News

Unsung heroes to be honoured at OSCAs ceremony

5 September 2012

Eight unsung heroes have been recognised for their contributions to cricket in Gloucestershire by being awarded a Natwest OSCA (Outstanding Services to Cricket Award).

The volunteers – who range in age from 17 to 73 – have been invited to Lord’s to celebrate their achievements at a star-studded ceremony in October. 

The eight winners were chosen from a record number of nominations from clubs, leagues and associations across the county. 

Gloucestershire Cricket Development Manager, Steve Silk, said: “These awards celebrate the volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the success and survival of the grass roots game.  Without these people it is fair to say that cricket and cricket clubs simply would not survive.

“Reading the nominations it is inspiring to hear about the selflessness and dedication of these individuals who give up huge amounts of their time for the good of others.  The Natwest OSCAs are a really powerful way to thank them for this hard work and every one of the eight winners thoroughly deserves to receive this recognition for their efforts.”

Alan Luton and Mike Anstey, (Winterbourne CC), Natwest Cricket Force Award

Alan and Mike have made Winterbourne’s dream to build a new pavilion a reality.  At the start of the project the club could not afford to employ a contractor but the club stalwarts offered up their time and skills for free.

Working with local businesses which provided building materials at a reduced cost, they supervised local construction students from Filton College to support the build.

Over the last nine months the pair – who both live in Winterbourne - have completed the block work for the pavilion, readying it for the next stage of development which includes the roof, doors, windows and interior.

Nominator, Liz Bracey, said: “There has, of course, been a ‘community team’ involved in the project but it is the daily, practical hard work and skill of Alan and Mike which has enabled the building to take place during the wet, cold winter and spring months - Alan as the bricklayer and Mike as his apprentice.”

Pete Rogers, (Westbury-On-Trym), Officials Award

Before his retirement last year, Pete stood in more than 200 competitive matches.  But his work off the pitch has proved just as influential, training a new wave of officials and playing an instrumental role in the formation of the Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Officials. 

The organisation’s Chairman, Martin Brown, said: “Pete’s organising and communication skills were always highly professional and conscientiously conducted.  Through his combined training responsibilities, both locally and regionally, Pete can be credited for the recruitment of a considerable number of umpires and scorers inside and outside of Gloucestershire.”

During his career Pete was a key member of the Bristol & Western Counties’ Association of Cricket Umpires & Scorers’ Executive Committee, assuming various roles including editing The Appeal newsletter, sitting on the grading sub-committee and serving as Vice-Chairman. He has trained numerous officials over the years and was GACO’s first ever education officer.

Andy King, (Carsons & Mangotsfield CC), Building Partnerships Award

Without Andy King, Carsons and Mangotsfield CC simply wouldn’t exist.  That’s the view of Jack Beese who nominated him for the Building Partnerships award. 

Over the last decade he has almost singlehandedly set-up a youth section, re-established the club’s third team and helped oversee its move to a new ground.  Jack said: “Andy is as important and integral to our club as it is possible to be. Without him, there is every chance our club would no longer be around.  He is the heartbeat of our club and the youth section in particular.  

“Ten years ago, the club had no youth section, was playing at a tired and un-inviting ground and was haemorrhaging players at an alarming rate. Without serious re-direction and effort, the club would have folded.  Andy was the man who gave us, and continues to give us, that direction and effort.”

Andy is currently Youth Chairman and Coach, looking after a junior section made up of seven teams. He is also third team Captain, helping players make the transition from youth to senior cricket.

One of Andy’s main achievements at Carsons & Mangotsfield was overseeing its move to Pomphrey Hill. This work included establishing strong links with the local Council and National Funding Bodies to produce wonderful modern facilities, including a boxing club for the local community.

Jack Digby, (Carsons & Mangotsfield CC), Young Volunteer Award

At just 17 Jack Digby has already become a vital member of Carsons & Mangotsfield CC.  A UKCC1 coach, he assists with the under 7s, plays in the first team and is willing to do just about any job around the club. 

Youth Chairman, Andy King, said: “In weeks when I have been unable to attend, Jack runs the session and makes sure that the player registrations and health assessments have been carried out, which shows maturity and responsibility.  Most weeks the kids want to be in Jack’s group rather than mine which shows the fun he has brought to the session and how he is liked by the group.  Whenever I have asked him to do anything around the club, he is always a willing volunteer.” 

Tony Jilbert, (St Stephens CC, Cheltenham) Behind The Scenes Award

No club could exist without a committed groundsman and in Tony Jilbert, St Stephen’s CC believe they are lucky enough to have the very best in the business. 

Nominating him for the Behind The Scenes Award, club colleague, Derren Brown, said: “The term ‘groundsman’ doesn’t do Tony justice.  His contribution is so much more than that.  He’s virtually a permanent fixture at our ground throughout the year, whether working on the square or on the pavilion.” 

A regular winner of the league’s annual pitch award and the St Stephen’s Clubman of the Year prize he also gives up his own time to improve the facilities, organise fundraising events and host the annual awards night.  Derren said: “To top that, Tony is the most likeable and enthusiastic person - popular with everyone.  He carries out all of these duties quietly, without any fuss or complaint, fitting them around his full-time job.”

Andy Russell, (Upton St Leonard’s CC/Glos County Cricket League/Gloucester Evening League/Cheltenham and Gloucester League), League and Boards’ Award

A man of many talents, Andy Russell, has contributed to cricket in Gloucestershire in an incredible variety of roles.  As well as being groundsman at his club, Upton St Leonard’s, he is also the organiser of the Gloucester Evening League, fixture secretary and webmaster for the Gloucestershire County Cricket League and a qualified umpire.

But despite this almost endless list of commitments, Andy’s nomination for the League and Boards’ award has come for yet another of his many roles.  GCCL Chairman, Brian Hudson, said: “This nomination is specifically for Andy’s enthusiastic and highly professional approach to the establishment of the new Cheltenham and Gloucester League.”  Brian also praised Andy’s use of technology.  He said: “Andy is an innovator, being an early adopter of the internet to reduce the work of volunteer officials, influencing a redesign of the fixture matrix and assisting with the development of the 2010 proposed league restructure.  The GCCL is recognised for the high quality of its administration and Andy has been a key player in achieving this.”

Ron Bomberg, Eastington CC/Stroud League, Lifetime Award 

Since moving to the county and joining Eastington CC in 1967, Ron Bomberg has transformed the club’s fortunes both on and off the pitch.  And at the ripe old age of 73 is still no stranger to doing work on the square. 

But his long list of achievements for the club began back in 1972 when he captained the first team to the Stroud League title.  Along with then Chairman, Tony Hulbert, he was also the club’s main fundraiser, selling lottery tickets and playing a leading role in the construction of a pavilion at their former ground in Stroud. 

Never one to rest on his laurels, Ron was also integral to the club’s move to their current home at the Owen Harris Memorial Ground. 

With substantial funds required to turn a farmer’s field into a community playing field Ron mobilised an army of waste paper collectors throughout the village and beyond. He then persuaded a farmer to bale and store the paper and sold it to a recycling company in order to start the money coming in.

As the project progressed Ron helped hand-build and erect a fence to protect the M5 and joined the ground’s board of trustees - eventually becoming Chairman.

A car accident towards the end of the last century led Ron to reduce playing, but rather than sit back and relax he took an umpiring course instead.  Umpiring in the Stroud and County leagues he was twice voted GAGUS umpire of the year before a back problem forced him to retire in his late 60s. 

But once again he refused to take life easy and became one of the first boundary umpire assessors, a job that he still does.

For more information contact
Luke Sellers, GCB Communications Officer
Tel: 07584 705646

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