Smith Cooper apprentice coach Harry Johnson has been nominated for the Young Volunteer of the Year at this year’s Outstanding Service to Crickets Awards for his work with Ruddington and Clifton Village Cricket Club.
Johnson has split his summer between helping out at his local club and being part of an 11-strong team that delivered over 1,000 coaching hours in 2015 including free-to-access sessions at all Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast matches.
"It is a privilege to be given opportunities in the game and it is nice to know all the volunteering gets recognised," Johnson, who helped set up Ruddington's junior section, said.
Twelve NatWest OSCAs will be presented at the 13th event of its kind, in front of 400 guests from the recreational game at a prestigious event hosted by BBC Radio Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew at Lord’s on Monday 12 October.
Matt Dwyer, ECB’s Director of Participation and Growth, said: “The NatWest OSCAs are a great way to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions volunteers make to grassroots cricket every year.
“Volunteers are the unsung heroes of the recreational game and our clubs, leagues and Boards all rely on the countless hours they give to the sport each year.
“Congratulations to all our nominees and we trust they will enjoy a memorable day at Lord’s next month.”
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.
NatWest OSCAs 2015 nominees
Get the Game On
Mick Brown - Ashington Cricket Club, Northumberland, Stuart Clarke - Linden Park Cricket Club, Kent, Graeme Smith - North Yorkshire, South Durham Cricket League, Yorkshire
Heartbeat of the Club
Susan Derben - Taunton Cricket Club, Somerset, Jock Spry- Thorverton Cricket Club, Devon, Roger Lewis- Solihull Blossomfield, Warwickshire
Leagues and Boards
Stuart Lampitt - Worcestershire Cricket Board Junior Cricket Leagues and Cup Competition, Keith Robson - North East Premier League, Durham, Gary Stanley - West Sussex Invitation Cricket League and Sussex Cricket Board
Lifetime Achievers
Tom Boore - Gloucestershire Cricket Board, Bernard Ellis - Farnham Cricket Club, Essex, John Gurney - Sandy Cricket Club, Bedfordshire
NatWest CricketForce
Jill Ainscough- Bedfordshire Cricket Club, Bedfordshire
Simon Wood- Brighton and Hove Crescent Cricket Club, Sussex
Jim Yorath- Turnham Green and Polytechnic Cricket Club, Middlesex
Officiating- Umpires & Scorers
John Golding - Berkshire Cricket Officials Association, Graeme Hall - Kent Association of Cricket Officials, Rob Smith - Yorkshire Cricket Board Association of Cricket Officials
Young Volunteer
Ashley Cartwright - Tibberton Cricket Club/ Shropshire County Cricket League, Harry Johnson - Ruddington and Clifton Village Cricket Club, Nottinghamshire, Adam Nichol - Ashington Cricket Club, Northumberland
Outstanding Contribution to Coaching
Steve Amison - Bredbury St Marks Cricket Club, Cheshire, Alan Hyatt - Kings Heath Cricket Club, Warwickshire, Patrick Tonks - Haxey Cricket Club, Lincolnshire
Coach of the Year
Edwin Lee - Ratby Cricket Club, Leicestershire, Phil Lewin - Abbots Langley Cricket Club, Hertfordshire, Saba Nasim - Wanstead Cricket Club, Essex
Young Coach of the Year
Matt Earl - Kettering Town Cricket Club, Northamptonshire, Joseph Martin- Lancashire, Adam Nichol - Northumberland
Other awards to be presented at the event:
NatWest U19 Club T20, Club of the Year
Outstanding Contribution to Disability Cricket
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.