for the Eversley project, an order was placed for a
structure 42m x 22m x 6.5m.
The build went well, with Collinson supplying the
Challenger™ building—including cladding, gutters,
down pipes, ventilation, lighting, external walls
and doors—before handing the building over in
April 2009 for the internal fit out, which was
project managed by the club.
Once completed, Eversley quickly began to reap
the rewards of such a prestigious facility.
Since then, the club has benefitted tremendously.
The four lane facility accommodates training
November through to April. Unlike the previous
year when abysmal weather through May and
June hampered play, rain was no longer an issue.
Members were even able to host matches in the
internal centre cage.
Adding another string to their bow, the club are
now members of the indoor league which runs
from October through to December.
The club utilises the facility 50% of peak time,
evenings, and weekends, and have seen an
increase in revenue by hiring out to other clubs
for cricket, bowling, and keep-fit activities. The
main external emphasis has been on working with
a group called SuperSportz who offer private
one-to-one and group cricket coaching, and work
closely with local schools and clubs.
Names like Nick Compton, Monty Panesar, and
Charlotte Edwards MBE—the current captain of the
England women’s team—regularly train at Eversley.
When speaking to the England and Wales Cricket
Board prior to the build, the club were asked
what they hoped to achieve from the build. The
answer? To improve the skill of their cricketers.
possible in their area – cricket club membership
has increased by 200%. With over 250 young
members, plus a 50 strong waiting list; 100
seniors; the club; and the football club, with over
400 juniors, they now not only provide a fantastic
sporting facility for the youth of the area, but for
the community as a whole.
Alan Budge, Vice Chairman of the club, said, “The
standard of cricket played here at Eversley is
outstanding. Whilst perhaps not exclusively as a
result of the centre, it is pretty close to that.
“By utilising this fantastic facility and having good
coaches we give every player, young or old, the
opportunity to excel.”
“
Indoor facilities are few and far
between. The savings made by
choosing a Collinson building
rather than a traditional build
made our dream a possibility,
a possibility that we as a club
made a reality, and we will
continue to go from strength to
strength.
With an ever-increasing number
of Eversley-based youngsters
representing district and county
levels, it is only a matter of time
before one of them goes onto
national honours.
Alan Budge
Vice Chairman
”
When the Centre was officially opened in 2012,
former England cricketer Devon Malcolm was
equally impressed. According to him, Eversley has
‘an outstanding facility’.
True enough, the seniors have moved up two
divisions in the last three years to play in the first
division of the Thames Valley League. So too have
the juniors, now playing in the highest levels of
the Hampshire Cricket Leagues. This, according to
the club, can be directly credited to the ability to
train whatever the weather.
The number of young people inclined to
participate in sport and exercise is increasing.
Eversley Sports Association have made this
T: 01995 606 451
collinson.co.uk
Construction_Eversley_CS_Rev01