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Derbyshire volunteers recognised at cricket OSCAs

14 October 2008

The Derby resident, who has been a volunteer at Swarkestone CC for more than 40 years, was commended in the Lifetime Achievement category at the prestigious awards, which are open to volunteers involved in grassroots cricket across England and Wales.

In recognition of his hard work and dedication, Alan received a certificate from England cricketer Ravi Bopara, and Charlotte Edwards, Captain of the England Women’s cricket team, during a ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Judges selected Alan as one of four nominees to make the shortlist in the Lifetime Achievement category after sifting through county entries from across England and Wales.

This followed his win in the same category at the Derbyshire OSCAs, run by Derbyshire County Cricket Board, earlier this year.

He has been involved with Swarkestone CC for 40 years, as a player and then in various committee roles including chairman. He is currently head groundsman, but plays a much wider role at the club, and is always looking at how it can move forward.

All other winners from the Derbyshire OSCAs were also invited to the ceremony at Lord’s.

They were Breadsall Cricket Club’s James Drew, who won Derbyshire’s Behind the Scenes award, Steve Lawrence from Chesterfield Barbarians Cricket Club (Building Partnerships), Ian Farmer from Aston-on-Trent Cricket Club (Another Way), Clive Harris of Derbyshire Premier Cricket League and Derbyshire County Cricket League (Leagues and Boards), Sam Lomas from Mickleover Cricket Club (Young Volunteer) and Eckington Cricket Club (NatWest CricketForce).

The OSCAs are the England and Wales Cricket Board’s annual volunteer recognition and reward event. Each year the County Cricket Boards nominate almost 300 individuals, and an independent judging panel then meets to determine a shortlist and then select the winners in seven categories.

Guest speaker at the event was John Barclay, Director of Cricket and Coaching, Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation, and there was also a question and answer session with former England Captain Mike Gatting.

Pictured above, from left, is Mick Glenn from Derbyshire County Cricket Board, Alan Davies, Steve Lawrence, James Drew, and Dan Newton from Derbyshire Sport.