Freuchie Cricket Club, which celebrated its centenary in 2008, is one of the most active and successful village teams in Scotland and a real focal point in the life of the mid-Fife community in which it is based. It is a driving force in the development of youth cricket and a leading fund-raiser for this worthy cause.
"Freuchie Cricket Club's members are justifiably proud of their achievements, whether on the pitch, in the community or through its youth development programme, and we are proud to support them," says Gavin Stewart, Black Light's managing director. He explains that Black Light started sponsoring the club two years ago on the suggestion of Jock Wallace, Black Light's installation controller who also plays for Freuchie. "We see our sponsorship as both a way of supporting a worthy cause and also a way of giving something back to our staff."
One of the focuses for Black Light's funding over the next year will be the club's youth work. One of the Freuchie's key strengths is its development of junior players. An important part of this is its participation in Cricket Scotland's TopClub programme. As a result of this commitment to youth cricket, the club's Juniors are now so successful that young people travel from all over Fife to train and play with them. The club currently has ten coaches who help these budding cricketers hone their skills.
This new blood should help the club uphold its impressive record: The Senior teams compete in SNCL Division II and ESCA Division II, in the Scottish Cup and in various local matches. The club also has a proud history in the national Village Cup: it was winner at Lord's in 1985 and has been a regular winner of the tournament's Scottish section.
(Jim Evans)
