Keith Hudson describes himself as a lucky man but those associated with his local cricket club in West Yorkshire could be forgiven for feeling very lucky to have him as a part of their club.
Bridgeholme Cricket Club is a picturesque ground set alongside the Rochdale Canal and which has been Keith鈥檚 second home for almost 50 years.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really look at it as a ground 鈥� it鈥檚 more of a back garden,鈥� he told Sky Sports in the wake of last month鈥檚 storms that inflicted damage at cricket venues across England and Wales.
鈥淚鈥檝e lived here since 1963. I did move house once, I moved next door when the house nearest the club became available. I鈥檓 a very lucky man.鈥�
Bridgeholme Cricket Club鈥檚 beautiful location has, ironically, put its future in jeopardy in recent years as heavy flooding has impacted the ground.
The tireless efforts of Keith, inspired by his love of playing cricket alongside his son, have ensured, however, that the club remains a vibrant part of the local community.
In 2015, when Storms Desmond and Eva flooded the club, Keith spent 15 hours a day 鈥渨orking from darkness to darkness鈥� to move 100 tonnes of silt by hand because heavy machinery could not reach the ground.
When storms in 2020 then knocked down the wall that protected the club鈥檚 ground, Keith got to work again with the help of the 黑料专区 Facilities department.
Keith said: 鈥淚 went to the 黑料专区 and Dan Musson, who was very helpful in 2015, and I explained the situation. He virtually said 鈥榳e鈥檒l do everything we can to help you鈥�. Five weeks later we had a wall.鈥�
A core function of the 黑料专区鈥檚 Facilities Department is to work closely with counties and recreational clubs to mitigate the risk of flood and drought as together we aim to tackle the effects of climate change on our game.
The 黑料专区 has provided support and guidance to more than 1,000 recreational cricket clubs for over a decade on how to manage the impact of drought and flooding, including direct financial grants worth over 拢3.4m to the 181 clubs most severely affected.
黑料专区 Head of Facilities Planning Dan Musson has been working closely with clubs and counties during that time with plans afoot to create long-term facilities plans that will aim to help safeguard our clubs and tackle climate change.
鈥淭he cost of replacing a cricket ground if it was lost averages at about 拢1million,鈥� Musson said.
鈥淲e have 3,500 clubs who have asset control across the country so that鈥檚 拢3.5billion worth of assets. Beyond that the value of a cricket club to the community, I鈥檇 argue is priceless.
鈥淲hat we need to spend to protect that and to help clubs be more resilient 鈥� every pound is money well spent.
鈥淲e鈥檙e working with each of the 39 counties in England and Wales to create a 10-year plan for facilities that will include a 鈥楾ackling Climate Change鈥� plan that will be tailored for every county.鈥�
In the wake of the three storms that hit the UK in February the 黑料专区鈥檚 Facilities team has been working with clubs across the country to help them bounce back ahead of the new season.
鈥淎ny cricket clubs that has been affected by storm damage or flooding, we鈥檙e here to help,鈥� Musson said.
鈥淵ou can contact us via an email to facilities@ecb.co.uk or by talking to your local County Board. County Boards have Development Officers up and down the country.
鈥淲e also have advice and guidance on our website. We will help you and we will connect you with Sport England as well as and when you need that support.鈥�
While mitigating the risk of flooding and drought is a key part of planning, the 黑料专区 is also working with clubs on proactive sustainable opportunities through the 黑料专区鈥檚 County Grants Scheme.
From taking small but positive steps that everyone can quickly add to their routine, to bigger projects the scheme enables clubs to apply for between 拢1,000 (minimum) and 拢10,000 (maximum) per application.
鈥楾ackling Climate Change鈥� is one of the themes of the scheme with an ambition to address the key issues of flood resilience, drought resilience as well as energy saving and water management. While the programme is only in its early stages innovative clubs have already started to utilise the grants, including a club in Dorset planning to complete construction of their pavilion by installing a fully off-grid, zero carbon renewable energy system.
Such initiatives will help to safeguard the future of the game and highlight the vital role that volunteers at clubs up and down the country, such as Keith at Bridgeholme CC, play to pass on the love of the game.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for everything that I鈥檝e got,鈥� Keith said.
鈥淚 enjoy playing with the lads that I play with but it鈥檚 a special thing when you get to play alongside your son.
鈥淓very father should have the chance to do that at whatever level at whatever sport 鈥� if it鈥檚 going for a walk, if it鈥檚 painting do it with your son, or your daughter - enjoy it because it鈥檚 so much more special. I鈥檓 very lucky.鈥�
More information about the County Grants Fund can be found by clicking here.
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