CAISTOR Town CC are hoping the club's newly formed academy will enable them to introduce hundreds of local youngsters to cricket.

Due to open before the 2012 season, the project is aimed at providing coaching for children in the area, while also offering specialist workshops for the club's promising young players.

Initially, sessions will be held indoors at Caistor Yarbrough's Sports Hall.

As summer approaches, the club will begin to integrate several primary schools from the Lincolnshire area – with returning overseas star, Sahan Wijerathne, pictured, due to head the coaching.

This element of the Academy will operate in conjunction with the Cricket Foundation's 'Chance to Shine' programme – a nationwide coaching scheme.

Upon the announcement, club chairman David Gowshall, said: "Caistor Town Cricket Club takes its status as an ECB Focus Club very seriously.

"That places a responsibility on us to provide cricket for all.

"The formation of the Academy, utilising the excellent facilities we have, means we can provide cricket for hundreds of youngsters in the Caistor area, both during the off-season and in the summer.

"We are always open to other youngsters coming along and enjoying what we have to offer – our network of coaches within the club will be doing everything they can to help."

For more details, call CTCC junior coordinator, Reg Percival, on 07801 046040.