It has proved to be another successful year for Bedford Cricket Club in 2014, helped by a new sponsorship deal with M&DH Insurance, led by its sport-mad MD, Richard Hames.

The partnership, which was signed in March and is in its first year, included new playing shirts for all members, upgraded signage around The Bury, Bedford’s picturesque ground, and support for much needed improvements to the pavilion.

The feel-good factor created by the partnership with M&DH Insurance led to further success on the field this season.

The club saw a record number of members join this year with most junior squads being fully subscribed within weeks of the season starting.

In terms of performances on the pitch, Bedford’s Under 10’s and Under 12’s won their respective county leagues, while the Under 14’s narrowly lost the county final with a very young team. In addition, the girl’s Under 13 cricket team won the county cup competition, having only been formed halfway through the season!

There is success at the senior level too, with the Sunday 1st XI getting promotion from the 4th division of the league.

The future for the club looks bright as it aims to become the leading cricket club in the county, after a number of years in the doldrums since its predecessor at The Bury, Bedford Town Cricket Club, folded in 2006.

The club has grand plans for redeveloping the existing pavilion: alongside the sponsorship from M&DH Insurance, the Mayor, Dave Hodgson, has pledged £20,000 to help develop the club to facilitate closer relationships with the local community, while the club has bid for £75,000 of Sport England funding.

After a number of false dawns since 2006, it does look like Bedford Cricket Club is moving in the right direction and could be on the way to delivering a club that the town can once again be proud of.