MCC's renews commitment to UCCE and U-13 National Championships

Date released: 8 April 2004

MCC Spirit of Cricket is to invest £165,000 in a second year of sponsorship for two England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) competitions - the University Centres of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) Championship and the U-13 National Club Championship.

The MCC Spirit of Cricket UCCE Championship will benefit from a basic sponsorship of £60,000, with an additional £10,000 available to each of the six university centres (taking the total sponsorship to £120,000) to enhance their cricket programmes - for example, by purchasing computer-based cricket coaching aids.

Over 1,690 teams will take part in the MCC Spirit of Cricket U-13 National Club Championship, which will receive £45,000 under the terms of the agreement.

Announcing the sponsorship, Tony Dodemaide (see right), MCC's Head of Cricket, said: "We are delighted to be able to continue with our sponsorship of the UCCE and the U-13 National Club championships. Both competitions produce an excellent standard of cricket, and provide a good opportunity for MCC to promote its Spirit of Cricket message - that cricket should be played hard, but fairly."

Hugh Morris , ECB Performance Director, said: "The University Centres of Cricketing Excellence have provided a massive boost to young cricketers in this country with some exceptionally talented graduates, such as James Foster and Caroline Atkins, benefiting from strong cricket competition coupled with a sound higher education. Club cricket, in particular junior club cricket, is the heart of our sport and the ECB is fortunate to have supporters such as MCC helping us promote the grass roots of the game."

The first round of MCC Spirit of Cricket UCCE Championship matches begin on Saturday 8th May, with the final scheduled to take place at Lord's Cricket Ground on Friday 25th June.

The finals of the MCC Spirit of Cricket U13 National Club Championship will take place at Oakham School, Rutland, from 3rd to 6th August. The 2003 competition was won by Basingstoke & North Hants CC.