Our website partner, ACS Cricket Equipment, offered cricket clubs a chance to win a vital piece of grounds equipment: The ACS Magic Sponge.
The 2026 competition was won by Ulverston Cricket Club in Cumbria. Thanks to everyone who took the time to nominate a cricket club. Don’t worry, we’ll have more competitions and prizes to win for Cricket Yorkshire readers!
The ACS Magic Sponge is invaluable in helping to get games on and remove water from the square and outfield.
Made from galvanised metal with a powder coat finish, there is a sponge attached via velcro to make them easy to replace.
The 50-litre tank collects surface water in seconds – making this a fast way to get any ground ready for more cricket. It’s simple to release the water at the back when you’re full and off the pitch.
Whether it’s before or during a league game, cup final or a friendly, the ACS Magic Sponge is a must-have. It’s an investment that will last for years.
For use on grass, artificial surfaces and flat sheets, this piece of kit has been helping get the game on in club cricket – including at Sowerby St Peters CC (the 2025 winner, below).
Sowerby St Peters Cricket Club’s Gordon Akroyd said:
“The ACS water collector has proved very effective on the few occasions it was required last season. It was easy to assemble and easy to use. There is little to go wrong with its simple design and we expect to have many years of good use out of it.”
🏏 Get the game on this season
If your cricket club wants to purchase an ACS Magic Sponge then at £525 plus VAT, it’s more affordable than other cricket pitch drum water collectors out there.
Not to mention, designed and made here in Yorkshire!
When it comes to cricket pitch water removal, I think I’ve seen it all. From towels on the ground to hand-held sponges but ultimately, it’s about time and efficiency – and this is proven to work at everywhere from grassroots clubs and a Test match venue for an Ashes fixture (Headingley).
Details of all of the products that ACS sell, including sightscreens, covers, cages and sheets, visit: https://www.acscricket.co.uk.
The family business makes all of their own products from their Calverley HQ and are a go-to for many clubs across the country.
*This is Partner Content on behalf of ACS – if the mood takes you, click to read Cricket Yorkshire’s policy on Partner Content.
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The groundsman in the picture John is Richie Robinson boss at Headingley. & not Dave H.
Hi Rupert, good to hear from you, Robbo uses the ACS water collector at Headingley including during that very wet 2023 Ashes Test match which is why the picture is there.
Hodgy also uses it at Kirkstall Educational CC. All the best for your 2024 fixtures with St Georges.
Queensbury has a climate of its own … definitely more rain than anywhere else on the top of this hill …. We really need one ☝️
Your rain runs down the hill into Bradshaw, therefore we need it more than you lol 🤣
This would so help my husband and helpers to get the pitch ready, they are not getting any younger.
Having seen our water collector in use last summer we could do with an upgrade as it is going downhill very quickly
What one have you got Yvonne? The ACS Water Collector is new for this year so might be of interest. (Steeton CC won the competition.)
All the best with your cricket.
We are steadily building up our supplies of groundskeepers’ equipment and this would be an invaluable addition in boggy Lepton!! 🤞🏻 Especially as the wicket is so well used now with us having a ladies team!!
Thanks for the comment Cath, imagine quite a few grounds are boggy, it’s been a wet winter, hasn’t it? Steeton CC won the water collector in the end.
Info in the article if your club wants to think about buying an ACS product.
Good luck for the new season to Lepton’s teams.