On Friday, September 20, the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation welcomed 13 Cricket Collective winners to Edgbaston to receive their awards from Gavin Larsen, Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s former Performance Director.
The Cricket Collective Awards celebrate volunteers who go above and beyond to help make cricket happen. Without these individuals, cricket would not function as it does at these clubs.
The Growing the Game award is given to a league volunteer, committee member, or administrator going above and beyond to support clubs and help increase the number of games played.
Mick Beale and Graham Seal from the Nuneaton Thursday League received an award for their contributions to growing the game in Warwickshire and Birmingham.
In November 2023, Mick and Graham contacted the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation to seek support for adding a women’s division to their league.
For the past 50 years, the Nuneaton Thursday League has been a thriving midweek T20 league. Establishing a women’s division would strengthen it even further.
The league took place for the first time earlier this year. It included seven clubs, four new clubs that had not played women’s cricket before and were unlikely to do so without a local playing offer.
Mick secured a £6,000 grant to help the clubs entering the league with what they believed would be most beneficial to get them started, mainly kit bags or clothing.
Mick said: “There are already conversations around building on this year’s league. More clubs are expressing their interest to join, and existing clubs are looking to enter more teams and grow their offer.”
A huge congratulations to Mick and Graham for their efforts this year, and thank you for contributing to the growth of the women’s game.