Unsung heroes receive OSCAs recognition

Eight unsung heroes have been recognised for their contributions

to cricket in Gloucestershire by being awarded a Natwest OSCA (Outstanding

Services to Cricket Award).

The volunteers – who range in age from 17 to 73 – have been

invited to Lords to celebrate their achievement at a star-studded ceremony in October.

The eight winners include five from Bristol and South Glos clubs and three from the rest of the county.

They were chosen from a record number of nominations

from clubs, leagues and associations.

Gloucestershire cricket development manager Steve Silk said:

"These awards celebrate the volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure the

success and survival of the grass roots game.

"Without these people it is fair to say that cricket and cricket

clubs simply would not survive.

"Reading the nominations it is inspiring to hear about the

selflessness and dedication of these individuals who give up huge amounts of

their time for the good of others.

"The Natwest OSCAs are really powerful way to thank them for this hard work and every one of the eight winners thoroughly deserves to receive this recognition for their efforts."

The winners include Tony Jilbert from St Stephens CC in Cheltenham, Andy Russell from Upton St Leonards and Ron Bomberg from Eastington CC.

For more on their achievements see below.

Tony Jilbert, (St Stephens CC, Cheltenham) Behind The Scenes Award

No club could exist without a committed groundsman and in Tony

Jilbert, St Stephens CC believe they are lucky enough to have the very best in

the business.

Nominating him for the Behind The Scenes Award, club colleague

Derren Brown said: "The term 'groundsman' doesn't do Tony justice. His

contribution is so much more than that. He's virtually a permanent fixture at

our ground throughout the year, whether working on the square or on the

pavilion."

A regular winner of the league's annual pitch award and the St

Stephens Clubman of the Year prize he also gives up his own time to improve the

facilities, organise fundraising events and host the annual awards night.

Derren said: "To top that, Tony is the most likeable and

enthusiastic person - popular with everyone. He carries out all of these duties

quietly, without any fuss or complaint, fitting them around his full-time job."

 

Andy Russell, (Upton St Leonards CC/Glos County Cricket

League/Gloucester Evening League/Cheltenham and Gloucester League), Leagues and

Boards Award

A man of many talents, Andy Russell has contributed to cricket in

Gloucestershire in an incredible variety of roles.

As well as being groundsman at his club Upton St Leonards, he is

also the organiser of the Gloucester Evening League, fixture secretary and

webmaster for the Gloucestershire County Cricket League and a qualified umpire.

But despite this almost endless list of commitments, Andy's

nomination for the League and Boards award has come for yet another of his many

roles.

GCCL chairman Brian Hudson said: "This nomination is specifically

for Andy's enthusiastic and highly professional approach to the establishment

of the new Cheltenham and Gloucester League."

Brian also praised Andy's use of technology.

He said: "Andy is an innovator, being an early adopter of the

internet to reduce the work of volunteer officials, influencing a redesign of

the fixture matrix and assisting with the development of the 2010 proposed

league restructure. The GCCL is recognised for the high quality of its

administration and Andy has been a key player in achieving this."

 

Ron Bomberg, Eastington CC/Stroud League, Lifetime Award

Since moving to the county and joining Eastington CC in 1967, Ron

Bomberg has transformed the club's fortunes both on and off the pitch.

And at the ripe old age of 73 is still no stranger to doing work

on the square.

But his long list of achievements for the club began back in 1972 when

he captained the first team to the Stroud League title.

Along with then chairman Tony Hulbert he was also the club's main

fundraiser, selling lottery tickets and playing a leading role in the

construction of a pavilion at their former ground in Stroud.

Never one to rest on his laurels, Ron was also integral to the

club's move to their current home at the Owen Harris Memorial Ground.

With substantial funds required to turn a farmer's field into a

community playing field Ron mobilised an army of waste paper collectors

throughout the village and beyond. He then persuaded a farmer to bale and store

the paper and sold it to a recycling company in order to start the money coming

in.

As the project progressed Ron helped hand-build and erect a fence

to protect the M5 and joined the ground's board of trustees - eventually

becoming chairman.

A car accident towards the end of the last century led Ron to

reduce playing but rather than sit back and relax he took an umpiring course

instead

Umpiring in the Stroud and County leagues he was twice voted GAGUS

umpire of the year before a back problem forced him to retire in his late 60s.

But once again he refused to take life easy and became one of the

first boundary umpire assessors, a job that he still does.