Gloucestershire players lend a hand at NatWest CricketForce
8 April 2014
Gloucestershire CCC’s players took a break from their pre-season preparations to help the county’s clubs get their grounds ready for the coming season.
From digging ditches to painting pavilions, the entire first team squad spent Saturday morning doing their bit as part of the ECB’s annual NatWest Cricket Force initiative.
The players lent a hand at eight of the 71 Glos clubs taking part – including Hambrook, Forest Exiles, Hatherley and Reddings and Cirencester.
To view a gallery of photos from the day visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/120798754@N07/
The day was coordinated by Gloucestershire Cricket Board clubs and programmes officer Eric Woodmason, who spent the day helping out at his own club, Frocester CC.
He said: “The feedback we have had from clubs is that this year’s event has been a tremendous success. This is in no small part down to the Gloucestershire CCC players who have got stuck in wherever they have been and have acted as true ambassadors for Gloucestershire cricket.
“The NatWest CricketForce initiative is a great way for clubs to kick-start the new season. It brings people together and it is remarkable how much some clubs have managed to achieve.
“Volunteers are the lifeblood of recreational cricket and days like this really highlight how important they are in sustaining and developing the many fantastic clubs we have in the county.”
Of the 71 Glos clubs who took part in NatWest CricketForce , 48 signed up for a Jewson Privilege Account. The scheme means that if a club puts in £50 the ECB puts in an extra £350. This resulted in £16,800 coming in to Gloucestershire cricket in 2014.
To see how individual clubs got on see below:
Alex Gidman and brother Will, spent the morning volunteering at their former club Hatherley and Reddings CC. Alex erected a white picket fence while Will got to grips with cutting the outfield onboard the club’s orange sit-on mower.
Hambrook CC were assisted by Dan Housego, James Fuller and Benny Howell. The trio helped out with a number of different tasks including putting up the nets, tidying the ground, painting fences and getting kit bags ready.
Winchcombe CC benefited from the combined hard work of Liam Norwell, Tom Shrewsbury and Graeme McCarter. The pros swapped the usual tools of their trade for paintbrushes as they helped give the club’s sightcreens a new lick of paint.
Winchcombe president Dipak Basu said: “On behalf of all at our club can we say what a credit the players are to Gloucestershire CCC. They were friendly, polite and extremely helpful and just kept working and working. We really appreciated their commitment and they made a real difference to what we achieved. They are welcome at Winchcombe any time at all, not to work but to come along and enjoy a pint from the other side of the bar.”
After a wet winter that also saw the loss of nine trees down the drive, Frenchay CC club members had plenty to do during this year’s NatWest CricketForce event.
To make best use of their time, helpers were divided into seven teams and designated tasks ranging from laying a new path between the club house and changing rooms, and improving fencing.
The group made up of Glos CCC players Chris Dent, David Payne and Gareth Roderick were given the unenviable task of clearing the drive and digging out a drainage ditch - a chore they set about with gusto. They were helped by youth manager Jim Donaldson and Downend and Gloucestershire Under 15 wicketkeeper Emily Wilkins.
As well as giving their changing rooms and nets a spring clean Marshfield CC also redecorated the inside of their clubhouse. They were ably assisted by Hamish Marshall and Will Tavare.
Ben White from Marshfield CC said: “Within seconds of arriving they had a CricketForce t-shirt on and a paint brush in their hand. I must say they were very good at painting and when they retire they have a certain career.
“Both were excellent lads, enjoyed some banter and were a credit to Glos CCC. We weren’t sure how long they were meant to stay but it was a good three and a half hours, so we are very grateful.”
Woodmancote CC had to put some of their plans on hold due to the weather but still found plenty to occupy their army of volunteers
The junior kit cupboard was cleared out and bags were put together for each junior age group. The tea room was given a clean and the bar area was brightened up with the addition of new team photos from the club’s recent and not so recent past.
Chairman Paul Goring said: “Despite the rain the club was in good spirits after its annual golf day the day before and the t-shirts went down well with everyone. Thanks to NatWest for their continued support, advice and awareness of just how key, days like this are in spreading the load at a vital time of year.”
NatWest CricketForce 2014 GCCC Player Allocation
| Clubs | Players |
| Cirencester | Ian Saxelby and Ian Cockbain |
| Forest Exiles | Matt Taylor and Craig Miles |
| Frenchay | Chris Dent, Gareth Roderick and David Payne |
| Frocester | Cameron Herring, Tom Smith and Jack Taylor |
| Hambrook | Dan Housego, James Fuller and Benny Howell |
| Hatherley & Reddings | Alex and Will Gidman |
| Marshfield | Hamish Marshal and Will Tavare |
| Winchcombe | Liam Norwell, Tom Shrewsbury and Graeme McCarter |
