Cricket Festival cheers as Speckled Hen come aboard

The Old Speckled Hen Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, will represent the second successive year that title sponsorship has been attributed to a commercial partner for the annual event, which returned to the Derbyshire sporting calendar in 2006.

Old Speckled Hen sales development manager Melanie Cropper, said: “It’s exciting to be affiliated with the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket, which is one of the highlights of the summer sporting calendar in the area.

“We already supply beer to a network of cricket clubs across Derbyshire and building on the success of our long-standing partnership with Derbyshire County Cricket Club, this is the perfect way to take our brand to a broader audience in the north of the county.

“We are very much looking forward to an entertaining week of summer sporting entertainment, with a great social atmosphere for people to enjoy a pint of Old Speckled Hen in the sun.”

Derbyshire County Cricket Club Chief Executive Simon Storey said: “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Greene King and to be carrying the Old Speckled Hen name into the north of the county for our festival week. 
“Building partnerships with businesses such as Greene King is crucial to our plans for success and we are excited to be working together alongside Chesterfield Borough Council and Chesterfield Cricket Club to bring success across Derbyshire.”

Councillor Amanda Serjeant, Chesterfield Borough Council’s executive member for leisure, tourism and culture confirmed the importance of the annual festival for the historic market town.

She said: “The council supports the cricket festival because it provides an opportunity for local residents and visitors to see first-class cricket within the idyllic setting of Queen’s Park, which has long been recognised as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the country.

“The Festival helps to attract new visitors to Chesterfield, which benefits local businesses and also helps encourage young people to take part in sport and physical activity. Both of these are high priorities for the council.”