The Allen Ford Group Graham Gooch Cricket Centre was relaunched this week and, after significant investment, is now ready for cricket action.

The centre now boasts five lanes, spacious changing rooms and shower facilities, a public viewing gallery and on-site parking, plus newly refurbished nets, flooring and lighting.

The centre caters for visitors aged five years old and above and offers one-to-one cricket coaching for adults and juniors, holiday coaching courses and indoor cricket leagues, as well as being the main indoor facility for the Essex first-team squad throughout the year.

The new refurbished centre was opened by Graham Gooch OBE, Essex County Cricket Club Ambassador, who said: “The Allen Ford Group Graham Gooch Cricket Centre has become an integral cricket hub in the development of cricket in the region.

“Thanks to the substantial investment, from the ECB and others, the centre can continue to be a first-class facility at grassroots level through to the Essex first team.

“I am thrilled to have been part of the project and help fund the great new facilities through my Scholarship and my thanks extends to the other contributors who have helped with the project.”

The ECB were the major funders of the scheme, providing a grant of £150,000, and Bruce Cruse, the ECB Head of Participation, said: “We were delighted to support this project and give a boost to the development of the game for all age groups. I am confident as the investment matures, the redevelopment of the Centre will be of major benefit to cricket in Essex and the community more generally.”

Essex Cricket would like to extend thanks to the England & Wales Cricket Board, Graham Gooch Scholarship Fund, Essex Cricket Foundation, Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) and the Essex Boundary Club.

The Allen Ford Group Graham Gooch Cricket Centre and its new facilities are available to hire on a daily basis throughout the year, with further information available at essexcricketcentre.co.uk or by phone 01245 254028.