THE Leicestershire County Cricket Club has partnered with Morningside Pharmaceuticals to help charities and good causes showcase their work during games, as part of a new sponsorship agreement.
The Loughborough-based medicines manufacturer has continued as an Official Partner for the 2022 campaign, and has secured exclusive naming rights to the Club’s outdoor functions’ facility, which will now be known as the Morningside Marquee.
The marquee, which was introduced by LCCC last summer at the Uptonsteel County Ground, in Grace Road, will host organisations and community groups during County Championship games to help with their fundraising and awareness activities, while also offering a platform to network.
Such events include the opening of the Club’s memorial garden with the Bishop, Martyn Snow, on May 13, while the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Leicester will be hosting a chosen charity, Healing Little Hearts, on June 12.
The 2022 partnership will be part of a dual naming rights agreement for Morningside, which will continue as sponsor of the Morningside Medical Centre, the Club’s on-site treatment facility.
Morningside has sponsored the medical centre since 2016. It provides an open-plan treatment space and an adjoining trauma room for players, featuring state-of-the-art match preparation and rehabilitation support, while also doubling as a crowd medical facility for use by St John’s Ambulance during match days.
Hundreds of junior cricketers aged between 10 and 18 will also continue to be invited to the Morningside Medical Centre to receive further education on sports science and medicine.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, chairman of Morningside Pharmaceuticals, said, “We’re delighted to be able to enhance our partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club by sponsoring the Morningside Marquee, which will provide a valuable space for local good causes to showcase their work and fundraise.
“At Morningside, we’re keen to support community projects which promote the benefits of healthy living, sport and team work, as well as giving back to the communities they serve. The cricket club is doing some great work to promote all of these endeavours, which is why we have decided to grow our partnership with the club this year.”
Tracey Branson, Leicestershire CCC Commercial Manager, said: “We are delighted to continue our long-running partnership with Morningside. To have our Marquee now known as the Morningside Marquee is fantastic and I look forward to working with them throughout the season.”
The Morningside Marquee is available for hire on match days and for private use.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)