re in the second division so we’re looking to keep some quality players.

“Ultimately though, without a youth system and young players you don’t have a future as a club.”

Visit GoFundMe to donate to Blackwood Cricket Club.