ECB today announced the shortlist for the twelfth annual NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards.
Eight NatWest OSCAs will be presented in front of 400 invited guests from the recreational game at a prestigious event hosted by BBC Radio Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew at Lord’s on Monday 6th October.
The NatWest OSCAs were established in 2003 to reward cricket’s unsung heroes and recognise the contributions and efforts of grassroots volunteers from all over England and Wales. The awards form an integral part of both NatWest and the ECB’s volunteering programmes which give cricket clubs advice on educating, recruiting and rewarding volunteers.
Hundreds of volunteers were nominated by clubs, leagues and county cricket boards nationwide and the final shortlist has been chosen by a panel of representatives from the ECB, British Gymnastics, vInspired and NatWest.
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
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.”