CRICKET: Kidderminster's two main clubs are bidding to create a hotbed for youth cricket after joining forces.

Victoria and Blakeley Hall, due to lose their Hoobrook base at the end of the season, have merged with Kidderminster to form Kidderminster Victoria Cricket Club.

The new outfit will continue to be sponsored by town firm Victoria Carpets, boasting five senior teams and eight youth sides in a membership of around 400 people.

KVCC will use the Chester Road ground but have also secured a secondary home at Winterfold House School, Chaddesley Corbett, for next year.

Promising youngsters at Worcestershire League Victoria and Blakeley Hall, like Steve Davies and Craig Wood, have moved up to Birmingham League Kidderminster anyway in the past.

Kidderminster chairman Norman Broadfield declared: "Centres of excellence appear in most sports but in cricket terms, there is no doubt we shall be just that.

"In the new club, a young player will be able to play in the Worcestershire League if he doesn't quite make it in the Birmingham League."

Victoria and Blakeley Hall chairman Peter Lidgate admitted: "We used to lose players from our youth section to Kidderminster but now it should be a natural flow.

"At least, we will see the benefits of that talent. Cricket as a sport is ailing but if we can concentrate the talent on a premier club in the area, it should be very healthy for the future.

"Joining Kidderminster gives us continuity and we can play a good standard of cricket throughout the club. It secures the future of cricket in Kidderminster."

When Victoria and Blakeley Hall's own ground is lost, all the nets, cages and synthetic surfaces will be transferred over to the new club.

Broadfield said: "Victoria Carpets have been very generous. They are not only staying on as the main sponsor but making all the equipment down at their ground available to the club. We are thrilled at the support."

Alan Bullock, group managing director of Victoria Carpets who have been involved with the sport for around 100 years, said: "The firm is committed to this area and we have spent a lot of money on cricket over the years.

"This is one of the ways we can put something back into the community."

In the winter, the two clubs will create one committee as KVCC aim for the Birmingham Premier League.