Everyone In hits 100th community cricket pitch as Defoe and Fleur East launch Charlton Park surface

KP Snacks and The Hundred marked the 100th non‑turf, all‑weather community pitch at Charlton Park on 5 August, with Jermain Defoe, Fleur East and Hundred players joining local teams for coaching, short‑form matches and skills sessions. Organisers say the scheme aims to widen access in urban areas and deliver more than one million activity opportunities by 2033, though lasting participation will depend on local authorities and sustained community engagement.

Jermain Defoe and Fleur East joined club and community cricketers this week to mark what organisers described as a milestone for grassroots access to the game: the 100th all‑weather community cricket pitch installed through KP Snacks’ Everyone In campaign. The pitch‑party was held at Charlton Park on 5 August 2025, according to a Royal Greenwich news release, and brought together Hundred professionals, local teams and families for a day of short‑form cricket and skills sessions.

Players from The Hundred’s men’s and women’s sides were on hand to help inaugurate the new surface and run games with local youngsters, reinforcing the event’s emphasis on participation rather than elite competition. The Scotsman reported that teams representing Oval Invincibles and London Spirit attended the celebration, while the Royal Greenwich release says Hundred players including Charlie Dean and Kane Williamson took part in T10 games alongside community sides.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Defoe — who grew up in Canning Town and, he said, has not played organised cricket since his schooldays — welcomed the initiative’s community focus and even managed to “hit a six” at the event. He reflected on family ties to the sport, recalling his grandfather’s West Indian cricketing loyalties and a later friendship with Brian Lara that began through Shaka Hislop. Those details mirror public biographical accounts of Defoe’s east London upbringing and football career.

Fleur East, who interrupted rehearsals for her role as Tina Turner to attend the Charlton Park event, told The Scotsman she had never played cricket before but found it “easy to get involved” and “a lot of fun”, adding that she was inspired by the children who took part. East’s mainstream music credentials — her 2015 single “Sax” reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, according to Official Charts — underline the profile the campaign has attracted in its attempt to broaden the game’s appeal.

KP Snacks frames Everyone In as a multi‑year partnership with The Hundred designed to make cricket more accessible in urban areas with limited facilities. According to the company’s campaign materials, it has distributed thousands of bats and balls, supplied pop‑up pitch kits, run free skills sessions and worked with local authorities to deliver 100 non‑turf, all‑weather pitches across England and Wales by 2025. The corporate pages state the campaign’s longer‑term target is to create more than one million activity opportunities by 2033; those are the campaign’s objectives rather than independently verified outcomes.

A public pitch finder maintained by the Everyone In programme lists the newly funded sites and allows families to search by postcode for ready‑to‑play locations or pitches coming soon. Entries for Charlton Park, Avery Hill Park and Llandaff Fields appear among the mapped sites, and the Royal Greenwich release notes that some councils are offering free equipment hire locally so people can try the facilities without upfront cost.

Organisers and participants presented the 100th installation as a practical step towards year‑round, low‑barrier access to cricket rather than a conclusion. KP Snacks and its partners argue that non‑turf wickets, equipment giveaways and community sessions help lower the barriers to entry; local authorities and cricket bodies will be central to whether those opportunities translate into sustained participation. The event at Charlton Park underlined that message — pros, celebrities and families together for a day of cricket — while leaving the longer‑term challenge of converting one‑off enthusiasm into ongoing grassroots engagement to be measured over the coming years.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

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emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
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Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is fresh, with the earliest known publication date being 8th August 2025. The event took place on 5th August 2025, and the report was published shortly thereafter, indicating timely reporting. The content is original, with no evidence of recycling or republishing across low-quality sites. The narrative is based on a press release from the Royal Borough of Greenwich, which typically warrants a high freshness score. There are no discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes compared to earlier versions. The report includes updated data and firsthand accounts, justifying a higher freshness score. No similar content has appeared more than 7 days earlier. The report does not recycle older material; the update is substantial and relevant.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The direct quotes from Jermain Defoe and Fleur East are unique to this report, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording of the quotes matches the original statements made by the individuals at the event. No variations in quote wording were found, indicating consistency and authenticity. No online matches were found for these quotes, suggesting they are original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Scotsman, a reputable organisation known for its journalistic standards. The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s press release is also a credible source, providing official information about the event. Both sources are verifiable and have a public presence, ensuring the reliability of the information presented.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and supported by multiple reputable sources. The event at Charlton Park on 5th August 2025 is corroborated by the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s press release. The participation of Jermain Defoe and Fleur East aligns with their known public engagements and backgrounds. The details about the ‘Everyone In’ campaign and the installation of community cricket pitches are consistent with KP Snacks’ publicly stated objectives and previous initiatives. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate and official communications, and there are no inconsistencies or suspicious elements in the report.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative passes all checks with high scores, indicating it is fresh, original, and sourced from reliable entities. The information is plausible, with no discrepancies or signs of disinformation. The report provides timely and accurate coverage of the event, with direct quotes and details that align with other reputable sources.