Cricket: Glamorgan stars stump up their time to help bail out Lisvane cricket.

EX-ENGLAND star Robert Croft joined his Glamorgan clubmates Mike Powell and Mark Wallace as NatWest CricketForce - the largest volunteer programme in British sport - took place at Lisvane Cricket Club over the weekend.

Staff from NatWest branches and business centres across the area also got involved by swapping their uniforms for painting overalls to lend a helping hand.

Over 1,350 clubs across England and Wales have registered to take part in this year's NatWest CricketForce.

The initiative is designed to support clubs wanting to improve facilities at their grounds.

The nationwide scheme is expected to attract over 85,000 volunteers over the course of the weekend and will result in pounds 35m-pounds 40m of value in kind work being undertaken at cricket clubs across the country.

With ambitious plans to renovate a once beautiful but recently derelict cricket ground, Lisvane CC has been chosen by the ECB as one of the five nationwide showcase clubs for 2008.

Lisvane CC's bid to bring cricket back to Llwynarthen Cricket Ground has also touched the hearts of the local community.

On a weekend that saw Cardiff City play in the FA Cup semi-finals, more than 300 people from the surrounding area, including NatWest staff from across the city, turned out to offer their support and lend a hand repairing fences, painting sightscreens, cutting back hedges and helping renovate the clubhouse.

Croft said: "NatWest CricketForce is a fantastic initiative that really brings together the local community.

"It's the biggest volunteering project in sport across England and Wales and is a great way to promote cricket ahead of the season.

"To renovate an entire ground is a huge project. I was delighted to be a part of it."

Lisvane was picked by NatWest CricketForce because of its commitment to building youth cricket and its links to a wide local community.

With a youth section of already more than 150, the YMCA has granted a 25 year lease on a peppercorn rent.

Lisvane has been seeking a permanent home ground since it was established in the late 1970s.

Julie Morgan, MP for Cardiff North, said: 'I am very excited to see this happen after so many years of effort. But it is only the start.

Club chairman, Gary Morgan, added: 'We want to see the club become a breeding ground for the stars of the future."

Helen Page, marketing director, of NatWest retail markets said: "The impact NatWest CricketForce has in local communities exceeds expectations every year.

"The massive effort clubs, players, volunteers, and our own bank staff put into this event can benefit facilities nationwide for years to come.

"As a bank we are focused on supporting local communities and NatWest CricketForce offers us another way to play our part."

David Collier, ECB chief executive, said: "NatWest CricketForce is an inspirational volunteer programme that continues to go from strength to strength each year.

"It brings the community together as well as improving facilities at the grassroots levels which is vitally important to the game as a whole in England and Wales."

CAPTION(S):

STUMPED: Glamorgan stars Robert Croft, Mark Wallace and Mike Powell join members of Lisvane cricket club and sponsors NatWest