ROSS-on-Wye Cricket Club are urging people to come down and help get the ground ready for the new season.

The 14th annual NatWest CricketForce takes place between tomorrow and Sunday, with more than 2,000 clubs registered to take part.

Tens of thousands of club members and volunteers will come together to clean, tidy, repair and revitalise clubhouses and cricket grounds across the country ahead of the new season.

One of those is Ross and club chairman Stuart Mair admits the NatWest CricketForce is an important event if the club are to hit the ground running this season.

“The NatWest CricketForce is huge for us because it really helps us get our ground ready for the new season and that is what we will be using it for again,” he said.

“We have done it for the last ten or 11 years and every year it really helps us out and gives everyone a bit of a buzz about the new season.

“It would be great if we could get as many people involved as possible because we want to get everything spick and span for the new season.

“Our groundsman’s shed was broken into recently and while nothing was taken we want to look at bolstering our security here as well as a few other bits and pieces around the place.”

Leominster-based Dales CC are also inviting people to help prepare the ground for the forthcoming season from 10am on Sunday.

The scheme is supported by former England captain and current ECB Managing Director of Cricket Partnerships Mike Gatting.

And Gatting, who played 79 Tests and 92 ODIs for England, is adamant this year’s Natwest CricketForce will benefit more than just the clubs themselves.

“I hope we’re helping the communities as well as the clubs," he said.

“Kids want to go to clubs, and have fun with their mates in a safe area.

“It’s all about the community for cricket clubs, and in some places the clubs can stop kids from being out on the street and doing drugs, in gangs, and other terrible things.

“So these kind of schemes make a difference from that respect too, and it’s nice to think we can help kids move down a different path to all that.

“Cricket is one of those games where you make friends for life, build bridges, and learn a lot of life skills as well. That’s really important so local councils and communities acknowledging that it does make a difference and getting involved themselves is what it’s all about.”

NatWest CricketForce is an ECB project helping cricket clubs renovate and improve their facilities before each season with the help of members and their wider communities.

Find out when your local club event is and lend a hand at ecb.co.uk/nwcf