Trent Bridge Annual Report 2018

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 28 across 60 different schools. Our work with young people is focused on two main objectives; provide them with a fun introduction to the game – and then signpost ways they can progress their interest further.There are numerous channels we would like to see them progress into, whether that be representative teams, recreational clubs, workforce roles or as a spectator or member of the county club. The point remains that we want people from a young age to experience the joys of cricket and to retain that love for the game as they grow older. Another key driver for us is to make the game accessible to as many people as possible.This means we must adapt the format and delivery methods to the specific participants. Our women’s softball festivals, for example, were extremely well atten-ded across the summer, attrac- ting over 400 new participants. In addition, tapeball, Street Cricket and walking cricket have all remained popular over the last year with the number of attendees having risen steadily. We engage with partners such as Lord’sTaverners to provide a year- round playing programme for people with disabilities.We have, meanwhile, collaborated with Loughborough University during the last year to design a coaching manual aimed specifically at those coaching disabled cricketers to maximise value and enjoyment from their sessions. Like any other section of our cricket, the disability pathway ranges from fun participation through to representative sides.The Nottinghamshire deaf team compete in the South NottsVillage League and capped off a fine season by gaining promotion and being awar- dedTeam of theYear at the Deaf Sports Personality of theYear ceremony. With regards our county age groups, over 130 players represented Notting- hamshire across 11 boys’ and girls’ pathway teams in 2018. Our U17 boys reached the ECB three-day semi-final, losing toYorkshire.The U12 boys won the Ampleforth Festival and U13 boys were joint winners of the Northern Counties Cup after weather curtailed the final. Two Nottinghamshire boys – Ben Martindale and George Park – were selected for the Midlands at the Bunbury Festival. It was another good season for the NottinghamshireWomen, who retained their place in Division One of the Royal London County Championship andT20Vitality Blast.Two of the girls graduated from the U17 team to make full debuts for the women’s team. Kirstie Gordon was the leading wicket taker nationally across both competitions and was duly rewarded with a place in England’s squad for the ICCWorldT20. Nottinghamshire, of course, has a fabulous network of recreational clubs, many of which were formed centuries ago.To help support these clubs, we introduced a new offering in the form of three permanently employed Club Support Officers. The role of these Officers was to provide advice and guidance to recreational clubs, linking them back to the programmes and funding available to them.The initial response to this has been very positive and it has helped build a stronger connection between the recreational game and the Club. With so much of our work concen- trating on planning for the future, it is a welcome balance to have the heritage team working so hard at celebrating and promoting our rich past.Work in this area has gathered Chance to Shine cricket in schools Nottinghamshire and England’s Kirstie Gordon “THE POINT REMAINS THAT WE WANT PEOPLE FROM A YOUNG AGE TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF CRICKET AND TO RETAIN THAT LOVE FOR THE GAME AS THEY GROW OLDER.” Tim Eatherington