Transforming Junior Cricket at Locks Heath Cricket Club with a 2G Flicx Pitch

When the junior coaches at Locks Heath Cricket Club compiled their equipment wish list, one item topped the priority list: a roll-away artificial pitch. With 180 junior players training every Saturday on a council-owned pitch, facilities were stretched, and coaching on uneven, muddy surfaces was proving challenging.

Helen Rawlins, committee member at Locks Heath CC, recalls the search that led them to the solution:

“I started with a Google search and spoke to the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB), and every recommendation pointed us to the 2G Flicx Pitch. After seeing a demo, the decision was easy – this was exactly what our juniors needed.”

The Challenge

Before the 2G Flicx Pitch, the U9s were training on a mown strip of a football pitch. Uneven, sometimes wet and bumpy, it made teaching batting and bowling techniques difficult. Coaches struggled to give young players a realistic cricket experience, and the surface limited the quality of matches.

The Solution

Locks Heath CC invested in a 2G Flicx Junior Multi Age Pitch, which has been rolled out every weekend since purchase. Its flexibility allows the club to use the pitch in multiple ways:

• Half pitch for U9s training

• Half pitch for U11 girls training

• Full pitch for U9s matches

• Hosting events such as women’s softball festivals and club family fun days, running three games simultaneously using two halves of the Flicx Pitch plus the astro strip.

The Impact of the Flicx Pitch

The improvements were immediate and clear. Coaches and players love the consistent, smooth playing surface, and the pitch has transformed the junior cricket offering at the club whilst also being really quick and simple to use. Derek Manning, U9s coach, explains:

“We can finally run proper batting and bowling drills. The ball comes through realistically, and the surface is so reliable that it builds trust with the kids. It’s a real step up from a bumpy football pitch.”

Helen adds: “The 2G Flicx Pitch is a gamechanger for our juniors. It gives young players a proper cricket experience, prepares them for the transition into hard ball, and has really raised the standard of junior coaching at Locks Heath.”

Another key benefit has been usability in wet/damp conditions:

“We’ve been able to get games on that might previously have been cancelled due to a soggy pitch. The pitch has held up fantastically and means we can get the game on sooner compared to turf.”

Helen praised the Flicx team for their support throughout the buying process. Gary came out for the demonstration and was really accommodating to fit into the clubs timings. Nothing was too big a deal. I’d highly recommend Flicx to any club facing similar challenges.

Flicx Future

In its first season, the roll-up, roll-away 2G Flicx Pitch has delivered huge value for Locks Heath CC. Reliable, durable, and flexible, it is helping the club nurture the next generation of cricketers on a surface that allows coaching and matches to flourish.

“It’s not just a pitch – it’s proved to be a great foundation for our juniors’ cricket journey as well as proving extra pitch capacity at club events and festivals. We know it will last for years and give countless players a great start in the game.”