DROITWICH Spa Cricket Club are leading the way in the Midlands by signing up a record number of youngsters to the ECB’s All Stars Cricket initiative.

The club, who already have a thriving junior and youth section, will be welcoming at least 57 five to eight-year-olds to the first session at St Peter’s Fields on Friday, May 19, at 6.30pm.

The new programme aims to provide children with a great first experience in the sport.

Delivered across England and Wales at over 1,800 accredited centres the eight-week scheme is a fun and active way to develop skills and make friends.

Girls and boys are welcome and each child will receive a pack of goodies including a bat, ball, cap, T-shirt and rucksack to keep so they can continue their love of cricket when they go home.

Droitwich Spa’s All Stars Cricket activator Chris Green said bookings began to flood in as soon as the scheme was launched in March.

“All Stars is a fantastic, fun way to introduce children to cricket,” he said.

“The ECB is to be congratulated for working with grassroots clubs to devise a programme that will inspire the next generation to follow in the footsteps of Moeen Ali, Joe Root and Charlotte Edwards.

“Junior club nights at Droitwich are always special. We’re a community club and encourage parents to coach, socialise and support their children in sport.

"We look forward to welcoming All Stars players and parents and hope they’ll be part of the family atmosphere we’ve created.”

Tom Hill, Worcestershire Cricket Board’s cricket development director, said: “Droitwich Spa CC have done an excellent job of promoting this exciting new initiative.

"This programme aims to inspire a generation of five to eight-year-olds to choose cricket while also ensuring this is the best hour of the family’s week, encouraging parents to get involved and share the experience.”