Where the funds go!...
Primary schools and extra-curricular cricket clubs have benefited from the foundation’s input, with ‘Cricket Factory’ equipment being donated to various schools.
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There has also been a helping hand given to those selected to represent the Jersey Cricket Board away from home.
The Foundation helped fund young cricketers like Jonty Jenner and Jake Dunford.
Jake Dunford
THE team behind a foundation carrying the name of former Jersey Cricket Board chairman Keith Dennis hope their efforts will reap high-profile rewards in years to come, as their support at junior level continues to flourish.
The Foundation is fundamentally out there to try and promote the wonderful game of cricket,’ said foundation chairman David Gorman, pictured next Janet Dennis, who helped her husband Keith set up the foundation back in 2012.
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‘Keith developed lifetime friendships from cricket relationships, and those relationships gave him so much fun and enjoyment. He wanted every youngster to be able to experience those friendships and the camaraderie of cricket, and if we can support cricket at junior level we might open the floodgates for more people to play.’
Discussing the primary school programmes which have received valued support, Dave Gorman said: ‘Although the term for the equipment is “Cricket Factory”, the children are basically playing a game based around throwing, catching and hitting.
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‘The game is designed with attractive features and bright colours, and if children enjoy sports activities like this then they will get enthused and might want to play cricket in the future.
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‘We would then be expanding our pool of cricketers from which the Jersey Cricket Board can select from, and if we get a higher population of players then the strength in Jersey will be good for us to make progress.’
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He added: ‘We support youngsters selected for overseas tours who come from families who can’t afford the cost of that tour, and we have also supported a business run by James Caunt [former Jersey and Nottinghamshire wicket keeper] called 'Chirpy's Cricket Club.'
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‘Through James, youngsters aged three and four are being exposed to the skills you’d require as a ball sports individual, and it’s all about fun. They have bean bags instead of balls and again what we’re trying to do is support activities that children may associate with cricket, so that they’re more likely to do it in later life. That will then hopefully improve the standard of cricket in Jersey and improve our standing in the World Cricket League.’
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Current senior internationals Jonty Jenner and Jake Dunford have also been in close contact with the foundation, following their selection for the MCC’s Young Cricketers programme.
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‘The JCB and Keith Dennis Foundation combined to support Jake and Jonty, as we think it’s an honour for two Jersey cricketers to be singled out for this programme with the MCC,’ Gorman expained.
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‘Great players like Ian Botham and New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe were on the same programme and hopefully we’ll have more players like Jake and Jonty coming through from Jersey in the future.’
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