VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
WATCH THE CONTENDERS:
1. STEVE OSGOOD & MIKE POYNER, SARISBURY CC
Our 1st Volunteer of the year nomination is actually a combined effort between Steve Osgood and Mike Poyner of Sarisbury CC. Steve and Mike managed to coincidentally nominate each other for the award without even realising. Steve set up a Colts Kit Exchange enabling under privileged families a route into cricket by purchasing second hand and refurbished equipment at an absolute fraction of the cost. It supported 40+ families in 2023 enabling kids to not just start playing but stay playing as they moved through the age groups.
And Steve describes Mike as the heartbeat of the club. Joining the club during the COVID year, Mike has since set about transforming the club bar, filling in club roles that no one else wanted, organising events and festivals including the club’s first runs for research game! Words don't begin to do Mike justice on what he has done for Sarisbury.
2. JACOB LUNN, WINSCOMBE CC
Nomination number 2 is for 13 year old Jacob Lunn of Winscombe CC. Despite his autism, Jacob has helped in multiple areas of the club. In particular Jacob ran the club’s social media with his Dad to help launch a new Women’s soft ball team, keep followers updated with scores and sharing some of the best photos! Due to his efforts he was nominated for the rising star at the Cricket Collective awards and won club person of the year with his family at Winscombe.
3. PAUL HACKER, EASTBOURNE CC
Our 3rd nomination is for Paul Hacker of Eastbourne Cricket Club. Paul founded and runs the club’s mini’s cricket program, Forward Drive. It’s a free coaching program catering for kids that want to start playing the game and can’t afford the expense of fees and equipment. With the help of sponsors and the club, the program has been running for 5 years now and Paul has managed to produce a pipeline of kids into the club’s junior sides, many whom who wouldn’t have been able to before.
4. GRAEME DUNN, PETERLEE CC
Nomination 4 was sent in by Howard Craggs for Graeme Dunn of Peterlee CC. Graeme always has a smile on his face even whilst working tirelessly around the club. Cleaning, pulling pints, scoring, maintenance, organising raffles, prizes and presentation evenings. It sounds like Graeme really does it all!
5. TREVOR, KINGS SOMBORNE CC
The fifth volunteer nominated is Trevor at Kings Somborne CC. Trevor has put in hours and hours of time to learn the art of groundsmanship for the small club, only playing friendiles. He turns out amazing grass wickets week after week, often without much assitance in mowing, rolling, prepping and painting. He also plays regularly but always gives youngsters a chance to bat up the order and bowl! Every club needs
someone like Trevor!
6. SAM ADKIN, GRIMSTON CC
Sam Adkin is our final nomination for Volunteer of the Year. In 2 years at Grimston CC, Sam has secured thousands of pounds of funding to grow the club youth coaching and form a women’s team. This year, he secured a mobile defibrillator for the club, meaning Grimston CC was the first club to have one through the Community Heartbeat Trust. Sam's tireless efforts have turned the club into a community hub for all to enjoy.