Tug company Svitzer, which has three tugs operating in the Clyde and Forth estuaries has given 25 Cricket Factory equipment sets to Cricket Scotland to support the organisations work promoting cricket across the region.

Cricket Scotland’s Women’s Cricket Manager and Gordon Drummond, Cricket Development Officer for the City of Edinburgh Council and National Captain were on hand today, Thursday 12 April, to receive the equipment on behalf of Cricket Scotland from Svitzer North East Port Manager Dave Williams.

The specially designed equipment will be introduced to local schools and community clubs in time for the launch of this years’ cricketing season, which begins mid April and runs until the end of September. The equipment which can be used in or out of doors, has been designed to encourage and develop key skills – including batting, bowling, throwing, catching and many other cricket related movements.

Svitzer operates tugs in and around the container ports of Greenock Ocean terminal and Grangemouth , the highly trained crews are expert at safely escorting and towing a wider range of ships safely through the estuary waters, everything from the largest container ships to vessels carrying timber and cruise ships.

Svitzer’s Dave Williams says:“Svitzer tug crews are very much part of the community, with many of our crew members having lived in the area all of their lives. As a result, supporting the local area is very important to us. The Cricket Factory equipment makes cricket – an activity much enjoyed by many of us here - easily accessible to kids in schools and anyone trying it out in a local club. We hope that everyone who tries the equipment has a great time and is tempted to get more involved.”

Steve Paige , Head of Community Development at Cricket Scotland adds: “I’m extremely grateful for the generous support received from Svitzer. We have already seen the benefit of the Cricket Facotry kits and the gifting of 25 furtehr kits from Svitzer is a massive boost. The kits are ideal for introducing and developing the basic fundamental skills to children. I look forward to seeing the impact the kits will have. ”

The Cricket Factory equipment will be distributed to 25 Cricket Clubs and Local Schools across the Glasgow and Eastern region. The equipment will be used by development officers, coaches and teachers to introduce children and local people to the sport as part of Cricket Scotland's Development and Participation Strategy. The project will be used as a model of good practice and subsequently promoted to all clubs and coaches across Scotland via newsletters and the Cricket Scotland Web Site