The WCB team was delighted to welcome the winners of the 2022 Warwickshire Grassroots Cricket Awards to Edgbaston earlier this month, where they received their awards from WCCC Director of Cricket, Paul Farbrace. “Recognising the contribution of volunteers in recreational cricket is vitally important,” said Ed McCabe, WCB General Manager. “The Grassroots Cricket Awards is one of my favourite events of the year. We have the opportunity to invite a very special group of volunteers to Edgbaston, present them with their awards, and hear their inspiring stories.”
The 2022 Awards event and lunch was organised by Alex Roslyn, WCB Cricket Development Officer. “The Grassroots Cricket Awards is an ECB programme which recognises the commitment of volunteers,” explained Alex. “They are the invaluable people who form the backbone of the recreational game. Without the dedication of volunteers, many of our cricket clubs simply couldn’t function.”
The 2022 Warwickshire Grassroots Cricket Awards winners are:
Nataliya Rozhin
- Connecting Communities Award
“Nataliya Rozhin has organised the support and welcome for around 70 individuals and families arriving in the B93 postcode from Ukraine since March. A Ukrainian herself, who has lived in the UK for 15 years and lectures at BCU, Nataliya has mobilised her UK network and been at the forefront of a number of initiatives, including support with visa applications, weekly language lessons in a local church, practical support and advice for newly arrived families - and the formation of a Ukrainian women’s softball team!
Nataliya is a key member of a group of women who have been meeting a Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club on Saturday mornings to play softball cricket, have fun and created an opportunity to meet each other in a friendly and supportive environment. Nataliya provides vital and enthusiastic translation between coaches and players, whilst throwing herself into the weekly cricket sessions and the two softball festivals the Ukrainian women have attended. She has been instrumental in bringing the group together and encouraging them to learn cricket skills, have fun and gain an insight into an aspect of English culture. Thank you to Knowle & Dorridge Cricket Club for making the Ukrainian families so welcome, especially Ian Maddocks for letting the group use the outfield before Saturday’s first and second team fixtures.”
David Owen, Erdington Cricket Club
- Inspired to Play Award
Dave Owen has reclaimed the pitches from football and learnt how to look after them through an online course. The Directors of the Erdington Cricket Club CIC say “Dave is in the soil - a lot of this stuff wouldn’t happen without him.” Dave is a humble man who gives everything to the task in front of him and an incredibly deserving recipient of this award.”
Liam Gillespie, Tanworth & Camp Hill Cricket Club
- Rising Star Award
Liam Gillespie, aged 13, is a club volunteer at Tanworth & Camp Hill CC All Stars sessions. Lead TACH CC coach Andy Turnbull says, “Liam is a very mature, charismatic and supportive young man. All of these traits are highlighted in his volunteering at TACH All Stars. He is always encouraging the boys and girls with lots of positive praise. Liam has a fantastic sense of humour and helps to ensure the atmosphere is fun and energetic. He also has all the characteristics to make an excellent coach in years to come and everybody at TACH hugely appreciates the time he gives up to help younger cricketers follow in his
footsteps through the juniors and into the senior teams, where Liam has become a 2nd XI regular this season.
Liam is very humble and would like to accept this award on behalf of all the young volunteers at TACH All Stars and Dynamos sessions who support the lead activators with so much energy. We regularly have over 10 players from the junior section helping every Friday night and this award is the result of a team effort, which shows Liam’s true team spirit on and off the field.”
Ben Hughes, Bedworth Cricket Club
- Game Changer Award
Ben has been a driving force behind Women and Girls cricket at Bedworth. Having only started their Women’s section less than 18 months ago, Ben has helped bring together a thriving Women’s team which train and play all year round, competing in all the available softball cricket offers and organising friendlies amongst other clubs to keep up momentum with the players. His enthusiasm and commitment to the Women’s team has been second to none and has well and truly changed the game for Women and Girl’s Cricket in the local area.
Robert Brookes, Sheldon Marlborough Cricket Club
- Unsung Hero Award
Robert Brookes has been a lifeline to the club over the past 12 months, throwing himself into tasks that go largely unnoticed. Throughout the Spring he completely rebuilt the club sightscreen, painting all of the wooden panels and assisting with the re-assembly. He has then moved on to the protective posts around the grounds, repainting and re-setting the concrete as required and assembling our new covers.
Robert trained as a National Programmes Activator and has been fully committed to all of the sessions despite not having any children in the participant group and regularly acts as the scorer in our U14 games, again without having any children participating. Rob epitomises the “volunteer” ethos that all small clubs require and would be a worthy winner of this award. We would not be where we are now without his efforts this year.
Neal Hume – Four Oaks Saints Cricket Club
- Growing the Game Award
Neal Hume puts in many hours at Four Oaks Saints CC and will turn his hand to anything that needs doing – administration, scoring, communications or fixing things in the club house. FOS CC Coach Nadia Bacciochi says, “Neal really understands the importance of volunteers in order to keep cricket clubs going. He isn’t a cricket coach himself, but he will help with all the things the coaches don’t have time to do and is invaluable in organising teams. Neal is also passionate about helping junior cricketers transition into the adult teams, as the future of the club.”
Khalid Sadiq
– Cricket Innovator Award
Khalid is a cricket coach who works in inner City Birmingham on WCB’s Chance to Shine Street and Core Cities’ programmes. In the day time he works full time at Broadway Academy in Aston as Cover Supervisor.
He has always been a passionate coach who goes the extra mile to help young people, not only with their cricket but their wider personal development and aspirations.
To understand Khalid you need to understand his drive to see young people raise their aspirations and achieve unexpected success in life. Cricket is one of the key vehicles he uses to achieve this.
In 2022 Khalid set up Aston Community Cricket Club and created teams at U13 and U15 levels. A full programme of league matches have been played on Sundays along with weekly coaching on Mondays and Thursdays. Both teams won their divisions and progressed to the knock out stages.
This helped inner city kids come out of their community, and into Warwickshire to play at lovely grounds and meet all sorts of new people.
Khalid is now challenging the players, the coaches and theschool that hosts the club to think differently and help him develop the club into a true community hub so that the pitch can be improved, women & girls can play and for there to be regular events and socials. He is empowering parents
and siblings to become coaches, team managers, scorers etc. One of the Mums is already qualified as a FL1 coach now and is starting to lead sessions on her own.
Khalid will seize any opportunity to help the kids and this season has seen him take the Aston players to Internationals, T20s and Hundred games at Edgbaston, find hard ball kit and clothing for the kids that can’t afford it, nominate players for trials and then get them extra coaching at a one to one level, whether that’s done by himself or through his contacts.
A true supporter and advocate of the young people in this great City.
Berni Roberts, Norton Lindsay Cricket Club
- SafeHands Award
Berni Roberts has single handedly turned around the fortunes of Norton Lindsey Cricket Club off the field, driving the junior section and women’s and girl’s cricket. As part of her work in developing the club Berni took on the task of achieving compliance on the Safe Hands Management System.
The System was a true reflection of how well organised Berni had made Norton Lindsey and she completed all entries and had all volunteers DBS compliant in double-quick time. Keep up the good work and I hope we continue to see NLCC thrive with Berni’s assistance.
Fillongley Cricket Club
- Tackling Climate Change
Fillongley Cricket Club have introduced several initiatives to help create a more sustainable future for the club. These include planting new trees and hedges around the ground to help with flooding in the village, maintaining a dedicated wildlife habitat area, pond regeneration and storing of electricity and electric pitch mowers. They also have plans to introduce solar panels. A fantastic move from the club, an inspiration to the cricket community and worthy winners of the Tackling Climate Change award.
Paul & Claire Finch, Warwick CC
- Volunteer Grounds Management Team of the Year
Between them, Claire and Paul have over 70 years’ volunteering service at Warwick CC managing the cricket pitch. The husband and wife team are supported by some club members but undertake the majority of the work on the pitch between them. It is a year-round role and requires dedication to manage a ground that is used most days of the week for junior and senior cricket. Recently, Claire spoke to the WCB about Paul’s contribution at Warwick CC.
“Proportionally, he is on the ground for much more time than me. He’s the hero, having done at least 20 hours a week on top of his full time job for the last 40 years. It is a rare commitment. If Paul leaves the house, I know where he is!”
Keith Boyall
- Official of the Year
Keith has worked extremely hard with umpiring appointments over the last few years and works tirelessly to ensure that cricket has umpires and officials to uphold the integrity of the game. His problem solving and communication skills are excellent and there wouldn’t be as much cricket played within Warwickshire without Keith’s contribution. Keith is an impressive winner of the Official of the Year.
Andrea & Martin Prichard, Aston Manor Cricket Club
- Lifetime Achievers Award
Martin and Andrea – Mr and Mrs Aston Manor Cricket Club. Their first date was the football and the second to watch Martin play cricket!!!
Initially they started their joint cricketing journey at Bridge Trust – Martin playing and Andrea scoring . There followed a move to Aston Manor where they have been for well over 20 years. They are the fabric of the club – Martin puts countless hours into the ground whilst Andrea continues to score for the Saturday sides.
Not content with this, they look after all the administration of the junior section ensuring that local youngsters get the chance to play the game. They are always there on junior night taking registers, helping parents and making sure everyone knows what’s going on.This even includes producing a monthly newsletter called ‘The Squirrel.’
They are truly the fabric of the club and represent all that’s good in the game.
John Cartwright - 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, Fillongley CC
John played for Fillongley at every level since a junior, performing to a high standard in our first team. In 1988 he became a Vice Captain, captaining Sunday and Saturday League sides. Always playing within the spirit as well as the Laws, John is known to many clubs in the area.
In 1995 John became Treasurer, between 1996-2005 Secretary.
An enthusiastic supporter of juniors, John became a coach in 1998 and spent 8 years coaching juniors.
In 2004 John began helping Bill Miller, groundsman, preparing pitches, gradually taking on more responsibility until Bill retired. Fillongley maintains an excellent wicket and a large square - John took great pride, producing excellent wickets for all our sides. John believed juniors deserve a good grass wicket on which to develop.
Whilst not officially engaged in coaching, John had time for juniors who sought out his experience and his groundsman duties have often been interrupted by an impromtu coaching sessions!
In 2018 John decided that it was time to hand on the Groundsman’s keys but his legacy will remain at Fillongley for many years to come through the excellent square and of all the juniors now playing senior cricket.
