South Tyneside business boss bowled over by cricket club deal

Les Cooper, owner and managing director of Hebburn-based UK Asbestos Specialists Ltd – known as UKasl – was out looking for somewhere to practice his new hobby – archery – when he came across Crook Cricket Club in County Durham.

UKasl is one of the UK’s leading providers of asbestos awareness training and has now signed a sponsorship deal with the cricket club.

Les said: “I moved to County Durham not too long ago and was looking for somewhere to practice archery.

“Someone mentioned Crook Cricket Club and I came along and met David Nevins, the club president.

“ I was bowled over by what he’s done here and his enthusiasm.

“I also realised that the club would be a perfect place for us to practice archery, if we can get the correct facilities required set up and was only too happy to sponsor the club.

“I’m looking forward to the club getting bigger and bigger.”.

“We are now looking at the possibility that archery could be another activity that we could offer the community.

“The cricket club was promoted into North East Premier League Division last season and the support that Les and others are bringing will help us stay in that division.

“The sponsorship from UKasl will enable us to upgrade our nets and at the same time means we can give more support to Andrew Pratt, the former Durham cricketer who is now first team captain and head coach.

Les was born in Jarrow and UKasl is one of the UK’s leading providers of asbestos awareness training.

The company works with national construction and refurbishment companies, local authorities, social housing sector companies, schools, colleges and universities as well as sole traders in the construction sector.

Clients include; Durham County Council, Sunderland City Council, Karbon Homes, GSK, Sir Robert McApline, Clancy Docwra, and BAM Construction.