To celebrate the massive investment in playing and practice facilities at Templepatrick Cricket Club over the past two years, the Ballyclare based club will be holding an official pitch opening at The Cloughan on Sunday, May 29.

Club officials would like to see as many current players, past players, friends, family and cricket supporters there as possible to hopefully enjoy a festival of cricket and plenty of craic.

The event, being held to mark the official opening of the club’s impressive new pitch and practice facilities, will get under way at 11am when a Templepatrick CC Over 45 team will play a 10 over game against a Muckamore CC Over 45 team. Then at 1pm Andy McCrea’s Old Boys XI take on Artie Campbell’s Old Boys XI in a 20 over match. Past players should get in touch with Andy McCrea on mccrea.a@sky.com

Then boys and girls in the Under 7, Under 9 and Under 11 age groups will take centre stage at 3pm during a ‘cricket blitz’ event involving young players from the home club and visitors Lurgan CC.

The final 20 over game of the day, involving two teams of current Templepatrick players, is scheduled to get under way at around 4.30pm.

Throughout the afternoon there will be fun for all the family, with children’s entertainment, a barbecue and much more.

Templepatrick CC Cricket Development Officer Andy McCrea said: "It promises to be a fantastic day of cricket at The Cloughan on May 29. We hope as many people from the local community as possible will come along and enjoy the fun and games and see what their local club has to offer.

"At Templepatrick we cater for people of all ages and all abilities. We are a club at the heart of the community and we will continue to strive to promote cricket in the local area."

Chairman Duncan Elder added: "This pitch opening marks the culmination of years of hard work and effort on the part of our general committee, particularly Andy McCrea who worked tirelessly to secure the funding for our ground improvements.

"Over the past two years we have been able to install a state-of-the-art 4 bay artificial practice area, construct a new square, purchase new covers and put improved drainage in our outfield. We are extremely grateful to Sport NI, Biffaward, the Old Ballyclarians Association, the Lords Taverners and Newtownabbey Borough Council for their generous support which has helped make these ambitious projects possible."

The club has invested more than £180,000 in its facilities over the past few seasons and has plans for further improvements in the years ahead.

For more information about Templepatrick Cricket Club log on to www.templepatrickcc.co.uk