Although the cricket season has come to end all across the country over the last few weeks, it has been just as busy for the Steelbacks in the Community team who switch their focus to organising and delivering cricket sessions throughout the winter.
Firstly, the Community team needs to welcome a new member to the team in Gary Herbert – the new Community Cricket Coach for next season. Gary has already been involved with the Club, coaching the Under 10s team within the pathway and will continue with the U11s next season as well.
Gary has been in the news recently after securing an absolutely amazing achievement by winning a Pride of Britain Award. The new Cricket Community Coach is the fundraiser of the year in the West ITV Anglia region after he ran 2021 miles in 2021 to raise £19,000 for Northampton Hope Centre.
You can read more on this fantastic achievement here and watch his winning moment in the tweet below. Everyone at the Club would like to congratulate Gary on his well-deserved award, as well as welcome him to the Community team.
There was time last week, after the season had finished, for one last honours board this season. The honours boards are released every week and highlight the very best cricket performances from across the Northants Cricket league. The honours boards were special this week as they featured the highest scores from across the entire season.
A huge congratulations to Harry Penberthy for securing the highest batting score of the season with a massive 204. An extra shoutout to Matthew Rees who is very unlucky to miss out on the top spot having also achieved a double century.
Well done to Ben Rae from Kettering Town CC for topping the bowling scoreboard for the season, taking a monumental 9 wickets for only 30 runs. Joshua Steggles and Shay Kirk can also be incredibly proud of taking 8 wickets for 35 and 50 runs respectively.
It’s been great to track all of the best scores across the season and a huge well done to anyone who managed to get their name on the board.
With the final honours board posted and cricket finished for the summer, attention does now turn to winter cricket activities, and there is plenty going on.
Junior indoor leagues are back and bigger than ever with more fixtures and teams than ever before. We have also added a U16s league to ensure as many age groups as possible who want to play cricket through the winter are covered.
As well as the junior indoor leagues, there is more opportunity to get involved in cricket, especially with our cricket skills camps this October half term. These skill camps for 7-11 years olds allow them to achieve bronze, silver and gold Steelbacks awards for batting, bowling and fielding. More information is below for anyone who is interested, and you can book now here.
We are passionate in the Steelbacks in the Community team about ensuriong that everyone in the county has equal opportunity to get involved in cricket and so we also have several cricket programmes that make it as accessible as possible. Super 1s sessions run every Monday between 6-7pm and allows players with all disabilities to come along and take part in cricket sessions. Please contact pratik.rachh@nccc.co.uk for more information.
As well as this, table cricket is back next year after proving to be popular throughout Northamptonshire this season.
Finally, there are more ways to get involved in cricket over the winter other than playing. The Community team are running two first aid courses on 25th October and 7th November to ensure that you have all the relevant first aid qualifications when coaching, playing or umpiring cricket.
If you’re interested in having a career in cricket, there are also both foundation 1 and core coaching sessions coming up throughout the winter. Find out more information and book onto the courses here.
The Community Round-up is proudly supported by the Steelbacks in the Community Principal Partner – Cummins.