Manifold Heights nets infrastructure grant

AFTER four years of applications and a whole heap of determination, the Manifold Heights Cricket Club will soon get the training facilities it requires to accommodate the club’s players.

As part of the City of Greater Geelong’s 2021-22 Community Infrastructure Grants Allocations, the Manifold Heights Cricket Club will receive a makeover to its turf and hard wicket cricket nets totalling $343,600 after several applications over the last few years.

The club located at Harold Hurst Reserve in Herne Hill, neighbouring St Joseph’s College Westcourt campus and Clonard College, will be retrofitted with six new turf nets and four hard wicket nets as part of the ground’s upgrades, an increase from its original six.

The new nets will include full runups as well, which the club is very excited for.

Club stalwart Damian Tom said these new upgrades will aid in providing suitable facilities in a bid to compete with other nearby Geelong clubs.

“For us to be a competitive club in our area we need the resources to attract a steady flow of players,” Tom said.

“There are clubs like Bell Park, St Peter’s, Joeys, Newtown and Chilwell, Geelong West and Murgheboluc all within a five-kilometre radius, so these upgrades will help us bring in new players.”

 

Tom also believes the new upgrades will bring a sense of pride back to the club’s facilities, as well as possibly bringing back a women’s side in 2022/23, despite being one of the founding clubs in the region’s Barwon Women’s Cricket Competition four seasons ago.

 

Tom also could not speak highly enough of the efforts made by Cr Eddy Kontelj, who has been a tremendous advocate for the club’s upgrades over the years.

“He has been absolutely helpful throughout this entire process,” Tom added.

“As too have the City of Greater Geelong, its Senior Recreation and Open Space Officer Paul Cotter and state MP Christine Couzens, who helped point the club in the right direction during the early stages of the grant application.”

Manifold Heights presently boasts two GCA Division 3 sides, two One Day squads and five Under 11 teams.