We are pleased to announce that we will be running Girls Cricket Coaching Hubs in May & June at Oxford CC

Aimed primarily at new girls to the game, participants aged 8-12, will get the chance to learn and practice new skills as well as get involved in lots of game-based activities throughout the sessions. For existing players, these ‘Hubs’ are a really good way to further develop your skills and have some fun with new friends and participants from around Oxfordshire.

Cost £6 per session

· Oxford CC, Jordan Hill OX2 8EF

· Time: 17:00 – 18:00 pm on Tuesdays

· Dates: (6 sessions)

May: 4,11,18,25

June: 1,8

To book your place click here

In light of ECB and OCB developments the Oxfordshire ACO is looking to establish posts of Women and Girls Officials Officer and Young Cricket Officials Officer to work with the ACO in conjunction with the County Board.

These voluntary posts would include the responsibilities of:

• recruiting, training and retaining officials (umpires and scorers) in line with
• national and local programmes
• tracking and supporting these officials through the pathway processes
• ensuring they are aware of key opportunities available to them throughout the
• game.
• encouraging ALL officials to take a part in women’s and youth cricket.

Oxfordshire ACO realize that the archetypal “old man in a white coat and funny hat” may not be the ideal person to lead these initiatives but we will be there to support these post holders should they request help and provide necessary information and materials along with local and national colleagues.

If you feel you have the time and energy to take on either of these posts, please
contact:

Andy Grose (Oxfordshire ACO Chairman)
[email protected]
Mob: 07785 351263 
Tel: 01869 573174
to discuss things further.

The Disability Cricket Champion Club initiative is designed to help clubs create time and space for members of their community with different needs to enjoy the game of cricket.

What is a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

Cricket is an inclusive sport by its nature; a sport that many people play, follow and have a passion for, for life. Across England and Wales, the ECB wish to support cricket clubs to open their gates and deliver cricket opportunities for those with disabilities. The Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme will support cricket clubs through guidance, resource and equipment, enabling them to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to support them to play, follow, officiate and volunteer. Creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic new opportunities for cricketers and for the Champion Clubs.

Equipment

Every Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free kit bag, containing plastic playing equipment and a range of balls and markers to help facilitate coaching drills and games.

Adapted and easy to use equipment can play a crucial role in enabling coaches to ensure that everyone is involved and able to enjoy the game.

Every centre that registers and goes on to be selected to be a Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free pack, including:

1 x ECB kit bag
4 x bats
4 x sets of stumps
12 x plastic balls
15 x tennis balls
2 x large tennis balls
1 x large tennis ball with ball-bearings (audible)
24 x cones
12 x PVC Line markers
2 x 10m ropes

Funding

All Disability Cricket Champion Clubs will be able to access ECB funding to support the promotion and delivery of their inclusive cricket sessions.

Clubs will be able to apply for up to £500 seed funding in their first year, to deploy experienced coaches*; purchase more adapted equipment; or help to promote inclusive cricket sessions.

*A club coach must assist a paid coach to build future sustainability of the programme.

Support

The ECB and Oxfordshire Cricket will provide ongoing assistance supporting clubs to create links with their local schools and service providers; signposting players to further opportunities and supporting clubs to arrange match-play opportunities.

What do you need to become a Disability Cricket Champion Club?

– To be affiliated to ECB via your County Cricket Board (CCB)
– A Constitution
– Valid Buildings, Contents & Public Liability Insurance
– Security of Tenure – Leasehold, Freehold or Rental Agreement (minimum of one year)
– A Club Safeguarding Officer
– Trained first aider on site at all sessions
– Accessible facilities – If this provision is not currently in place, the ECB will support you to address this
– A commitment from the club to provide a fun and welcoming environment for all
– Adequate space to run an additional section
– Full support of the club committee
– At least one qualified coach to lead the sessions

John O’Groats to Lands End Virtually in February

With members of the Oxfordshire Cricket workforce being on flexi furlough, the workforce, staff, directors, players and volunteers of Oxfordshire Cricket will be voluntarily giving up some of their time to do a virtual challenge to walk, run or cycle the same distance as from John O’Groats to Land’s End during February to raise money for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Opening Up Cricket Charity. Our target is to raise £5,000

To donate and support please click https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oxfordshire-cricket

This will be in compliance with national lockdown restrictions.

The facts of the challenge are: –

John O’Groats to Land’s End is 874 Miles
February is 28 days
We would be raising money for two charities

What will we be doing?

In compliance with national lockdown restrictions and whilst on furlough, the Oxfordshire Cricket workforce will voluntarily be giving up some of their time to collectively virtually walk, run or cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End during February to raise money for Opening Up and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The workforce effort will be supported by directors, players and volunteers in our attempt to get to 874 miles of walking, running or cycling in the month of February which is equivalent to the distance of John O’Groats to Land’s End. This will all be for the purpose of raising money for the charities Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and Opening Up.

• Challenge delivered over 6 days of each week, with Sundays being a break day
• Participants covering their miles over 3 or 4 days per week
• On each day participants will cover their miles taking between one and three hours, dependant on the distance
• Each participant will set a personal target for the challenge which will be broken down over the four weeks
• Personal targets set
• The challenge mileage will be tracked by a group Strava account.

Why Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust?

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is a community-focused organisation that provides physical and mental health services and social care with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of all our patients and their families.

The Oxford Health Charity enhances the experience of patients, carers, families and staff involved with the services of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The charity funds activities, equipment, projects and patient-focussed support that is above and beyond the usual expenditure of the NHS budget. No funds donated will be spent on essential NHS services but will instead be used to enhance the experience of those using the services or working with the Trust.

The whole Oxfordshire Cricket community have been touched by the service we have received form the NHS during the pandemic, the Oxfordshire Board recognise the fantastic support our own Chairman received he was given a liver transplant just over a year ago. There are many other examples of how they have supported the local community just as we are trying to do with this fundraiser

For more information please visit
http://www.oxfordhealth.charity/

Why Opening Up?

Opening Up is currently defined as a ‘Community Interest Company’ but is in the process of getting Charitable Status. They dedicate their time to tackling the issue of mental health, and are doing so through the platform of cricket. Specifically aiming at improving and working with sports clubs and institutes to discuss the issue of mental health, find the most effective ways to tackle it and how we can all help each other to improve this growing issue. The charity was formed following the suicide of a player at Sefton Park CC and at the time was aimed at the local area, but has now delivered over 250 sessions to cricket clubs and sports institutes across the UK and Australia.

The issue around mental health is particularly prominent at this moment due to the stresses and strains of the pandemic; with the national lockdown among other increasing pressures in peoples’ lives.

Members of the workforce, knowing people who are going through battles with mental health, with the help of Opening Up or charities with a similar aim, it is important we support them to help spread the word, and their slogan that ‘its not weak to speak’, them having a direct link to cricket and the prominence of the issue they are tackling make them a perfect charity for us to support in our mission through February with currently a prediction of 50% of people suffering a mental health issue throughout their lives, and 15% in a given year according to studies.

For more information please visit
https://openingupcricket.com/

How Can You Track Our Virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End?

You can track our virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End journey by keeping an eye on our social media channels, where we will provide a daily update on how many miles have been completed, how long is left, and who has helped us get to 874 miles.

How Can You Support?

You can help support us by either donating to these two fantastic charities by following the link https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oxfordshire-cricket to our just giving page, as well as help spread the word and support Opening Up and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Oxfordshire Cricket is delighted to announce that Abi Norgrove has been selected onto the Vipers Academy for 2021.

Norgrove, who has come through the Oxfordshire Cricket Pathway, plays for Charlbury Cricket Club and Shipton Under Wychwood Cricket Club in Oxfordshire.

Abi’s has been a prominent feature within the Pathway, with her development journey to date seeing her represent all of the Girls Pathway squads. Abi has transitioned quickly through the Pathway, regularly playing above her age group, whilst at the same time progressing her game and maintaining performance outcomes on the field.

Her contributions and successes have been both recognised and congratulated by her peers and the coaches who have supported her development. In 2019 she was named Player of the Year for the Girls Under 15 age group, as well as Players’ Player of the Year for the Girls Under 17. In 2018, she was named both Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year for the Girls Under 13 age group.

At club level, she has played for Charlbury women’s and girls teams in 2018, 19 & 20. She played Saturday league cricket at Charlbury in 2019 and then moved back to Shipton Under Wychwood for the 2020 season. Prior to 2018 she was playing youth cricket at Shipton under Wychwood but moved to Charlbury to play in the women’s.

In recent years, she has continued to impress, which has led to her being selected to represent the County Women side. 2020, saw the teenager play an important role for the County Women, where she helped guide Oxfordshire to victory with an unbeaten 50 to secure a nine-wicket win over Berkshire.

She will now go onto attend Vipers Academy sessions which will take form in the shape of a twelve-month training program, which will also consist of being involved in 50 over and t20 competitions.

Matthew Barnes, Performance Cricket Manager said:

“Abi and her family should be immensely proud that she has been rewarded with a place in the Southern Vipers Academy this year, which is testament to her dedication over time and their ongoing encouragement, sacrifice and support.

It is an exciting time to be an aspiring female player with now formed regional models providing a clearer path into the professional game for Women and Girls across the Country. Abi’s selection onto the Southern Vipers Academy is the first step on this journey and one that she should very much look forward to.

I speak on behalf of everyone at Oxfordshire Cricket in congratulating Abi on her selection and in wishing her the best of luck with the opportunities that she will be afforded within the Academy.”

Ian Cox, Senior Regional Talent Manager said:
“At such a young age, Abi really impressed in not just her cricketing abilities but also how she embraced the whole assessment process, everybody involved at the Southern Vipers are extremely excited to be working with Abi and all the other cohorts in the new Regional Academy program”

Abi Norgrove said:
“I am thrilled to have been selected for the Vipers Academy and I am really looking forward to the season ahead. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity”.

2021 will see the 50th anniversary of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup, the first winners of the competition in 1971 were Cowley St John. The trophy was labelled the Bernard Tollett trophy in 2000, when the late Bernard Tollett left a £10,000 legacy to run the competition. We have continued to associate his name on the trophy for 21 of the 50 years. In recent years the family of the late Wilf Bennett presented a trophy to partner the senior cup, with a view to offering other clubs the opportunity of winning some silverware.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Senior Cup for 2021 we are offering free entry to affiliated clubs, We are able to do this because of the generosity of the Porter family, who donated a legacy to the Board to honour the life and enormous contribution of the late Simon Porter (Chairman 1995-2005). Rosalyn Porter (Simon’s widow) is one of our more proactive members. Her daughters Genevieve and Eloise have followed in their Dad’s footsteps by playing Women’s cricket for Oxford CC and the County.

‘The family want to use the fund to invest in all Oxon clubs and provide free entry to a competition that Simon had very close connections with.’ – Rosalyn Porter

‘I hope that the memory and goodwill created in the 2020 condensed cricket programme is still in the memories of the Oxfordshire Cricket community. We want to recreate that feeling from ball one of the 2021 season. This fantastic gesture from the Porter family will hopefully energise clubs to enter in and enjoy what has been a great competition over the years.’ Chris Clements

As always the structure of the two competitions will be determined by the number of entries, we are hoping that this gesture will mean that more clubs will come forward and enter a competition which will be completed on Finals day in September. Covid permitting finals day will be at Wormsley.

To this end, we are delighted to open entries for this summer’s competition. Please click on the ClubPlay link to enter your Club Competition Entry

Chris Clements
Chairman
Oxfordshire Cricket

Emergency flood relief funding from Sport England is being made available to community sports clubs and not-for-profit organisations to help them restore flood-damaged facilities.

Organisations from the areas worst affected by recent flooding caused by Storm Christoph are now eligible to apply to our Return to Play Fund, which has been bolstered by the addition of a targeted flood relief option.

While the effects of the recent flooding are still being assessed, we want to ensure sport and physical activity facilities aren’t forgotten and are ready to open when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Focus areas

We’re focusing on areas we know to be the worst affected and will keep this list under regular review.

Applications from other areas may be considered, but this will be done on a case-by-case basis.

At present, the list of worst affected areas comprises of:

Bedfordshire
Berkshire
Cheshire
Gloucestershire
Greater Manchester
Lancashire
Merseyside
Oxfordshire
Nottinghamshire
Yorkshire
Worcestershire

Who can apply?

Your organisation can apply if you’re:

• a public body such as a local authority, parish or town council, or education establishment (you’ll need to provide £:£ matched funding)
• a not-for-profit voluntary group or sports organisation
• a not-for-profit community club or organisation
• a registered charity
• a not-for-profit company
• a community interest company or other social enterprise
• a leisure operator operating a single site.
• What can funding be used for?
• The grants could be used to restore grass and artificial pitches, to repair and decontaminate flooded clubhouses, replace damaged electrical systems or to clear blocked drains.

Other expenditures could include the hire of skips, pressure hoses or dehumidifiers – but only for use when safe to do so.

Football projects offered as part of a multi-sport site are eligible to apply.

What won’t we fund?

We won’t provide funding to cover the loss of income or bar stock etc., as we’re currently in a national lockdown that precludes people from taking part in sports activities.

Routine maintenance and repairs resulting from wear and tear will also not be covered.

We won’t fund football-only projects as we already directly fund the Football Foundation, which funds a range of football projects. If you have a football-only project, we suggest contacting your county football association.

For more information on how to apply please visit https://www.sportengland.org/news/financial-support-flood-damaged-facilities

Dear Club Safeguarding Officer

All Club Safeguarding Officers must have a current DBS as well as the qualifications listed below.

Please contact [email protected] if you need assistance on this. At present, there are only a few individuals that are able to use the system. Once the meeting restrictions are lifted, then Club Safeguarding Officers will be able to access and use the DBS system.

Please ensure you are aware of the ECB Safe Hands policies, and those roles within your Club that require a DBS. Details can be found on the ECB website https://www.ecb.co.uk/safeguarding/policy- and-procedures

As a Club Safeguarding Officer, you play a vital role in keeping children and young people in cricket safe. As you will be aware, due to the Covid-19 crisis, many courses have been cancelled and we are aware that this has left many of you unable to keep your qualifications up-to-date.

Under normal circumstances, Club Safeguarding Officers are required to complete both a
Safeguarding and Protecting Children course and a Safe Hands course every three years, however it is not possible to undertake these face-to-face courses at this time. In the circumstances, we are inviting you to attend a Safe Hands webinar in place of a Safe Hands face-to-face course, this will be valid for two years and the online Safeguarding Young Cricketers course, in place of Safeguarding and Protecting Children.

Safeguarding Young Cricketers

This is a free online course, which takes approximately one hour to complete, and you can save your progress at any time. Please complete this online course if you have not completed the Safeguarding and Protecting Children course in the last three years. You will receive an email with joining instructions approx. 24 hours after you have booked your place on the Safe Hands webinar. If you have already completed the Safeguarding Young Cricketers online course in the last three years, there is no need to repeat the course.

Safe Hands Webinar

We have created an online Safe Hands webinar in place of the face-to-face course.

Please click here to book a place on the webinar.

All the webinars available are suitable for both refreshing and new Club Safeguarding Officers.
Please register using your full name, as it appears on your DBS certificate and ensure you register using an email address that is unique to you.

Next Steps

When you have booked your place, you will receive a confirmation email. You will also receive a separate email with a link to the Safeguarding Young Cricketers course – this may take up to 24 hours to arrive.

There are limited spaces available on the webinars so we recommend booking ASAP.

We look forward to meeting you on one of the upcoming webinars soon.

Kind Regards

Safeguarding Team

The well-known local cricket administrator and player, Roger Berryman, died on 16 January 2021 aged 80.

Roger became Treasurer of what was then the Oxfordshire County Cricket Club in 1994, taking over from Simon Porter. After the merger with the OCCA in 1996 that formed the OCB, his role increased significantly due to the Board’s additional responsibilities. He managed this transition very effectively and, after a period co-ordinating with other treasurers on sub-committees, he took over the day-to-day management and control of all the OCB’s finances. A further step change occurred in 2010 with the OCB becoming an Incorporated company. Now Finance Director of the new organisation, among other new requirements of the role Roger had to introduce a Payroll system now that the OCB had moved to an operation with paid employees, rather than purely a volunteer workforce. He remained in post until 2014, a stint of 21 years, managing the ever-increasing number of annual transactions systematically and efficiently. During his time in office he saw the annual turnover of the organisation go from around £25k to almost £350k. Roger was also a great supporter of the Oxfordshire Minor County team and would attend most of their matches.

As a player, Roger had a long and distinguished career as a very fine off spin bowler. In the 1970s he was a regular member of the Bourton Vale side and when they joined the Cherwell League in 1982, Roger quickly became known in Oxfordshire circles. An early memory is of him taking 7 – 7 against a strong North Oxford team at St John’s. Roger often represented the Cherwell League representative side and in 1990 he also managed the team to win the Schweppes Club Cricket Conference competition. Leaving Bourton Vale in 1997, Roger went on to join the Oxford Downs where he continued to play in the League until 2009. The Cherwell League records that date from 1994 show that Roger took the grand total of 429 wickets. In the earlier period from his league debut in 1982, he took a further 302 wickets in the league. His best analysis was 9 – 35 for Oxford Downs 2nd XI against Didcot 2nd XI in 2000. Roger played many matches for the South Oxfordshire Amateurs and also represented the Oxfordshire 50+ side for several seasons. After his playing career ended, he took up umpiring.

His contribution to the Oxford Downs, both on and off the field, cannot be underestimated. He has acted as Club Secretary since 2003 and was also their Fixture Secretary. Always willing to take responsibility for matters, he was a most valued member of the club.

Roger will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Chairman of the Board, Chris Clements had the following to say on his passing

“Today’s news about the passing of Roger Berryman has deeply saddened the Oxfordshire Cricket community. Rog made a huge contribution as a player and as an administrator, heavily influencing the shape of cricket in the County that exists today. Our thoughts go out to Judith, Sue, Helen, Gill and his grandchildren. He was truly a top man.”

Steve Wilson, Secretary of the SOA, commented: “Roger loved cricket both as a player and in retirement. He enjoyed a long and successful playing career with Bourton Vale and Oxford Downs, as well as representing SOA, and played well into his late sixties. Roger also represented the county for many years in the Over 50s team and as Honorary Treasurer. Roger and Judith were ever present on our Devon and overseas tours and his death will leave a huge hole in the hearts of everyone who knew him. Our thoughts are of course with Judith and Roger’s family.”

Chairman of Oxford Downs CC, Tom Welch had the following to say on his passing
“Roger’s contribution and commitment to Oxford Downs cannot be underestimated. He stepped in to be secretary on an interim basis in 2003 and remained ever since! He was also fixture secretary for many years and heavily involved in our junior section. 10 of our players that won the Cherwell League 2 years ago had been coached by Roger as youngsters. He loved working with the juniors and they got so much from being coached and mentored by him. Throughout what shines through about Roger was his care for everything about the club and everyone in it. He cared passionately about Oxford Downs and about Oxfordshire cricket in general and we will miss him hugely.”

Former Secretary of the Board, Peter O’Neil had the following to say on his passing
“I first met Roger when he was playing cricket for Bourton Vale and came to know him well over the years as we served on various cricket committees, initially on the Cherwell League and then on Oxfordshire cricket committees before and after Incorporation, firstly in his role as Treasurer and then as Financial Director. He was very knowledgeable about local and Minor County cricket and was a huge and passionate supporter of the Oxfordshire County Side, even acting as 12th man at Shrewsbury against Shropshire due to various on-field injuries. With our wives we spent many happy hours watching Minor County cricket both home and away. Roger had a very good cricketing brain and would often wonder why certain decisions were being made on the field. He had a great sense of humour and on one occasion having been presented with a travel expense claim by a player glanced at the piece of paper and said ‘you must have started your trip in the middle of the Atlantic’. – the claim was quickly amended! Roger enjoy watching the cricket from your grandstand in the sky RIP”

The former Oxfordshire batsman John Carter died on 20 January 2021 aged 85 following a long illness. A very accomplished right-hand bat, he was also to play first-class cricket briefly for Leicestershire.

In 1953, while still a pupil at Magdalen College School, he made his Minor Counties debut as an 18-year-old against Berkshire in August that year. His talent was immediately on show as he scored 44* and 54* in his two innings. For the next four seasons John would be regular in the county side. In 1955 he scored his only Minor County championship century, 125 against Dorset at Weymouth, an innings that earned him his county cap.

He joined Leicestershire in 1958 and after a few Club and Ground and 2 nd XI matches, he made his first-class debut against Oxford University the following year. Six further matches followed for Leicestershire that season but with a top score of only 41, John returned to the 2 nd XI for this and the subsequent year before his release. During his time in the Leicester area, John also played club Hockey to a very high standard.

In 1961 John returned to play 5 further matches for Oxfordshire, his final appearance being in the Challenge Match against Somerset II at Taunton. In 40 matches for the county, John scored 1255 runs at an average of 20.24.

The photo at the top of the article sees a young John Carter in front centre, ready to open the batting for Oxfordshire in 1955.

In the later period 1967-71 John again played several more matches for Leicestershire 2 nd XI in the County Second XI Championship.

John’s club career started at Cowley St John where his father Les, a former Oxfordshire player and selector, was a long-time member. He also played on occasions for Oxford City. In later years he played for both Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield for a number of seasons. However local cricketers will probably remember John from his time playing for the SOA. A former SOA colleague John Smith has sent the following note:

“John played SOA cricket for approximately 25 years and was always a regular and popular tourist to the West Country. Batting in the top order John would more often than not be among the leading run scorers in the matches he played.  His only century for the club being scored in what was supposed to be his final match for the club at Westleigh in 1990. The following season in his year as Club President in 1991 he played at short notice in his Presidents match against North Oxford at St. Edwards.

Prior to becoming the Club President in 1991 John was Treasurer of the SOA from 1978 to 1990. When I was the Club Secretary between 1985 and 1989 I have very happy memories of our annual liquid lunch in January when John and I would meet to scrutinise the club membership list. Another memory I have of John is when he was the match manager of the SOA fixture against the Sussex Tankards in the 1980s.  The previous day playing for Gerrards Cross he received a nasty blow to the face when he mistimed a hook shot. He duly arrived at Bloxham with serious facial bruising but was still determined to play.  Whilst fielding in the deep he misjudged a high catch which somehow managed to hit him in the face. His watching wife at the time was not very impressed! A story that John recited to me on many occasions.

Sadly in recent years, due to his failing health, he was unable to attend SOA matches or attend the annual dinner.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Sally and the many friends who he met through his tremendous love of cricket.”

Written by Julian Lawton Smith