Calmore Sports Club have teamed up to sign an exciting new partnership with Testwood School that will give boys and girls the opportunity of playing cricket close to home.

The partnership, alongside Totton and Eling Cricket Club, has been a long time in the making.

Since the standard of King George V Playing Fields, our home and subsequent second ground since the mid-1950s, has fallen well below a safe standard due to the significant neglect by the local council, the club have been searching for a suitable local replacement.

James Cross, the Community Facilties Manager and SGO at Testwood School, was delighted that the link has been created.

“The exciting new partnership between Testwood School and Calmore Sports Club marks a significant step forward for our local community,” he said.

“By joining forces, we are not only strengthening the bonds within the area but also creating new opportunities to grow the womens and girls game of cricket.

“This collaboration will provide young athletes with access to top quality facilities, paving the way for the next generation of talent and ensuring cricket becomes a more inclusive and thriving sport for all,” he concludes.

Former club captain Mark Lavelle, who has been a major part of brokering the deal between the two parties, was pleased to have established such an exciting pathway to the future.

“It has been well known that since the standard of our KGV home for our 3rd and 4th XI dropped below the required standard for safe cricket to be played, we have found it very difficult to keep those teams as close to Loperwood as possible.

“Creating this fantastic partnership will see our 4th XI initially playing all their home games at Testwood where a brand new state of the art artificial pitch has been inserted and we are looking forward to a partnership for years to come and using Testwood alongside Totton and Eling CC.

“This new facility has really assisted in getting more cricket played again in the local area, being only five minutes away from our main ground and that of our near neighbours.

“With exciting plans in place to further develop the facilities at Testwood, we hope that the partnership will be fruitful for both the club and the school as would like to offer any pupils at Testwood the opportunity to join us at Calmore Sports if they want to start their cricketing journey!

“The links between Testwood School and Calmore Sports run greatly throughout the years with many ex-pupils plying their cricketing trade at Calmore and long may this continue.”

Tim Webber, the headteacher of Testwood School, also welcomed the development.  “This partnership is beneficial to our school, our students and the whole community.

“Participating in sport throughout one’s life is important in staying healthy and in building community and this is a step towards achieving that.”

Initially, the club’s youthful 4th XI side, under the captaincy of the vastly experienced Darren Vann, will play all of their home matches at Testwood but there are plans for the club youth teams will use the ground for some of their matches too.