A £600 grant is on its way to Kingsbridge CC to help grow the club’s expanding youth section.

Youth cricket at the South Hams club has grown rapidly over the past three years.

The junior section comprised 35 young cricketers playing at under-11 and under-13 level before the expansion exercise began.

By the end of last summer Kingsbridge were running a Grasshoppers section, for ages five to seven, an under-11 development team, and under-14 side and a new girls’ team at under-13, which went straight into the Wollen Michelmore South Devon Youth League.

Belle Everitt-Holmes, who plays for the team, won the league’s all-rounder award in her division.

Numbers had grown to 85 – and more new cricketers are expected this summer through the Wine and Wickets programme for lady players aged 15 and above.

There were so many young ladies playing cricket at the Butts, club secretary Ani Everitt was invited to assemble a South Hams squad to compete in the Devon Youth Games.

Kat Hampton, the secretary of the David Shepherd Cricket Trust, said Kingsbridge was a good example of a club that could be helped by a grant.

“We are pleased to be able to support cricket club in what it is trying to achieve with junior cricket,” said Hampton.

“It seems they are doing a fantastic job growing numbers and developing as a club.”

Not only is the Trust supporting the club, the club has supported the future work of the Trust by recruiting 12 new members.

The Trust has a target of ploughing £20,000 a year into youth cricket at all levels, money that is raised through subscription income and fund-raising events, such as celebrity lunches with well-known players.

The David Shepherd Cricket Trust supports youth cricketers and the coaches who work with them at all levels of ability.

The charity was set-up in memory of former Gloucestershire and Devon player David Shepherd, who went on to become on of the top Test umpires in world cricket. He died in 2009.

The David Shepherd Cricket Trust has money available for grants now. To apply, visit the charity website and follow the link to supporting youth cricket.

Pictured is Kingsbridge’s young lady cricketer Olivia Churcher, who has been Devon’s player of the year twice in the past three seasons