We have been pleased to support the work of the NDCG over the last few years since their aims fit closely with our own in facilitating young people to play cricket.
In particular they have supported girls’ teams since 2018 and we have funded winter training and summer match balls in 2025 to ensure these are affordable for all.
Our funds also supported the NDCG Girls awards evening with trustees Steve and Jill Brunt in attendance and Jill presented the girls with their awards for season 2025.
The following Introduction to a report produced by the SHAPE Learning Partnership describes the first year’s work of the Sports Development Officer in increasing participation in cricket.
This post was part funded by Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket and demonstrates considerable success in meeting that objective in all age groups, across 5 cricket Clubs, 20 plus schools and 668 participants and well meets our Charity Objectives.
In the light of this success, we have agreed to provide a further £4,000 funding for another year to continue this work, embed the approach into schools and extend to children with disabilities.
“Introduction
This report outlines the reach and impact of a series of school and community cricket programmes delivered across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. While Queen’s Park hosted one event, most delivery was relocated to Cutthorpe and Coal Aston Cricket Clubs due to scheduling challenges with Chesterfield Cricket Club. These alternative venues proved highly accommodating and instrumental in enabling inclusive, high-quality cricket experiences for local schools.
The programme aligns closely with the Friends of Queen’s Park’s charitable objectives: promoting healthy recreation, advancing cricket education and ensuring the long-term viability of cricket in the park. It also supports wider community engagement through inclusive formats, targeted school partnerships and disability cricket development.”
The 2026 cricket fixtures have been released and we take a look at a selection of them.
The BRM Festival of Cricket will take place from Friday 19th June until Sunday 28th June and the matches are as follows:
19, 20, 21, 22 June Derbyshire v Lancashire in a 4-day County Championship game. Captains Sir James Anderson and Wayne Madsen will meet again at Queen’s Park.
Tuesday 23 June: The Blaze v Yorkshire Women in the Metro Bank One Day Cup
Saturday 27 June: Derbyshire Women v Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast T20
Sunday 28 June: Derbyshire v Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast T20
This year’s BRM Chesterfield Festival of Cricket is from Saturday 28th June to Sunday 6th July.
Here is the full line up.
Saturday 28th June: Derbyshire Falcons Women v Worcestershire Rapids Women [T20]
Sunday 29th June to Wednesday 2nd July: Derbyshire v Lancashire [ 4 day County Championship]
Friday 4th July: The Blaze v Hampshire Women [T20]
Sunday 6th July: Derbyshire Falcons v Yorkshire Vikings [T20]
Derbyshire CCC are selling Festival Passes at £59 giving tickets for all 7 days. An absolute bargain, so grab yours now.
Photo: Brooke Guest stumps Yorkshire captain Shan Masood in the 2024 T20 between the Falcons and Vikings.
Chair of Friends, Neil Swanwick [on the right] presents at Chesterfield Town Hall, the Mayor of Chesterfield Jenny Flood with a copy of ‘The Jewel in Derbyshire’s Crown’ signed by author David Griffin. Also present were the Mayoress of Chesterfield and Alderman Steve Brunt, who is also a trustee of Friends.
The Mayor had asked for a meeting to discuss the work of Friends and we were pleased to be able to donate a copy of the book to Chesterfield, to be kept in the Mayor’s Parlour at Chesterfield Town Hall.
We have also donated copies to Derbyshire County Council for their libraries across Derbyshire. Copies of the book are also in the library at Lord’s in London and at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.