FORMER England captain Mike Gatting insists he can’t wait to get his hands dirty when he helps out at Shillingstone Cricket Club later this month as part of the 14th annual NatWest CricketForce.

Shillingstone has been selected as one of this year’s showcase clubs for the scheme with an army of volunteers coming down to lend a hand and get the ground ready for the new season on Sunday, March 29.

One of those to put their name down is Gatting, and he is adamant the day will help Shillingstone make a big impression for years to come.

“Shillingstone is a nice club for us to go to, as it is such as community club,” Gatting said. “The football, tennis and cricket clubs are all quite closely linked, and dwindling a bit.

“This is a fantastic chance for us to go there and help all those clubs, not only through the work we do on that day, but also all the publicity it will generate.

“Interest in the project will raise more sponsors, volunteers, and members for the club, and so it really is a big day in terms of making the club more sustainable.”

And Gatting, now ECB managing director of cricket partnerships, is adamant this year’s CricketForce will benefit more than just the clubs.

“I hope we’re helping the communities as well as the clubs,” he added.

“Kids want to go to clubs, and have fun with their mates in a safe area.”

As well as the arrival of Gatting, the ECB, partnered by Sport England, has made a grant award of £16,631 towards the cost of a two-bay practice area at Shillingstone, with the parish council supporting the application.

Shillingstone chairman Clive Nelson, said: “We were relieved and delighted to receive the grant award as we urgently needed to up-grade our practice facilities.

“This new facility will transform our coaching activities and this year we will be able to organise a much more structured coaching programme.”

  • NatWest CricketForce is an ECB project helping cricket clubs renovate and improve their facilities before each season with the help of members and their wider communities.

Find out when your local club event is and lend a hand at ecb.co.uk/nwcf