Kent Cricket’s Volunteers’ Day: A celebration of recreational cricket

Thursday 5th October 2023

Kent Cricket’s Volunteers’ Day took place on Wednesday 27th September 2023 at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence bringing together volunteers in recreational cricket from across Kent and celebrating winners of four different sets of volunteer awards.

In attendance, among others, were representatives from the Kent Association of Cricket Officials, the Kent Cricket Leagues and the Kent Cricket Community Trust. All those attending enjoyed a day of hospitality and witnessed a dominant batting performance by Kent on Day Two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match between Kent and Lancashire.

Awardees were recognised in a ceremony hosted by Former Kent Captain Dave Fulton during the lunch break and presented with certificates.

The awards ceremony celebrated winners of The Kent Cricket Volunteer Awards, which received an unprecedented number of nominations from clubs, organisations and leagues earlier in the summer, as well as winners for the Kent Coach Awards, Alan Albury Awards and Kent Cricket Community Trust Awards.

The Kent Coach Awards recognised individuals for Young Coach of the Year, Coach of the Year and Outstanding Services to Coaching. Winners from the Coach Awards, as well as the Kent Cricket Volunteer Awards, have been put forward for the ECB National Coach Awards and the ECB’s National Cricket Collective awards respectively.

Winners of the Alan Albury Awards, managed by the Kent Recreational Cricket Welfare Trust, and presented to volunteers for long service, included those from Bexley Cricket Club, Headcorn Cricket Club and Catford Wanderers Cricket Club.

New this year were 2 award categories for the Kent Cricket Community Trust who recognised the Trust’s Fundraiser of the Year and Coach of the Year.

Head of Community Cricket, James Reid, said: “It was fantastic to welcome so many amazing volunteers to FGS Plant Harris Suite at The Spitfire Ground on 27 September.

“The day was truly memorable, with some excellent cricket, food and drink and most importantly, a host of volunteers across the county being recognised for their hard work and dedication to the grassroots game.

“Without them the game wouldn’t function, so from everyone at Kent Cricket I want to thank all the volunteers who give their time so generously to their local clubs and communities.”

Our programme for the day with a full list of all our award winners along with their citations can be downloaded below:

Volunteers’ Day Programme 2023