Keswick Cricket Club has a major new principal sponsor as it looks forward with optimism to the delayed start of the 2021 season this summer.
In this most difficult of times, when all amateur sports clubs, along with many other community groups, are struggling in the face of the COVID pandemic, a Penrith-based company has entered a significant sponsorship package with the award-winning Keswick club.
O’Reilly Wealth Management, which also has offices in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, has entered a three-year-deal with the Lakeland club that last year won the county title in the Cumbria Cricket Premier League.
Lee Watson is managing director of the financial advice company.
Originally from Threlkeld and now living and working out of West Cumbria, Lee was a visitor to the club last summer when it had great success in a shortened season from late July to mid-September.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere at the club last season,” said Lee, whose father Alan, was a former 1st XI player at KCC.
“It was difficult for everyone because of the COVID restrictions but the club organised everything superbly and it was wonderful for players and spectators to be able to play or watch cricket in such a fantastic setting.
“It strikes me that Keswick is a very well-organised and ambitious club that plays a vital role in the local community and when the opportunity came along to become principal sponsor we had no hesitation.”
Together with appropriate signage around the ground, the sponsorship also involves the name and logo of the company on playing shirts.
KCC publicity officer and groundsman Keith Richardson said: “For O’Reilly Wealth Management to support our club in these desperate times is a massive boost, not only for the club but also for the local community and helps us enormously as we look forward hopefully to the return of cricket this summer.”
Keswick Cricket Club’s roll of honour includes having won a national competition run by Wisden Cricket monthly magazine for the Loveliest Cricket Ground in the UK.
The club runs three senior teams that compete (first XI) in the Cumbria Cricket League Premier Division and (second and third XIs) in the Eden Valley Cricket League.
It also has a women’s squad and three junior teams that compete in the Cumbria Junior Cricket League at under-15, 13 and 11 age levels.
Under normal circumstances, coaching sessions under qualified coaches are held on a regular basis in the winter months at Keswick School and outdoors at Fitz Park during the summer.
The club also stages representative matches during the course of a normal season and provides a home ground for Keswick School teams.
