Nottinghamshire Recreational Cricket

The Match Day Mascot Programme is central to that buzz. Last week, children from four Nottinghamshire schools came along to the ground and took part in a number of match day activities; all coordinated by the Community and Development department's Keith Tongue.

How do Schools and Clubs Get Involved?

We asked Keith how schools and clubs, like the ones we had yesterday, get a chance to become the match day mascots for various domestic and international fixtures. “There are no set criteria” he said - depending on the time of year certain fixtures are opened up to either schools or clubs. In most cases however, “an option to apply to be the match day mascots is sent out and the schools and clubs then respond. We do give priority to focus or “Clubmark” clubs when that is necessary.”

So if you want to get your club or school involved, make sure you respond to that request!

What Happens on the Day?

On match day the selected mascots get to come down and watch the game for free. But that’s not all - a selected group last week got to be flagbearers as the teams walked out on to the pitch for the start of the game. They then get to play Kwik Cricket on the outfield in front of a packed out Trent Bridge crowd.

Children from Lovers Lane Primary School, West Bridgford Juniors School, St Philip Neri Primary School and Woodborough Woods Foundation School came down to get involved; and before Eoin Morgan and home favourite Alex Hales helped smash England to a seven wicket win, our mascots smashed a few of their own balls into the stands.

We spoke to a few of them afterwards about their experiences of the day which you can see here.

All in all a great day was had by all involved in the match day mascot programme. Look out for your mascots at the next fixture here against Northamptonshire on Saturday 27 June against Northamptonshire Steelbacks.