1,500 children enjoy Schools’ Day at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence

Kent County Cricket Club and Kent Cricket Board, supported Chance to Shine National Cricket Week, by inviting every Chance to Shine school in the county to attend day three of Kent’s LV= County Championship match against Derbyshire at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence today.

50 schools accepted the offer and one thousand five hundred children attended, giving Kent their unwavering support throughout the day.

Two million children are playing cricket today thanks to Chance to Shine’s school cricket campaign, and last year Kent Cricket Board delivered quality, fun and meaningful cricket sessions to over 70,000 children.

As well as watching first-class cricket, the children enjoyed an autograph session with a number of Kent Cricket players and a range of cricket sessions delivered by qualified coaches. The school that displayed the highest levels of 'spirit of cricket' were awarded with an MCC Spirit of Cricket Shield, and following some very amusing chanting and some creative usage of thundersticks throughout the afternoon, the eventual winners were Brompton Academy, Gillingham.

Chairman of Kent Cricket Board and Kent Cricket CEO, Jamie Clifford commented on the success of the day; “Schools’ Day has been a fantastic event. We hosted 1,500 young people at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence. Many were watching first class cricket for the first time.”

“We hope that everyone had a super day and that this is the start of the cricket bug for life.”

“Chance to Shine is a wonderful campaign and I am extremely pleased to see so many young people with such a keen interest in cricket.”