Emdad Rahman
The English Cricket Board has announced the shortlist for the twelfth annual NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards. BBC Commentator Jonathan Agnew will host an esteemed event of 400 guests next week, which will see eight OSCAs presented.
The OSCAs were first founded in 2003 to recognise cricket’s unsung heroes and appreciate the input and influences of grassroots volunteers from all over England and Wales. The awards are a fundamental part of the ECB’s volunteering programmes which give cricket clubs support on recruiting, rewarding and educating cricket volunteers.
The final shortlist (below) has been chosen by a panel of representatives from the ECB, British Gymnastics, vInspired and NatWest.
Acknowledging the nominees and the event, Mike Gatting ECB’s Managing Director, Cricket Partnerships said: “The NatWest OSCAs provide the perfect opportunity to recognise the outstanding contribution volunteers make to our sport. The nominees all play an important role in ensuring grassroots cricket continues to flourish and everyone at the ECB is looking forward to seeing these volunteers rewarded.”
Lee Bailey NatWest Sponsorship Manager said: “The NatWest OSCAs is an important part of our cricket calendar as it encourages us all to stop, recognise and appreciate just some of the army of hardworking and dedicated volunteers who make cricket possible in their communities. This year’s winners are all truly remarkable and selfless people without whom grassroots cricket would not be the wonderful game that we all enjoy today.”
NatWest OSCAs 2014 nominees
Behind the Scenes Adrian Jeffrey- Hampset Cricket Club, Somerset Ian Milne- Old Blandorians Cricket Club, Dorset Steve Wales- North Leeds Cricket Club, Yorkshire
Building Partnerships Tariq Ali- Wolverhampton Cricket Club, Staffordshire Rob Reed- Corsham Cricket Club, Wiltshire Paul Wood- Chippingdale Cricket Club, Sussex
Leagues and Boards Stuart Munday- Tavistock Cricket Club, Devon Sajid Patel- National Cricket League, Essex Andy Watts- Beds County League, Bedfordshire
Lifetime Achievers Ivor Chaplin- Brentham Cricket Club, Middlesex Gerald Evans- Pontarddulais Cricket Club, Wales Chris Johnson-Knebworth Park Cricket Club, Hertfordshire Maurice Vaughan- Etwall Cricket Club, Derbyshire
NatWest CricketForce Basingstoke & North Hants CC- Hampshire Andy Glover- Portslade Cricket Club, Sussex Steph Reingold- Stanmore Cricket Club, Middlesex
Officiating- Umpires & Scorers Avril Acres- Berkshire Officials, Berkshire Keith Parsons- Irthlingborough Town Cricket Club, Northants Anne Vine- Welwyn Gardens City Cricket Club, Hertfordshire
Young Volunteer Ashley Goldsmith- Northwood Cricket Club, IOW Jordan Hobbis- Cookhill Cricket Club, Worcestershire Alice South- Papplewick & Linby Cricket Club, Nottinghamshire