A Dungannon cricket club founded almost 80 years ago – but with a history as far back as 1862 – is hoping to replace a “worn-out” wicket to make the most of a “resurgence” in the club.
Dungannon cricket club – based at Dungannon Park – say they are currently experiencing a huge uptake in the sport. Now able to field a 1st XI and 2nd XI for the first time in 15 years, the club are playing playing in the Northern Cricket Union’s Junior Leagues 10 and 11C respectively.
They had been absent from competitive league cricket since 2015 when a lack of players nearly led to the club folding.
Since Covid they have welcomed many new members of all ages, abilities, ethnicities and faiths who come together to “share their love of cricket”. As a cross community club with Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Seikh members, they say “everyone who has an interest in cricket is welcome”.
Keen to make the most of this new, unprecidented growth the club is keen to tap into some fresh avenues for expansion – but they also have a bit of a “sticky wicket” to take care of.
One of their focuses is currently on delivering a Youth Outreach Program. As there are no schools in the Dungannon currently playing cricket, the club hope to encourage more kids to come and get involved.
However, a big problem for the club lays in its 25-year-old and now completely “worn-out” artificial wicket.
They say in its current state it is “potentially dangerous” especially for youth cricket and beginners.
To fix the problem, the club need to raise £10,000 alongside utilising some existing funds to replace the artificial wicket (quoted around £9500) and be able to purchase the necessary playing kit for their planned Youth Outreach Programs (estimated at £1000 – 1500).
The club said: “Dungannon Cricket Club are keen to proactively recruit kids, to create a youth section that we haven’t previously had at the Club in order to develop players so that we may continue playing cricket in Dungannon for another 80+ years.
“This is driven by the changing environment in our local schools where sports, especially cricket, are under resourced or no longer offered. This in turn means a lack of new talent on the horizon to maintain the club in the future.
“We recognise that we need to improve our facilities in order to deliver upon our objectives to remove the barriers and level the playing field to provide a safe surface on which we can coach and train the upcoming talent of the future.”
Their goals are to increase the number of young people participating in cricket, with a strong focus on ages 11–16, provide 8 weeks pre-season indoor coaching sessions during February and March 2027, provide weekly coaching sessions throughout the 2027 season and establish school-club partnerships in conjunction with NCU.
They also have plans to launch a “Smash It” program where, through fun games and activities, children will discover the skills of batting, bowling, fielding, and wicket-keeping, all while developing fundamental movement skills like balance, coordination, and teamwork.
“We are determined to raise the full amount through community fundraising, member contributions, and grant support, including funding from Sport NI’s Project Creating Opportunities, which helps us bridge the gap and turn this vision into reality,” they said.
“This isn’t just an investment in our facilities—it’s an investment in the future of inclusive cricket in Dungannon. By improving our playing surface, we can offer a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment where more young people feel confident to take part, develop their skills, and stay involved in the sport long-term. Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse cricket community for generations to come.”
You can make a contribution to Dungannon Cricket Club’s Crowdfunding appeal here.
