Many boys and girls in the Horsham area will get their first chance to play cricket as the result of the new Identilam Horsham Cricket Academy, launched during Sussex's Norwich Union League match against Essex on the famous old ground today (Tuesday June 4).

Identilam, the biggest independent manufacturers of photo identity cards in the UK, has given £22,500 and Sportsmatch, funded by the Government through Sport England, has doubled that sum, making £45,000 available to the scheme for the next three years. The scheme is, therefore, one of the largest of its kind in the country.

Sportsmatch is a business sponsorship incentive scheme that is administered in England by the Institute of Sports Sponsorship on behalf of the government and Sport England. It aims to provide a much needed boost to grass roots sport and physical recreation throughout Great Britain.

Schools in the Horsham area will be approached before the end of the current summer term and coaching will start next year giving children the chance to learn the game with expert guidance.

Facilities and cricket equipment will be provided to enable boys and girls to play and practise cricket safely and with confidence. The scheme also plans to provide a dramatic increase in the number of local coaches.

Despite a long standing tradition of coaching and matches at Horsham Cricket Club itself virtually no cricket is played at present in schools in the area. Thanks to the sponsors of the new Academy, in association with Sportsmatch, both the club and the schools will benefit from a scheme that will encourage more youngsters to play cricket without draining their existing budgets.

The presentation will take place between innings on the 4 June NUL match Sussex Sharks v Essex Eagles at Horsham.

© ECB