Letchworth Cricket Club Junior Manager Awarded

On Friday 12^th July the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP attended Letchworth Cricket Club to present a Sport for Good Community Champion Award. The club has experienced a turnaround over the last seven years – from a club with a shrinking membership, financial difficulties and declining status to one that has a healthy profile and a growing reputation. The club now runs 5 senior teams with the first team playing in the Hertfordshire Premiership – particularly creditable as almost all the first team are formerly juniors at the club, with an average age of just 24 – the club demonstrates an exemplary pathway for junior cricketers.

 

Without question the Chairman Simon Manning, the Committee and the coaching team all deserve credit for this regeneration. However, the recipient of this Community Champion Award is the junior's manager, David Watts. It is his energy, personality and commitment that has driven forward junior cricket in Letchworth.

 

The club now accommodates 13 junior teams with an age range of 9 – 18; including two girl's teams which are under 11 and 12+. Girls play in the junior teams, not just in the girl's teams. In total 150 boys and 30 girls are registered. (The club also welcomes local asylum seekers placed locally, particularly from Afghanistan.)

 

Over recent years the Club has attracted sponsorship from five local companies. These funds not only sustain the infrastructure of the Club, they also ensure that the club can sustain its policy that no-one is turned away because of difficulty in paying a subscription. Consistent with this policy, the club has acquired a “common” set of equipment for use by juniors to remove the capital costs of participation. 

 

In a broader context, the strength of the Junior section has now enabled the club to field 6 senior teams for the first time in its history. The expansion of junior cricket and its inclusion is a credit to the Committee as a whole, but particularly to David Watts who is the driving force behind this transformation.

 

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP said:

“I was delighted to surprise Letchworth Cricket Club legend David Watts, with a High Sheriff 'Community Champion Award' in conjunction with Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership. David has been the driving force behind the expansion of the club's junior cricket, massively increasing participation and diversity ... now 13 junior teams of boys and girls, ensuring each young player experiences all aspects of the game, not just the most talented batsmen and bowlers which ensures 95% retention of players. David, your peers cite the quality of your leadership, energy, personality and commitment. Well done and thank you!”

 

The Herts Sport and Activity Partnership are excited for the year ahead where they will be recognising lots more local volunteers celebrating their continued hard work to help get more people, more active, more often.