OTLEY Cricket Club have been awarded prestigious Clubmark status by the England & Wales Cricket Board, writes Emma Kennedy. 

The culmination of 12 months of hard work behind the scenes, Otley now join Steeton, Skipton, Tong Park Esholt, Ilkley, and North Leeds as one of six clubs across the Airedale & Wharfedale Cricket League to achieve the accolade.

Clubmark accreditation recognises that a club is sustainable, well-run, and provides the right environment for its members, as well as ensuring that it is a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages.

Safeguarding protocols and the club’s development plans for the future have also played a key part in the accreditation process.

Chairman Alex Atkinson is delighted to have achieved Clubmark status in his first year in the role, saying: “This is a momentous day for Otley Cricket Club.

“Behind the scenes, we have been working tirelessly to ensure that we could get to this stage before the beginning of the 2023 season.

“Many people have been involved and worked together through the process, and I would like to say how much I and (club president Chris Smith) appreciate the time and effort that it has taken.

“We are one of only six clubs in the Aire-Wharfe structure to hold Clubmark status and are really proud to have been involved in such a small group of clubs leading the way.

“It’s clear that we can use the practices that Clubmark instils to continue to deliver and create opportunities for all our members and the wider community.”

With new artificial training nets and their groundsman’s building project also due to be completed early next year, it is certainly exciting to see what the next few months have in store for the club.

Otley begin the 2023 Division One season with a mouth-watering tie at reigning champions Rawdon on 22 April, with their second team playing host to Horsforth Hall Park 2nd in Division Four.

For more information about the club, go to www.otley.play-cricket.com