Please find Below our Yearly Newsletter for 2023, In this year's newsletter you will find details of all the children and community events we have run this year. At MP Sports Development Trust we are serious about getting children active by providing kids with fun, low cost or free activities. For more information about everything we do, how to take part or to make a donation, please head over to our websites using the links below.
We would like to thank you for all your support and help this year - we really couldn't do it without you.
We hope you have the most amazing Christmas and a Happy and successful New Year.
MP Sports Cricket Academy and
MP Sports Development Trust
Yearly Newsletter 2023
On one of the hottest days of
the year and with the help of some very special volunteers, MP Sports Cricket
Academy packed up for the winter. It has
been a monumental year for both the Cricket Academy and MP Sports Development
Trust and next year looks to be just as busy with several events already on the
calendar for the New Year.
January
Early in January children had
the opportunity to join our indoor cricket training courses, held at
Lord Williams’s School sports hall. This
gives children the chance to practise their cricket skills prior to the start
of the new season.
February
We were also pleased to
announce the arrival of 50 more baby Salix Alba willow trees at the
ground. Local councillors were on hand
to help with the planting and some very kind volunteers have helped to water
the little trees throughout the year.
March
In March we hosted a badminton
tournament at the Thame Leisure Centre. 22 badminton players from years 6,7 and 8 joined us for two hours of
non-stop badminton fun, each playing 9 games. Everyone that participated received a tournament medal and the winner
overall was awarded a trophy. A big
thank you goes to all the wonderful parents who gave up their time to help out
and to Demitri Maldonado from Thame Badminton Club for his guidance.
The 18th of March saw the
welcome return of diving catch practice at Thame swimming pool. The children got to practise their catches in
the deep end of the swimming pool and had some fun sprint races and games at
the end.
April
Over the Easter Holidays
children joined us at the ground for our Easter Holiday courses. This was a great way for children to stay
active over the two week holiday and to learn new cricket skills.
May
The Coronation Cup in
May was a success, after some pretty heavy rain the day before. Cricketers from MP Academy, Taplow and Marlow
joined us on the day and Marlow went on to win the trophy in the final. All participants received a medal and there
was a sky-high catching competition to finish off.
This year’s Primary School
Cricket Tournament for children in years three and four was especially fun,
with six teams taking part. John Hampden
ultimately won the trophy, and every child received a medal. This yearly event is a great introduction to
cricket for many children who have never played before. Open to all primary schools in year 3 and 4,
it is a free event run by the MP Sports Development Trust.
June
In June Manoj was delighted to
attend the John Hampden Sports Day, where he taught pupils batting
fielding and catching skills and set up a cricket match.
MP Sports Academy cricketers did fantastically well in
the Aylesbury District Midweek Cricket League. Some players were able to join us for a
Father’s Day friendly match against Bledlow Village at the picturesque Bledlow
Oval. Dads played kids, and even some
grandfathers joined in.
The ground has
been busy this year with many clubs and organisations hiring out the space for
cricket matches and events. 1stThame Cub Scouts joined us in June for an evening of cricket followed by
two cubs being invested.
July/August
Holiday
courses have also
been very popular this year, running throughout the school summer holidays in
July and August. Children could do a
whole course or just a few days. There
was cricket practice, cricket matches and fun games to keep kids active over
the long summer break.
September
At the end
of the summer holidays, in September, everyone was invited to a presentation
evening to celebrate children’s achievements. They also got the chance to play in our
annual parents vs kids match.
Councillor
Pieter Paul Barker was kind
enough to visit us at the end of course three to present the children with a
free tennis ball so they can continue to practise their new skills at home.
At the end of the year, we were delighted to receive a letter
from the King, thanking us for our hard work this year and for our
celebratory Coronation Cup, which was held in May. I have attached a copy of the letter to this
email.
Next Year…
There are already several things on the calendar for next
year so watch this space for our latest year plan. In January, children will once again have the
opportunity to take part in some quality indoor cricket training before the
start of the season. All sessions are
held by Manoj Parmar, an ex-first-class cricketer and level three coach.
On the 13th to the 23rd of February
next year, MP Sports are offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch two
of the world’s best cricket teams in action LIVE in India! MP Sports Cricket Academy’s India Tour,
for cricketers and tourists, will include tickets to see India vs England at a
local ground and a chance to see many of the local sights, accompanied by Manoj
Parmar as your guide.
If you would like to join us, or would just like some
more information, please let us know.
And finally…
We would like to THANK YOU for all of your support
and help in 2023 and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and successful
New Year.
Many thanks
From all of us at MP Sports Cricket Academy and MP Sports Development Trust,MP sports group