Holly Grace from The Nobel School is England Mascot..
A young cricketer from North Hertfordshire was given the opportunity to be the mascot for the England cricket team after taking part and impressing during a new Satellite Cricket Club that has been developed as part of the Chance to Shine programme.
Holly Grace, a year 8 student from The Nobel School in Stevenage was the England Mascot for the 5th Investec Test Match against India, which took place at the Kia Oval.
Now well into its ninth year, the Chance to Shine charitable campaign to keep cricket alive in schools, continues to motivate and educate youngsters through cricket, with more girls than ever playing last year. Of the 350,000 youngsters engaged in Chance to Shine in 2013, 46% were girls.
Thanks to Waitrose, Holly got to meet the players dressed in full England kit and joined the captains in the middle for the coin toss before the start of play last Friday.
Holly was selected after taking part in the Nobel School Cricket Satellite Club, which is delivered in partnership with Stevenage Cricket Club and Hertfordshire Cricket. Holly impressed the coaches and staff with her commitment, enthusiasm and progression throughout the duration of the club, which resulted in her being rewarded with this fantastic opportunity.
The satellite club programme is a ‘New Sport England’ initiative, which is co-ordinated in Hertfordshire by the Hertfordshire Sports & Physical Activity Partnership. Chance to Shine and Hertfordshire Cricket are also key partners in delivering the programme within the Cricket Community across the county.
Dominic Chatfield, Cricket Development Officer for North Hertfordshire said “This has been a fantastic opportunity to provide Holly with the chance of a lifetime which will hopefully inspire her to stay involved in cricket for many years. It is a great success story of how sport and cricket in general can inspire young people to want to participate in sport through sessions within schools that chance to shine delivers. We hope Holly thoroughly enjoyed her day and continues to play cricket in years to come.”