Graham Taylor and Darren Maddy to attend coaching session to support charity’s campaign for schools

Former England football manager Graham Taylor OBE and Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s skipper will take part in a special coaching session in Birmingham to support a charity’s work in installing sports facilities in school playgrounds.

The playground markings scheme is part of Chance to shine, the Cricket Foundation’s campaign to regenerate competitive cricket in state schools. In 2007 £300,000 was invested in the playground markings scheme, half of the funding being provided by the Football Foundation. Over ten years the Cricket Foundation plans to spend a total of £5 million in improving cricket facilities in schools.

Taylor and Maddy, both Chance to shine Ambassadors, will visit Hollyfield Primary School in Birmingham at 10:30am on Friday 11 January 2008.

They will take part in a coaching session on the newly-restored playground, which features a netball court, football pitch and cricket pitch.  This allows children to play sport throughout the year. The pair will then be available for 1-on-1 interviews.

Nick Gandon, Director of the Cricket Foundation which runs Chance to shine, said: “One of the issues we are addressing concerns school playing fields. Whilst stories of grounds being sold off are sometimes exaggerated, the need to improve school facilities and provide access to high-quality grounds where cricket and other sports can be played in schools is overwhelming. We installed 280 playground markings in 2007 and will do the same in the next two years. In doing this we’re helping thousands of boys and girls to enjoy competitive cricket – and benefit from all that the experience uniquely provides.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, said: “The Football Foundation is delighted to join forces with the Cricket Foundation to support the Chance to shine campaign to boost sport in schools. The playground markings that we are introducing across the country will enable the proper coaching of cricket, football and other sports to help kids stay fit and healthy.”