LONG Sutton Cricket Club has secured £5,000 to pay for new covers and grounds equipment that will protect its pitch, after winning a national award.

The club has been awarded the funding by financial mutual, OneFamily, through its Foundation Community Awards.

The yearly awards provide game-changing opportunities for community organisations, groups and projects across the UK.

The club pavilion and grounds is centrally located in the village, adjacent to the Village Hall, and has competed locally for more than 30 years with three senior and three junior teams for boys and girls, supported by Level 1 and Level 2 ECB-qualified coaches.

It was in desperate need of proper covers to protect its pitch, after 10 matches had to be cancelled or delayed last season because of wet weather.

Long Sutton was nominated for a Foundation Community Award by Jason Lyons, a OneFamily customer and the father of Jack and Alex Lyons, who are club members – Jack captains one of the club’s Sunday teams.

Long Sutton was one of 41 organisations presented with an award in the latest round.

Jason said: “At the moment, we just have an old tarpaulin sheet we have to drag on and off the square, and it doesn’t really cover the playing surface properly.

“This new equipment will really help the club to train and develop our players, whatever the weather throws at us.”

Rod Long, the cricket club president, added: “This will enable the club to continue to progress and safeguard what it’s got.

“We are already building a really good reputation and last year alone two of our youth sides won their league and two of our senior sides were promoted.

“We hope to do even better this year as the covers should allow us to play every match.”

For more information you can visit onefamily.com/your-foundation.