Tag: Cricket

Two clubs and the County Pitch Advisers picked up awards at the Cricket Shropshire Presentation Night held at the Albright Hussey Hotel.

Chair Adrian Collins announced the awards for Junior Club of the Year, Club of the Year and the ECB’s Cricket Collective award for Grounds.

They were presented by the Board’s Director of Recreational and Disability Cricket Dave White and Director of Community Cricket Hafeez Rehman.

Junior Club of the Year – Lilleshall CC

Adrian said: “Lilleshall contacted us at the start of 2024 with a number of concerns surrounding their facilities and playing offer. They have struggled since Covid to sustain their junior offer and their pavilion was failing to support their membership.

“Despite this, the club have had a complete turn-around thanks to their dedicated members and volunteers. Their junior section is thriving with both their Under 11 & Under 13 teams winning their respective divisions and making it to the Finals Days.

“We worked with club volunteers to arrange a Summer Camp to engage new and existing junior members. On the back of this, they ran their own Summer Camp, creating valuable relationships between the young people and their local club. 

“Beyond this, the club have also forged vital links with the primary school and local community by supporting and hosting local events.

“We have continued to work closely with the club on other areas, such as their women’s softball team and hosting a girls’ taster day at their second ground, Edgmond.

“It is fantastic to see how far they have come in such a short space of time and it is all down to their brilliant and dedicated club volunteers.

“We look forward to seeing them sustain their offer and continue to grow into a well-rounded club.”

Club of the Year – Shelton CC

Adrian said: “A real story of a club coming back from the brink with a core band of dedicated volunteers keeping everything together through periods of challenge and struggle.

“Due to a major building development, Shelton saw their surroundings disappear overnight. In 1999 the nearby social club closed, which cut off the facilities for the club to function – changing rooms, toilets, meeting and social space all gone.

“They then fought off planners and developers who wanted to build up to the pitch boundary. Without any facilities for a year, what a way to begin the Millennium – having to carry everything up to the ground on match and practice day.

“In 2001 they received a Portakabin and a generator and were able to utilise a veranda for scorers.

“For 16 years this and local pubs became their home. Rather than break the club it reinforced the families who had the club at its heart. 

“During this period, they maintained the same playing numbers and had success gaining promotions (and some relegations) but still offering cricket to their members and remaining financially stable.

“Fast forward 2017 and a new pavilion was converted from existing buildings and new bowling green established as a hub for the community.

“Now. with over 400 new homes as their neighbours, the club has gone from strength to strength, boasting three weekend teams, a Sunday development side and Junior teams from U11 through to U18.

“They regularly boast the highest All Stars and Dynamos numbers in the county, closing registrations within a day or so of it opening.

“A women’s section has evolved and are regulars in our all-year-round programme across hard ball and soft ball.

“They also have a Foundation arm which raises and uses funds to support local community causes. They are also a Disability Hub club and have a fine cohort of participants.

“They host finals, days, festivals, age group matches and have recently invested in four hybrid pitches and were given a grant for a non-turf pitch to assist in supporting the volume of cricket which get played at this venue.

“We are now seeing third and fourth generation family members involved. 

“It would be remiss of us not to mention someone who has been the glue to hold this all together, she is the matriarch in the kindest possible way. Thank you, Jan Griffiths   and congratulations, to all of the volunteers and families at Shelton.”

ECB Cricket Collective Grounds Award – The County Pitch Advisors

Adrian said: “The County Pitch Advisors are a dedicated group of volunteers and club groundskeepers who manage their own grounds and support the network. 

“We feel very privileged to have such an enthusiastic team that has connected well with the network, conducting workshops, site visits, and phone consultations. They also maintain a Facebook group for groundskeepers to discuss pitch-related issues. 

“Additionally, the team is proud to have their first female CPA, who has been instrumental in organising the group and introducing Pitch Power.

“Congratulations to Jason Allen, Adrian Shelley, Andy McIlroy, Ryan Dawes, Shaun Astley and Maisie Rushton.”

If anyone would like a high-resolution digital version of any of these pictures, we can supply them for £5, half of which will be donated to the chosen charity of the evening MIND. If you wish to order three pictures it will be £10, five for £15 or 10 for £20. Please email info@cricketshropshire.co.uk