LV= Insurance Pride of Cricket Awards 2023: Vote for the Pride of Cricket Award winner

Dozens of entries were received for the LV= Pride of Cricket Award for 2023. The Pride of Cricket Awards judging panel has whittled the entry list down to a shortlist of nine entries. Read their nominations and vote for your favourite…

Dozens of entries were received for the LV= Insurance Pride of Cricket Award for 2023.

The Pride of Cricket Awards judging panel has whittled the entry list down to a shortlist of nine entries.

Voting is open until Monday, July 31, 2023 at 4pm.

THE SHORTLIST

Janet Bitmead, Twickenham CC

Patricia ‘Paddy’ Gaywood, The Forty Club

Howard Moxon, Flitwick CC

Sajid and Nahed Patel, National Cricket League

Keith Cook, Warwickshire CCC 

Phil Everest, Surrey Cricket

Tim Howard, Shepherd’s Bush CC

Roger Newman, Devon cricket

Hugh Milner, Sussex cricket

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Janet Bitmead, Twickenham CC

Janet has spent more than six decades dedicated to the betterment of Twickenham Cricket Club.

Having started off in the playing ranks, she soon moved into an administrative position and has been integral to the running of the club since.

In addition to being the driving force behind the women’s team at Twickenham, she is heavily involved in fixture organisation and herding teams week on week. She also makes a mean tea.

“Nothing is too much trouble and going above and beyond to get games to happen,” clubmate Claire Downey said.

In 2023, Janet is stepping down from her roles at Twickenham to enjoy her retirement.

“It just isn’t going to be the same without her,” said Claire. “She’s been an absolute inspiration to everyone who has played for the women’s team.”

Patricia ‘Paddy’ Gaywood, The Forty Club

The Forty Club is among the largest wandering cricket clubs in the world, with a membership approaching 3,000, and Paddy is key to its operation.

She began the job of maintaining personal records, processing registrations, keeping the membership informed, ensuring club records are up to date, and staying abreast of so many people’s movements in 1967.

Over the subsequent 55 years, Paddy has seen the role transition from analogue to digital, moving a card record of membership into an online database, with seamless efficiency.

At nearly 90 years old, and with an ailing husband to be care for, all this work is done voluntarily.

“She shows no sign of slowing up or wanting to give up,” clubmate Barry Aitken says. 

“This club has been her life, and her dedication for over 50 years, and she gives it total commitment and service.

“She has been pivotal for the happy and satisfactory management of this large club and throughout maintained a relationship with members that is pleasant, helpful, popular and lively.”

Howard Moxon, Flitwick CC

An ardent supporter of junior cricket, Howard has been in charge of Flitwick’s section for 15 years – and his impact has been notable.

By taking the time to go into local schools and spread the message about All Stars and Dynamos cricket, and coach Chance to Shine, Howard has grown Flitwick’s next generation considerably: the club now has more than 100 children in each section.

In recent years, Howard has also made the promotion of cricketing opportunities for women and girls a core part of his role. He coaches two girls teams in local middle schools, and has been key in establishing a women’s side at Flitwick.

“The children come to the club and their parents say they came home from school and loved cricket and Howard so they had to join,” a clubmate said. “Howard’s love for cricket is infectious and shines through.”

That is not where Howard’s contribution ends, however. He has also become chair of Flitwick, leading development of the club’s ground – the construction of a new pavilion and storage facility is ongoing. 

“He spends hours of his time writing bids for grants, working with the ECB to get funding and as well as speaking with local councillors to get them to support the projects,” a clubmate said.

At 69 years old, Howard is now going into schools locally five days a week, as well as volunteering as director of cricket for Cricket East, improving connections with the community, promoting development pathways and enhancing safeguarding.

Sajid and Nahed Patel, National Cricket League

Sajid has given 25 years of service to grassroots cricket in a volunteer capacity, growing a large nationwide amateur league from tiny beginnings.

His journey began in 1998, when he used cricket as a tool to enhance social mobility in Leytonstone, east London. The programme expanded into Waltham Forest, Newham and Redbridge, where he used cricket to rebuild confidence in young people.

In 2002, alongside Nahed, Sajid set up an under-16 T20 competition, with six teams entered. Of the 120 players involved, around three quarters had never played club cricket. Over subsequent years, interest grew and, by 2012, Sajid was co-founding a 14-team adult social Sunday cricket league.

Going into 2023, the National Cricket League has 76 clubs and teams competing across nine divisions. Ten of these have achieved ECB Clubmark status, with 10 also having established junior sections. There are now around 1,500 members of the structure Sajid and Nahed set up two-and-a-half decades ago. 

Both remain involved, mentoring all the clubs in how to improve and grow.

The NCL’s development potential has been realised with players graduating into local Premier Division first teams, the Essex academy, and county 2nd XIs. 

“Sajid continues to give his own time as a volunteer due to his passion and love for the game, growing opportunities for diverse communities, and empowering and promoting aspirational growth,” a clubmate said. 

Keith Cook, Warwickshire CCC 

This is a landmark year for Warwickshire’s Keith Cook.

“Cookie”, as he’s affectionately known at Edgbaston and across the cricket community, marks an incredible 50 years with the club this summer. 

Keith began life with Warwickshire in 1973 as an 18-year-old office junior. He went on to various roles including membership, cricket secretary and marketing.

Having become assistant to former chief executive Dennis Amiss in the 1990s, Keith was soon recognised as an integral part of all cricketing matters at Edgbaston and became cricket operations manager in 2005.

He plays an invaluable role in supporting the cricket management team by handling team and player logistics and is the club’s link with the playing teams and match officials on major matchdays at Edgbaston.

Keith, who was recognised with a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2020, has worked with five County Championship-winning sides and helped deliver dozens of Test matches at Edgbaston.

“Cookie is Mr Warwickshire. He is not only the bloke that everyone turns to for life on and off the field, but he is the most caring man a new player or existing player could wish to have as part of their playing career,” club captain Will Rhodes said.

“He is without doubt the most important person at the Club and without him Warwickshire CCC wouldn’t be the same.”

Phil Everest, Surrey Cricket

The kind of volunteer that every county needs, Phil works tirelessly across several areas to ensure that young people are provided with opportunities to play.

As vice-chair of the Surrey Junior Cricket Championship, Phil plays a vital role in the biggest league in the country, not only as the lead for cup competitions, but by providing invaluable advice to me as the competitions officer, as well as spending countless hours involved with the administration for the competition. 

Phil is a well-known and respected figure at clubs across the county and his involvement is crucial to the running of the league and the over 7,000 fixtures which are taking place this year.

As well as his involvement with junior club cricket, Phil plays a huge part in the Surrey Schools Cricket Association, where again his huge breadth of experience is invaluable in the setting up and running of competitions for both private and public schools to take part in. Phil is involved in all aspects of these competitions, including reviewing the rules and playing conditions, making the draws, responding to queries from schools, setting up and running finals days, as well as everything else which goes into running these competitions.

Phil has been involved in managing County Age Group teams since the mid-1970s, initially under the auspices of the Surrey Schools Cricket Association, and from the early 1980s onwards, under the direction of Surrey CCC. He is a multiple under-15 County Cup-winning manager. In fulfilling this role, he has played a part in the development of a generation of Surrey and England Cricketers.

More recently, in recognition of his wealth of experience and the amount of schools and junior club cricket he attends, Phil has been tasked by the Talent Pathway Team with a scouting role, to identify talented players in the matches he sees.

Colleague Mark Babb said: “Phil has had a huge impact on the lives of thousands if not tens of thousands of young cricketers. He is one of the rocks which cricket in this county is built around, and we will have a huge challenge to replace his energy, hard work and enthusiasm when he does eventually decide to retire.”

Tim Howard, Shepherd’s Bush CC

For the best part of 50 years, Tim has featured prominently in the continued evolution and development of Shepherd’s Bush CC.

Starting as a colt, he made his first-team debut in 1981 and continued playing in the 1st XI until he retired in 2012.

The records will show that he is without doubt, the most successful allrounder to have played for the club.

Despite his mighty contribution on the field, of greater significance has been the part he has and continues to play in matters off the field. Alongside his older brother Brian, they took on administrative roles such as fixture secretary and team secretary as early as their midteens.

During the late 90s, the club was engaged in a long struggle to maintain its existence and Tim was prominent in the small group of determined heroes, who spent most of their waking lives attempting to prevent what at some stages appeared to be the inevitable. Their efforts culminated in the acquisition and establishment of a new ground and facilities, while maintaining the club’s position in the league. Tim undertook training to become groundsman, saving the club considerable expenditure amid challenging financial circumstances.

Not content with that, he set about prioritising the junior section and has played a leading part in the creation of a women’s and girls’ section in recent times. He continues to coach and mentor cricketers at all levels, including working with the local borough to host school tournaments. He also oversees the effective management of the ground and facilities. He remains the first point of call for emergencies and is ever present in or out of season.

“Tim represents, through his commitment, dedication, passion and selflessness, the very best of what cricket can offer to all, regardless of race, creed, gender or colour,” his nominator, Briony Brock, wrote.

“It has become axiomatic that whenever good things happen, somewhere, Tim’s fingerprints will be found at the very heart of the reason for the success.”

Roger Newman, Devon cricket

Roger Newman has been involved with cricket in his home county Devon for over 60 years.

He started as a talented 12-year-old who represented his county’s under-15 team in 1956, moving on through the age groups to play for the full Minor Counties side. He was awarded his County cap in 1966.

His career in education and business took him to the Midlands but he maintained his relationship with Devon as an active member and supporter. Following his part-time retirement at the age of 53, he has dedicated his time to ensuring that Devon CCC remained at the top table of the recreational game.

His major contributions include: helping to set up a tour to South Africa for under-15 cricketers in Devon which has become an annual event for 25 years; negotiating sponsorship deal worth £40,000, the largest in the history of the club; becoming the unpaid director of cricket; a Minor Counties Championship title in 2011; the establishment of the Devon Lion pathway and a supporting, high-quality training facility.

Additionally, Roger formed the M5 Sports Management Group, a not-for-profit organisation that helps improve young people’s lives through spot. Over the past 12 months, more than £20,000 has been given to deserving people and charitable cricket projects.

“During his life Roger has never looked for or received any recognition for his efforts and, although it could be said he is in his final innings, he is certainly not out,” his nominator, Paul Pavlou, said.

“The time has come when he should get the recognition he deserves.”

Hugh Milner, Sussex cricket

A volunteer in sports administration and management since 1955 – a total of 66 years – Hugh has been involved in the management of various sports (cricket, football, table tennis) since he was aged 14 in 1955.   

He has at various times been a vice president of the Sussex County Cricket Club; president of Littlehampton CC; director of Sussex Seniors Cricket; manager of Littlehampton Sportsfield; and secretary and trustee of the Littlehampton Sportsfield Trust.

His previous clubs include Puddleton, Dorchester, Dorchester YMCA. He played for Littlehampton for 49 years between 1967 and 2016 and has served in just about every position imaginable on and off the field.

Hugh was awarded the Littlehampton mayor’s award for liftetime contribution to sport in 2005 and has sat on boards and committees across the cricket community in Sussex. He managed and captained the England over 70s between 2013 and 2015.

The growth and perseverance of the Sussex Seniors Cricket is largely attributable to his hard work while, during his time in cricket, he has helped raise more than £400,000 for local cricket initiatives.