LOCAL cricketer Jonathan Fearick is being backed for the future by a Sports Aid Foundation grant. Jonathan, who plays for Association side Atherton, is currently on tour with the England under 19s in New Zealand, and is hoping to establish a career in county cricket.

The £500 grant is donated by the Sir Jules Thorn charitable trust in memory of the chairman and founder of the major electrical company that bears his name. He was always anxious that young people of talent should be encouraged to develop their potential and established the Trust to help them in a range of activities throughout the country.

Meanwhile Jonathan looks to have recovered from shin splints that prevented him from appearing in the first three under 19s Tests against New Zealand. He returned to action in style with a half century off 71 balls going in at number eight against a New Zealand Emerging Players X1 as well as picking up two wickets. Yesterday he picked up another two wickets in the 110 runs win over Canterbury Emerging Players and looks set to play in the three remaining one-day matches.

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