CORNISH cricket club Grampound Road have been recognised nationally for their commitment to the community where they play.

The club have been shortlisted for the Voneus Village Community Legends award, which recognises the work of rural cricket clubs around Great Britain, both on and off the pitch.

In being shortlisted, Grampound Road demonstrated their value as pillars of their community, as well as showing commitment to the future, inclusion and sustainability.

The Community Legends competition is open to contestants in the annual Voneus Village Cup, which is administered by The Cricketer magazine and sponsored by rural broadband provider Voneus.

Grampound Road were semi-finalists in last year's tournament and have already reached the national phase of this year's competition – having won the Devon and Cornwall group – and will face Glamorgan & Gwent champions Sully Spartans at home this Sunday (June 23).

Discussing their nomination, Alexander Rust, from the club, said: "This is great news - we're all delighted.

"As a club we see it as one our major aims to be closely connected to the community that surrounds us. 

"To be recognised on the Voneus Village Cup Community Legends shortlist for 2024 highlights to us that the club is in a really healthy place and moving forwards to a better future. 

"We love taking part in the National Village Cup and are looking forward to seeing how far we can go this year."

Organisations using Grampound Road’s clubhouse include Knit and Knatter, Trelion Solar Farm, the Ladock and Grampound Road Low Carbon Living Group, The Fishermen’s Friends Committee, the Playing Fields Committee, Cornwall Cricket Board and Friends of Grampound Road School, while also serving as a collection point for clothing which supports Grampound Road Pre School, and food for the Trussell Trust.

The club has also served as the village's de facto pub for the last 15 years – and a commitment is made to working to serve beers from local breweries.

Grampound Road currently have 152 members under the age of 18 officially on their books – around half of their total membership – with an ethos of picking homegrown talent instead of seducing players from elsewhere.

The clubhouse is situated above a natural borehole, which allows the club to use natural water sources for pitch preparation, while other sustainability innovations include the use of solar power and the planting of two ‘wildflower’ strips leading up to the club.

The winner of the award will be announced on Tuesday, July 9.