HOGGARD TAKES NEW CRICKET ROLE AT LA MANGA CLUB
Former England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard has signed up for a new team after joining Spain’s world-famous La Manga Club sports and leisure resort as a cricketing ambassador.
Hoggard follows in the footsteps of a number of top British stars including Scotland football legends Kenny Dalglish and Gordon Strachan and ex-women’s tennis number one Jo Durie to give his backing to the luxury venue.
The former Yorkshire and Leicestershire star, who took 248 wickets in 67 Tests for England and was a key member of Michael Vaughan’s side that won the memorable 2005 Ashes series, retired from cricket in 2013 but remains heavily involved in the game, and is relishing the chance to promote one of the world’s most iconic sporting destinations.
Regularly used for warm-weather training breaks by county and international teams as well as being a regular venue for ICC European tournaments, La Manga Club is widely regarded as the ‘home of cricket’ in Spain, and the resort further enhanced its facilities last year by launching the continent’s first European Cricket Performance Centre, which recently opened the first of its new grass wickets.
Hoggard said: “It’s an enormous privilege to have been asked to join the ambassador programme at La Manga Club, one of the most famous destination venues in the sporting world.
“With a host of world-class facilities, the resort has so much to offer to everyone that visits, both professionals and amateurs alike. La Manga Club has some very exciting plans to develop the cricket side of its business, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of its future.”
Covering an area three times the size of Monaco in Murcia, south-east Spain, La Manga Club is renowned for setting the benchmark for sports and leisure destinations across Europe, with its European Cricket Performance Centre a perfect illustration of its long-term commitment to investing in first-class facilities.
The centre has been designed to help international teams, counties, schools and colleges, as well as assisting with the development of players and coaches, with Cricket Ireland and Cricket Scotland already among its list of regular visitors since it opened last spring.
The extensive facilities include six first-class grass pitches and two artificial wickets on two existing grounds, plus 18 grass and five artificial net lanes – all with 25-yard run-ups. In addition, there is also a specialist grass fielding, catching and wicket-keeping areas.
Also the official overseas training base of the Lawn Tennis Association, La Manga Club’s unrivalled other facilities include three 18-hole golf courses, a 28-court tennis centre and a 2,000sqm Wellness Centre. It also offers the choice of a five-star hotel, four-star serviced apartments and more than 15 bars and restaurants.
For more details on La Manga Club, visit www.lamangaclub.com
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Information for journalists
Press release written and distributed on behalf of La Manga Club by Azalea.
About La Manga Club
Located in a magnificent natural environment next to Calblanque National Park and the Mediterranean Sea, with a mild year-round climate and enjoying exceptional security and privacy, the exclusive resort of La Manga Club (Los Belones, Cartagena, Murcia) offers luxury, leisure and sport in the same place, and is set just 20 minutes from Murcia airport and an hour away from Alicante.
Founded in 1972, the resort now covers an area of 566 hectares containing accommodation, professional sports facilities, relaxation zones, first-class redevelopment and a private community of 2,300 residents, in a region which boasts more than 350 days of sun and is surrounded by natural parks and untouched beaches.
La Manga Club’s extensive facilities include:
– A five-star hotel: Hotel Príncipe Felipe 5*
– Tourist apartments: Las Lomas Village 4*
– Luxury villas
– Three 18-hole golf courses
– A 28-court tennis centre
– Eight FIFA-sized football pitches
– 2,000m2 Wellness Centre
– The resort’s famous La Cala beach and restaurant, overlooking the Mediterranean
– More than 15 bars and restaurants
Additionally, there is the opportunity to rent a property, purchase a plot of land or buy any of the villas already available that have been built on the complex, and benefit from the services and commodities that a five-star hotel has to offer, such as the sports facilities on the resort.
With the variety of activities and facilities available, La Manga Club has firmly established itself as one of the best sports and leisure destination resorts in Europe, and has been the proud recipient of a host of prestigious international awards and accolades over the last four decades.
· High-resolution images of La Manga Club may be downloaded for editorial purposes fromhttps://goo.gl/oi837y
For more information on La Manga Club and enquiries contact sales@lamangaclub.com