MCC are teaming up with The Cricketer Magazine again to reward one dedicated cricket club volunteer with the honour of ringing the bell at Lord’s, ahead of the Royal London One-Day International between England and Pakistan in July.
The Cricket Community Champion Award is now in its fourth year and will again highlight the exceptional work being carried out across the country by volunteers in cricketing communities. Its objective is to find the true heroes of club cricket, who often go unsung despite their relentless work to help bring communities together using cricket as a medium.
The winner of the award will be invited to the ODI between England and Pakistan at Lord’s, the Home of Cricket, on Saturday 10 July. Nominations are now open with entries invited up until 17 June.
As part of a unique experience which will include full hospitality for the day for two, the winner will enjoy the great honour of ringing the five-minute bell to signify the imminent start of play. They will join a list of cricketing greats who have had this honour, including Rahul Dravid, Charlotte Edwards, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and current MCC President, Kumar Sangakkara.
The 2017 winner was Julia Farman. From coaching, scoring and fundraising, from Dunstable to Rwanda, Bedfordshire-based Julia inspired with her boundless enthusiasm. Chris Mainstone won in 2018 for his work with the junior section at Ketton Cricket Club in Rutland over a 14-year period.
John Reeve was our 2019 champion; he worked at Feltham Young Offenders' Institute and the results were impressive, with youngsters embracing cricket and its redemptive powers.
The award unfortunately had to be put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic, but now the search is on for a winner this year.
Ringing the five-minute bell at an ODI at Lord’s will be an experience I am sure they will never forget.
Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary, said: "I am thrilled that MCC has joined forces with The Cricketer magazine once again to make this award.
“Without the tireless, unrelenting contributions of the thousands of unsung heroes around the country, the recreational game simply could not survive. Given the events over the past 12 months, there has never been a more appropriate time for us to honour those individuals who give so much back to our sport.
"Ringing the five-minute bell at a One-Day International at Lord’s will be an experience I am sure they will never forget."
Simon Hughes, Managing Editor of The Cricketer, said: "Grassroots cricket relies on the help of volunteers who contribute their time and energy to ensure the recreational game thrives and is available to as many people as possible.
Through this special partnership with MCC we are able to reward one such contributor to thank them for their tremendous work and give them the chance to emulate some of cricket’s most legendary names, by ringing that iconic bell at Lord’s."
If you know somebody at your club, school, community or university who you feel fits the bill, please complete the form below.
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