A new indoor training facility at Manukau City Cricket Club (MCCC) will be a game-changer for cricket and sport in South Auckland.
The 1100-square-metre building is under construction at the club’s home ground at War Memorial Park in Manurewa, and MCCC President Mike Halliday expects it to be ready to use by the end of the year.
The purpose-built facility has room for five indoor nets, so up to five groups can use it simultaneously. It will allow local cricketers to train all year round, give the club a facility to work with young players through the winter and offer school holiday programmes.
It will also mean senior players can train later in the evenings in the summer season, which allows for work commitments and avoids travel across the city during peak traffic.
The club believes the centre will be a catalyst in driving more people to engage with cricket.
It’s the first indoor training facility for cricket in the Counties Manukau area and other clubs have already shown an interest in hiring the venue. “We can have up to three clubs training there at once,” says Mike.
The nets can be pulled back to create one large space, so the centre can also be used by other sports codes, such as junior football, which need undercover training facilities.
MCCC plans to use income generated from sharing the facility with other groups to employ a club manager to take a more professional approach to promoting cricket and growing its membership.
“Currently, the club is run by volunteers, and it’s a big commitment on top of a full-time job.”
Building the indoor training facility has been a massive project, and the final cost, excluding Auckland Council contributions, is expected to be around $750,000.
But it’s critical to the MCCC’s vision of growing cricket in the area. “We are building for the future,” Mike says.
Old photographs show that the club has been in operation since the 1920s. Last season, it had five senior teams, up to Premier level, and two junior teams but Mike expects that number to increase once the training facility is ready to use.
Wiri Licensing Trust has backed the project, supporting the club’s applications to Trillian for funding. This has generated almost $500,000 for the training centre.
General Manager Kim Green is thrilled to see the facility nearly finished. “It will be the first of its kind for our local communities and a new space for various users. It’s exciting to be able to continue to increase the quality of facilities around Manurewa and the wider South Auckland region.”
The Trust Board is passionate about supporting the project, which aligns with its strategy of increasing engagement in sport and creating safe spaces for the community.
MCCC has also had financial support from the Grassroots Trust, Auckland Council and Northern Districts Cricket Association. Counties Manukau Cricket Association has helped with administration for the project.
Without help from these types of funders, sport wouldn’t exist in New Zealand, Mike says.
“It’s just too expensive to run clubs if you rely on playing fees.”
The club has a long-standing relationship with Wiri Licensing Trust, which has previously supported grant applications to fund new equipment, new outdoor nets and covers for its wickets.
Mike says this support keeps playing fees affordable and makes sport available to more people.
“Wiri Licensing Trust understands sports and sports clubs. They get our vision and know what we need to thrive.”
Manukau City Cricket Club is recruiting players for its 2024/25 season – anyone interested in joining a junior or senior team can contact Mike at michael.halliday@southaucklandmotors.co.nz
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
