A CRICKET club is asking the community for support after a tough year of closure.

Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, situated on the town’s Ropery Lane, has set up a Crowdfunder page in the hope of securing vital donations to help drive the club forward after a traumatic year.

The Covid-19 pandemic has left many businesses and organisations reeling from its impact, with the hospitality and sporting sector arguably taking the biggest blow.

As a result of the pandemic, Chester-le-Street Cricket Club’s 2020 season was shattered, while all other means of generating income ground to a halt.

The club prides itself on being at the heart of its community, bringing together a perfect mix of sport enthusiasts, and local people from all over the region under one roof.

Popular not just for its successful cricket team, the club is also known for hosting personal events such as wedding receptions and birthday parties.

The club hasn’t been able to open its doors fully since April 2020.

As a result, it has lost out on valuable opportunities to raise money – through not only cricket, including league games, county games and all other levels of the sport, but also private functions.

This situation has left the club in desperate need of donations to help facilitate ongoing essential maintenance to its clubhouse, including flat roof repairs, and compensation for the loss of match-day and clubhouse bookings income.

Chester-le-Street Cricket Club is asking for donations that will support all areas of the club while it weathers the current crisis.

The fundraising drive is offering various rewards in exchange for donations. These rewards range from raffle tickets for competitions to win goodies signed by star cricketers, while also on offer – in strictly limited numbers and subject to Covid regulations – are hospitality packages for upcoming games at the Chester-le-Street ground.

The club state that it is important for the community to rally together and offer help where possible, for the future.

So far the club has managed to raise over £6,200 and is hoping to achieve their £20,000 target. Donations can be made through the Chester-le-Street CC Covid Recovery Fund page on the Crowdfunder website: crowdfunder.co.uk/covid-recovery-fund-1