This year’s Steelbacks Cricket Collective Awards were presented on Sunday 9th August during the interval of the Steelbacks’ Metro Bank One Day Cup fixture against Somerset.
Each winner were presented their awards by Steelbacks players by Justin Broad and Ricardo Vasconcelos.
These annual rewards recognise dedicated volunteers, cricket clubs and schools that go above and beyond for the recreational game in Northamptonshire and it was great to celebrate their achievements at the cinch County Ground.
The first award presented was the Young Cricket Collective Champion for volunteers aged 14-25 which went to Angelina Beetson from Barby Cricket Club who brought fresh ideas and energy to her club’s junior training programmes with her support for the many girls involved at the club making her a brilliant role model.
Next up were the awards that recognise volunteers in coaching roles around the community with Helen Charnley from Northampton Saints Cricket Club and James Hurrell from Bold Dragon Cricket Club awarded National Programmes Activator of the Year.
The award goes to a volunteer who makes the experience of their All Stars and Dynamos truly memorable for the children involved with both Charnley and Hurrell making their sessions fun and engaging with all the children taking their first steps into cricket.
Neal Perry from Wollaston Cricket Club was the recipient of the Lifetime Services to Coaching Award which he earned for being involved with the junior set up of the club for 34 years and countless young cricketers have benefitted from his expertise and moved on to play for the club’s senior teams.
Perry has also worked closely with local schools and spent several years coaching and managing county squads in the boys’ Talent Pathway.
Individuals and organisations that have inspired change and taken cricket to new groups are crucial to the make-up of the community and the next set of awards recognise that.
This year’s Raising the Game category award went to Priyadatt Joshi from Wellingborough Indians Cricket Club. Thanks to Joshi, who established his club’s junior section by scratch, the club now has two junior teams and over 50 young cricketers which has transformed and modernised the club and welcomed both new groups and volunteers.
Nadine Peat from Wollaston Cricket Club was awarded the Metro Bank Champion of Girls’ Cricket award for her drive and commitment to grow the girls’ game at her club and across the county.
The League Legend Award goes to Jim Butlin for his contribution to the Corby & District Junior Youth Cricket League, which is one of the largest junior leagues in the country. His influential leadership and passion saw the introduction of a variety of playing offers and formats to keep young cricketers engaged and support the league’s member clubs.
Park Junior School in Wellingborough were the recipients of the School of the Year award because of their engagement with the Steelbacks Foundation schools cricket programmes which has led to many children at the school getting more engaged with cricket.
The next two awards went to people in specific volunteer roles that are pivotal to the delivery of recreational cricket.
Official of the year goes to an umpire or scorer who a club can’t go without, and this year’s winner was Claire McGrenaghan from Burton Latimer Cricket Club who gives up her time to score for her club’s junior teams across all the age groups.
This year’s Grounds Management Team award went to Moira Keeber from Old Cricket Club. She is one of the only female grounds volunteers in the county and is part of a two-person team that prepares pitches for 80 fixtures across two grounds at her club which involves countless hours of preparation which is rarely seen but has a huge impact.
The final two awards celebrated individuals that their club could not do without and first up was Great Oakley Cricket Club’s Alan York who deservedly won Unsung Hero thanks to his involvement at his club since childhood whether it’s preparing wickets, maintaining the ground, running the bar or doing clubhouse maintenance.
Keith Parsons from Irthlingborough Town Cricket Club was the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achiever Award. Parsons has been involved at Windmill Road since the late 1950s and held almost every volunteer role at the club since; including captain, coach, chairman, grounds manager and umpire. He is now the President of the club and remains an inspiration to all, always keeping other volunteers motivated and involved.
There were two further awards, which the recipients were not able to attend the fixture.
These were Carrie Burrows from St Crispin & Harlestone Cricket Club, who won the Newcomer of the Year award for her efforts launching the club’s first female team and recruiting 30 new members.
As well as Alan Eathorne from Stewarts & Lloyds Corby Cricket Club won the coach of the year award for his selfless efforts running the club’s junior section that includes providing kit for youngsters that cannot afford it themselves.
Congratulations to everyone who won an award, it was amazing to celebrate everyone and their contributions to the community.