Cambridgeshire Cricket

The Grassroots "Cricket Collective" Awards are the recognised Awards scheme promoted by the ECB to formally recognise and reward volunteers from Cricket Clubs across Cambridgeshire. In July and August we asked you all to nominate the people in your Clubs or Clubs as a whole who have done marvellous things.

In September most of our award winners attended our Awards Presentation ceremony, held over two days at the Essex County Ground in Chelmsford while watching Essex's final LV County Championship game of the season against Hampshire. As is always the case not all of our award winners were able to join us in Chelmsford and yesterday we were able to present the last award.

So we would like to take the opportunity to formally announce all of winners and runners up against the 10 categories nominations against.

1) Connecting Communities - awarded to a Club or community organisation which has gone above and beyond the call of cricket to support communities/groups coming back to the game we love
Winners - March Town Cricket Club
Runners Up - Newmarket Cricket Club

2) Game Changer - which is given to a Young volunteer aged 17-25 making a difference in the game.
Winner - Ed Spencer of Burwell and Exning Cricket Club

3) Inspired to Play - presented to an Individual or group within a club or community organisation going above and beyond to open the game up to new audiences
Winner - Becky Case Upton of City of Ely Cricket Club

4) Rising Star - this award is designed to highlight a Young 11-16 year old volunteer making a difference in cricket in Cambridgeshire.
Winner - Oran Walker of Thriplow Cricket Club

5) Volunteer Grounds Management Team of the Year - the aim of this award is to recognise those volunteers who are making a real difference at their clubs. Their grounds may not be the best due to circumstances beyond their control but the team are working hard and improving the places where the game is played to be the best it can be.
Winner - Reach Cricket Club
Runner up - Chippenham Cricket Club

6) Innovator of the Year - Awarded to someone who has brought new ideas and/or implemented new systems to improve their club or community group.
Winner - Mark Lafferty of Ickleton Cricket Club

7) Growing the Game- is given to a league/club/community organisation volunteer, committee member, or administrator going above and beyond to support clubs and help increase the number of games played.
Winner - Michael Booth of Cambourne Cricket Club

8) Safe Hands Award - An individual that has worked hard to create a positive environment for young people to enjoy the game.
Winner - Celia Enderle of Histon Cricket Club

9) Unsung Hero Award - this category recognises those heroes who impact our game and help us make cricket happen. This could be ground staff, coaches, officials, umpires, or other volunteers.
Winner - Paddy Foy of Exning and Burwell Cricket Club
Runner up - Nigel Reader of Royston Cricket Club

10) Lifetime Achievement Award - is provided to that one individual who has given many years of service to your club, league or other community groups and you could not do without.
Winner - Ian Reid of Little Shelford Cricket Club

On behalf of Cambridgeshire Cricket we say thank you to all winners, runners up and nominees in their category.

We would also like to recognise ALL of the volunteers within ALL Cambridgeshire Clubs. The work you do is so important, in promoting your club within your local community, promoting the game to new players and put the game in Cambridgeshire in a very healthy position.

In 2024 we will again be running the Winter Wonders Awards (which is exclusive to Cambridgeshire) and the ECB Grassroots Awards and we would love to receive a nominations from every club in the County, please remember to recognise anyone it isn't your Club Committee's job, if you see something positive please do tell us by emailing neil.liversedge@cambscricket.org.uk

Congratulations all!