Many entries were received, but The Cricketer and MCC have whittled the list down to the final 10
The shortlist for the Community Champion Award 2019 has been announced.
The award seeks to find the true heroes of recreational cricket, who often go unsung despite their relentless work to help bring communities together using cricket as a medium.
The winner of The Cricket Community Champion Award will be invited to the Lord's, the Home of Cricket, for England's inaugural Test match against Ireland. As part of an unforgettable day of hospitality, the winner will enjoy the great honour of ringing the five-minute bell to signify the imminent start of play on day two – Thursday 25th July.
The judging panel, which includes, Guy Lavender and Anthony Wreford, the chief executive and president of MCC as well as Guy Evans-Tipping and Simon Hughes, chief executive and editor of The Cricketer will meet at Lord's next week to decide on a winner.
We received nominations for many worthy candidates, but below are our final 10. Many thanks to all those who took the time to nominate someone from your club.
Nominated by: Dan Waddell
- A true cricket missionary, John Reeve has devoted his life to the game and encouraging people to play it.
- Once a free-scoring bat and pace bowler, the 50-year-old still plays for Acton CC as a wily spinner.
- Reeve, who sits on the MCCL League Committee, set up the West London Cricket Academy in which he coaches the next generation of young cricketers, and he also recently became a cricket ambassador for the True Unity Faiths Foundation (TUFF), which aims to empower young people through participation in sports and leisure.
- He’s also been tutoring troubled teenagers at Feltham’s Young Offenders Institution in the joys of cricket and the redemptive power of sport to startling effect.
Nominated by: Sumbul Siddiqui and one other
- Saba is not only someone who is passionate about cricket, but someone who shows real dedication and commitment towards the game. She is a role model for all British-Asian girls who are playing cricket or just simply want to get into sports.
- Saba goes into schools to coach girls and aims to get them playing for a club. Since she began coaching at Wanstead in 2013, the women’s team has grown from 15 members to over 30.
- She gets lots of free tickets to women’s games to make sure those at the club stay connected to the sport and are able to enjoy cricket at the highest level. Saba has even organised for Heather Knight to come and coach at the club in the past, which shows how she goes above and beyond her usual duties to make cricket accessible for all.
John Reeve (left) and Saba Nasim (right)
Nominated by: Donna Hibbert and one other
- Lorraine is a youth coach who is determined everyone gets a game no matter how good they are. She helps run all the youth teams at Staplegrove and often acts as an umpire and scorer when needed.
- Lorraine has also been responsible for setting up and coaching the ladies’ team. She has got more than 20 women to join, and also encouraged two to become coaches.
- Her son George: “My mum really does deserve to be recognised for all she does in cricket, because without her, we would not have a youth section, ladies’ section, or an opportunity for the under-19 team to carry on playing. On top of all this she holds down a full-time job and is a single mum to me and my brothers.”
Nominated by: Maureen Webb
- Malcolm has been president of Brentwood for 21 years and has successfully raised funds, obtained grants, sourced ground equipment, and persuaded tradesman and volunteers to give their free time to the club.
- He was instrumental in securing a new home – a village ground that had been abandoned for the past ten years. Since securing the land, Malcolm has spent almost every day at the ground helping to make it a suitable home.
- He has also extended the ground into a community facility where the local residents can relax, walk their dogs and enjoy the scenery. The opening ceremony and the first match on the new ground took place just seven months after the project started.
Nominated by: Glen Perryman
- Daniel is a local lad who has played at Wembdon since the age of 11, and the club has developed significantly with him behind the scenes.
- He’s helped the club move to a new club house, which now allows them to host functions and events; generating a whole new revenue stream.
- Dan works every day at the club in some capacity. Whether that’s being the groundsman, the youth coach or the barman – he will never say no when he’s asked to help out. Dan is following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, another club member who sadly passed away.
- Glen: “Dan is pivotal to the running and functioning of the club. He’s their leader and the glue that holds everything together.”
Nominated by: Alex Laud
- Known as ‘Mr Earlswood’, Dave is the All-Stars coordinator, a coach, a barman, a first aider, a tea-preparer, a repairman and the president of Earlswood CC.
- He has been involved with the club for 40 years and has given up his time continuously for the benefit of members, particularly juniors. Over those years the club has now grown to five senior Saturday sides and three ladies’ teams, and there are junior sides at every age group.
- Dave is one of the most popular members of the club. He takes an interest in every member and sacrifices his time and energy, even when suffering from ill health, to ensure that every one has the opportunity to play cricket.
Clockwise from top left: Lorraine Warren, Malcolm Webb, Dave Snipe, Daniel Bingham
Nominated by: Heather Powell
- Ian manages the juniors, organises coaching and training, co-ordinates school competitions and women’s softball tournaments, arranges all safeguarding and transport, and always hosts an end of season BBQ at Leicester Electricity Sports CC.
- Very recently, he was seen late at the club sorting out paperwork after finishing his 9-5 job, when he found out the women’s team didn’t have a coach for their training session. Wearing a shirt and tie, Ian came from the pavilion to threw down balls to the batters in the nets so they could have a full session.
- Heather: "Because of the work he does, we have a thriving juniors’ section that’s bringing through the next generation of local cricketers."
Nominated by: Jon Purdey
- Paul has been described as the most gentle, kind and compassionate opening bowler you’ll ever meet – and a legend of the Sussex League.
- Since he finished playing, he dedicates his time to the juniors at Eastbourne CC. He is the brains and manpower behind their ‘Forward Drive’ scheme, which offers free coaching throughout the year to those aged between 3 and 11. Thanks to his efforts, there are now more than 70 children under his tutelage. Paul also coaches the Ladies’ team, who have reached the last 32 in a national tournament.
- Jon: "Paul Hacker – if you ask Ollie Rayner at Middlesex, Ben Brown at Sussex or Tom Smith at Gloucestershire – is a hero."
Clockwise from top left: Ian Jeffries, Paul Hacker, Nick Jelfs, Dave Freeman.
Nominated by: Paul Blazey
- Nick has been a club and county coach in Wolverhampton for the last 30 years.
- He is usually seen at the club six nights a week, and is well liked by all who have met and been coached by him. He will never take any credit for the tireless effort he puts in, and instead asks the youngsters to recognise the efforts of his colleagues in the coaching department.
- He also works for the England learning disability teams and has organised various training sessions and matches at Brewood.
- Paul: "Nick is a real club man and wants the best for any child who comes through our gates. Come rain or shine, Nick is there living and breathing the game he loves."
Nominated by: Cynthia Till and three others
- Dave has received the most nominations out of all the candidates for his tireless voluntary work.
- As chairman of the club, he organises the matches, plays for the seniors and is often found to be scoring or umpiring. He also organises the sponsors, money raising and also helps behind the bar. GLT is a thriving club, but it would be nothing without Dave.
- Cynthia: "Dave has an unwavering commitment to the club every season. We are incredibly grateful for his complete devotion to nurturing and training the juniors in the club. His dedication is astounding and he is greatly loved at the club by all."
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