The Draw for the 2001 National Club Cricket Championship has been announced together with details of prize money totalling £23,000. The National Cup winners will receive a cheque for £6,000 together with a new trophy provided by the sponsors, Play-cricket.com. while prize money will filter down to £250 for the 5th Round losers (the last 32).

Holders Sheffield Collegiate receive a first round bye and then face a trip to the winners of Hallam and Glossop. Last season's beaten finalists, Eastbourne start with a second round tie away at either Edmonton or Staines & Laleham.

ECB's Director of Cricket Operations, John Carr, says: "It is every club cricketer's dream to play at the Home of Cricket and this year's competition is sure to maintain the high standard of cricket usually seen. We welcome the new sponsorship by Play-cricket.com and the addition of prize money this year will raise the profile of the Championship still further."

Frank Kemp, ECB Cricket Operations Manager for the recreational game, said: "Play-cricket.com's sponsorship of the National Club Championship for the next three years is an exciting new sponsorship which will increase awareness of Play-cricket.com within clubs throughout the country. Play-cricket.com has been set up specifically for the benefit of the recreational cricketer and it will become an important and powerful resource for all amateur clubs and players in the future."

Nick Chapman, Marketing Manager at Play-Sport New Media, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the National Club Championship and anticipate that by providing significant prize money the competition will become even more competitive! Play-cricket.com's sponsorship of this event will help raise the profile of recreational cricket in this country."

A total of 377 clubs begin on the road to Lord's where the final will be played on Thursday, 6th September 2001. The first round ties are scheduled for Sunday, 29th April.

All sides who are participating in the Premier Division of an ECB accredited 120 overs-a-side Premier League have been given a bye through to the second round.

For further information, please contact Mark Campkin at the ECB Cricket Department on 020 7432 1229 or Nick Thomas at Play-cricket.com on 020 7808 7174.

NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2001 sponsored by play-cricket.com

PRIZE MONEY

Winners £6,000 £6,000

Runners-Up £3,000 £3,000

Losing Semi-Finals £1,500 each £3,000

Losing Quarter-Finalists £750 each £3,000

Losing 6th Round £500 each £4,000

Losing 5th Round £250 each £4,000

Total Prize Money £23,000

LORD'S THE GOAL AS CLUB NATIONAL CUP DRAW PITCHES

…………………………………………... AGAINST…….……………………………………

Over 4,000 club cricketers, including those from ……………………………………………………………………… will be dreaming of playing at Lord's Cricket Ground in September when they compete in the National Club Championship, sponsored by Play-cricket.com.

The National Club Championship is recognised as the most prestigious competition in the club cricketer's calendar and the aim has to be reaching the final at Lord's, thus fulfilling the dream of every cricketer to play at the home of cricket.

ECB's Director of Cricket Operations, John Carr, says: "It is every club cricketer's dream to play at The Home of Cricket and this year's competition is sure to maintain the high standard of cricket usually seen. We welcome the new sponsorship by play-cricket.com and the addition of prize money this year will raise the profile of the Championship still further."

Frank Kemp, ECB Cricket Operations Manager for the recreational game, said: "Play-cricket.com's sponsorship of the National Club Championship for the next three years is an exciting new sponsorship which will increase awareness of play-cricket.com within clubs throughout the country. Play-cricket.com has been set up specifically for the benefit of the recreational cricketer and it will become an important and powerful resource for all amateur clubs and players in the future."

Nick Chapman, Marketing Manager at Play-Sport New Media, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring the National Club Championship and anticipate that by providing significant prize money the competition will become even more competitive! Play-cricket.com's sponsorship of this event will help raise the profile of recreational cricket in this country."

Clubs will be fighting for a total prize fund of £23,000 stretching from the winners receiving £6,000 to the losing clubs in the 5th round (last 32), £250.

First round matches will be played on Sunday, 29th April with the final at Lord's on Thursday, 6th September (with Friday, 7th as reserve).

From: ………………………………………………………………………..Cricket Club

Details of our first game are:- ……………… Round

........................................................ v. ....................................................... Start Time: ...........…….

Date: ............................................... Venue .............................................................................…….

Club Contact: .................................................................... Tel: ..........................………………...

ENDS February 2001

NATIONAL CLUB CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP 2001 sponsored by play-cricket.com FIXTURE SCHEDULE

Round: Scheduled Date: Reserve Date Matches to be played by:

First Round Sunday, 29th April Tuesday, 8th May

Second Round Sunday, 13th May Tuesday, 22nd May

Third Round Sunday, 27th May Tuesday, 5th June

Fourth Round Sunday, 10th June Tuesday, 19th June

Fifth Round Sunday, 1st July Tuesday, 10th July

Reserve Date:

Sixth Round Sunday, 15th July Sunday, 22nd July

Quarter-Finals Sunday, 29th July Sunday, 5th August

Semi-Finals Sunday, 12th August Sunday, 19th August

Final Thursday, 6th September at Lord's Cricket Ground (with Friday, 7th September 2001 as reserve day)

NATIONAL CLUB CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP ROLL OF HONOUR (Winners & Runners-Up)

For the Club Cricket Championship

2000 Sheffield Collegiate (Yorkshire) Eastbourne (Sussex) 1999 Wolverhampton (Staffordshire) Teddington (Middlesex)

For the Abbot Ale Cup

1998 Doncaster Town (Yorkshire) Bath (Somerset) 1997 Eastbourne (Sussex) Harrogate (Yorkshire) 1996 Walsall (Staffordshire) Chorley (Lancashire) 1995 Chorley (Lancashire) Clifton Flax Bourton (Somerset) 1994 Chorley (Lancashire) Ealing (Middlesex) 1993 Old Hill (Worcestershire) West Bromwich Dartmouth (Staffordshire)

For the Club Cricket Championship

1992 Optimists (Gloucestershire) Kendal (Cumbria) 1991 Teddington (Middlesex) Walsall (Staffordshire)

For the Cockpsur Cup

1990 Blackpool (Lancashire) Cheam (Surrey) 1989 Teddington (Middlesex) Old Hill (Worcestershire) 1988 Enfield (Middlesex) Wolverhampton (Staffordshire) 1987 Old Hill (Worcestershire) Teddington (Middlesex)

For the William Younger Cup

1986 Stourbridge (Worcestershire) Weston-super-Mare (Somerset) 1985 Old Hill (Worcestershire) Reading (Berkshire) 1984 Old Hill (Worcestershire) Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire) 1983 Shrewsbury (Shropshire) Hastings & St Leonards Priory (Sussex)

For the John Haig Trophy

1982 Scarborough (Yorkshire) Finchley (Middlesex) 1981 Scarborough (Yorkshire) Blackheath (Kent) 1980 Moseley (Warwickshire) Gosport Borough (Hampshire) 1979 Scarborough (Yorkshire) Reading (Berkshire) 1978 Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) Bishop's Stortford (Hertfordshire) 1977 Southgate (Middlesex) Bowdon (Cheshire) 1976 Scarborough (Yorkshire) Dulwich (Surrey)

For the D.H. Robins Cup

1975 York (Yorkshire) Blackpool (Lancashire) 1974 Sunbury (Middlesex) Tunbridge Wells (Kent) 1973 Wolverhampton (Staffordshire) The Mote (Kent) 1972 Scarborough (Yorkshire) Brentham (Middlesex) 1971 Blackheath (Kent) Ealing (Middlesex) 1970 Cheltenham (Gloucestershire) Stockport (Cheshire) 1969 Hampstead (Middlesex) Pocklington Pixies (Yorkshire)

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