Voting is now open for the 2024 Pride of Cricket Awards
Voting is now open across six fantastic categories for the 2024 Pride of Cricket Awards. Not sure who to vote for? Read up on all the nominees for the Club Hero Award below.
Click here to cast your vote, or you can scroll down to the voting form at the bottom of the article.
Voting closes on 18th October. You can read about all the other nominees here.
A club man for the best part of 40+ years. A full-time NHS theatre nurse, when he's not working at the local hospital he is at the ground making sure we have a wicket to play, a training wicket and an immaculate outfield.
He takes annual leave every year at the end of the season just to get the winter prep started. He is truly a club hero and an absolute legend and a privilege to know.
Paul's mother worked at a local school to us and he started helping put the numbers up as a boy. He took over as our scorer in 1969 and has continued in the role to this day. He also took over arranging the catering, running the modest, bar, acting as pavilion manager. More recently due to illness he has been helping our relief groundsman.
Karen is actively involved in the club from Dynamos on a Saturday Morning, Senior Cricket on a Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Afternoon, making the teas, manning the bar, running the tuck shop. Running the Women and Girls Section, organising fixtures and training, the list goes on. But she does all this with a smile on her face, ready to help anyone and everyone. Karen joined the club over 8 years ago now when she moved to the area and was looking for a social setting to help her integrate with the community.
It's Gordon's commitment to the club that inspires others, he is a man who can't sit still when tasks need to be done, and if he is not scoring, umpiring or playing you can find him serving behind the bar or offering advice to younger players. He brings people together, fostering camaraderie and a sense of belonging. Players, parents, and spectators all feel his positive presence. Thanks to Gordon's commitment, Stinchcombe Stragglers CC has transformed from 11 old boys setting up a cricket team in 2017 to a cricket community asset.
Two years ago Andy was diagnosed with a throat cancer. As part of his recovery from the operations he threw himself into the our ground maintenance. He was told walking and keeping fit would help, so he combined his love for our club to recovery, he started off with simple mowing to get his steps in, this transformed into the full upkeep, now preparing incredible wickets. What makes it even better he is back playing on his wickets, bowling again after being told it was unlikely he would be able to raise his arms high enough.
Not only is he Junior Chairman, he currently runs U19's, U 17's and Semi Hard Ball. He is Chairman of the Derby City Junior Cricket League along with his wife Carol who is league secretary. Tim is also Mickleover Cricket Club's representative on the CIC. There is no job in junior cricket that Tim has not done, including running sides at all age groups. Tim is also an activator for All Stars and Dynamos which he runs on a Saturday morning. I would describe Tim as Mr. Clubman.
Tommy has managed the ground at Hailsham Cricket Club for well over 20 years now, extending beyond his playing days. Despite ongoing knee problems, Tommy is the most reliable member of the club, continuing to churn out top quality wickets for an ever expanding club. From just one team back when he joined, the club has now grown to five Saturday league teams, two Ladies' teams and a thriving junior section. Tommy has supported this growth through his continued service to the club and his exceptional work on the Western Road recreation ground.
Richard is the club's chair of junior cricket but is also part of our safeguarding team. He administrates a junior section of 250 children, including All Stars, with calm and efficiency. He navigates the chaos of the junior fixture lists with precision, almost always arranging the dates requested by the age group managers. He links in with the club's grounds team to ensure that junior pitches are available at the right time and also marked up in advance of games, saving managers valuable time and stress.
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