Supporting Selby Cricket Club

At Selby Hands of Hope, we are proud to be supporting Selby Cricket Club through a series of fundraising events to help raise money for much-needed improvements to their clubhouse.

My connection with Selby Cricket Club goes back many years. It all started in 2010, when John Loughton, Mally Bowden of Selby Cricket Club, and I came together in the Albion Vaults and arranged the very first game. From that moment, a strong bond was formed between Selby Hands of Hope and Selby Cricket Club.

That first fixture marked the beginning of an annual tradition. This year will be the 16th game overall, with the first six matches played against the Albion team and this year being the 10th match against Malt Shovel.

Over the years, it has become a well-attended event and an important part of our fundraising efforts.

Over the last seven years, we have raised more than £5,000 through the annual cricket game. We are very grateful to Selby Cricket Club for allowing us to use their facilities over the years, and this support is our way of saying thank you.

This project also carries special meaning for me and my family. In 2016, my mum, Wendy Singh, who founded Selby Hands of Hope, spoke with Barbara Gouldsbrough, and together they came up with a plan to improve the kitchen and tea room at Selby Cricket Club. It was also agreed that the changing rooms and hallways would be freshened up with painting and decoration.

Work was due to begin on Monday 25th July 2016. Sadly, my mum passed away on 24th July 2016, the day before the project was due to start, so the work had to be postponed. The project was eventually completed on 4th February 2017 by my family and the Selby Hands of Hope trustees. It remains a very important part of our story and a lasting reflection of my mum’s passion for helping local communities.

Now, almost 10 years on, we are once again coming together to support Selby Cricket Club as they look to improve and expand their clubhouse for the future.

Our fundraising events

We are pleased to be holding a number of fundraising events in support of this project.

Our first event will be a football match on Sunday 19th April at Selby Town FC, where Selby Hands of Hope will take on Selby Cricket Club, with a 12:30pm kick-off.

This will be followed by our annual cricket match on 5th July at Selby Cricket Club, where Selby Hands of Hope will once again play Malt Shovel for the John Loughton Trophy.

All money raised from these events will go directly to Selby Cricket Club to support plans to improve and expand the clubhouse.

Why this matters

To me, a strong local cricket club is about far more than sport. Clubs like Selby Cricket Club play an important role at the heart of the community. They provide a place where children, young people and adults of all abilities can come together, stay active, build confidence and enjoy being part of a team.

Grassroots sport is vital. It encourages healthier lifestyles, creates friendships, teaches respect and discipline, and gives people of all ages a sense of belonging. For children especially, clubs like this can be the starting point for learning teamwork, commitment and community spirit — values that stay with them throughout life.

The benefits of an improved clubhouse

Expanding and improving the clubhouse would bring huge benefits to Selby Cricket Club and the wider local area. A larger and more functional space would allow the club to:

host more community events
hold social evenings and fundraising activities
welcome more players, families and supporters
create better facilities for junior and senior teams
generate additional income to support the club long term

An improved clubhouse would not only benefit cricket, but would also

create more opportunities for the club to become an even stronger hub

for the wider community. By hosting events and activities throughout the

year, the club can continue to raise funds, strengthen its future, and remain

a valuable local asset for generations to come.

I hope you will support our upcoming fundraising events and help us make

a real difference for Selby Cricket Club.

Richard Singh