The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation (GCF) welcomed over 100 volunteers to the 2025 Cricket Collective Awards on Friday, 15th August, celebrating the invaluable contributions of individuals who ensure the game thrives at the grassroots level. Held during Gloucestershire CCC’s Metro Bank One Day Cup clash with Glamorgan at the Seat Unique Stadium, the awards ceremony showcased the incredible work of volunteers from across the county’s 174 affiliated clubs.
Guests were welcomed by GCF staff before hearing from Andy Shield, Chairman of the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, and Peter Matthews, Chairman of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. Both chairmen spoke passionately about the value of volunteering in recreational cricket, paying tribute to those who work tirelessly — often behind the scenes — to make the game accessible and enjoyable for all.
“Hearing Andy & Peter discuss the importance of the recreational game was hugely insightful. It demonstrates the impact it has on not just on local clubs, but also the subsequent support it provides to Gloucestershire CCC’s ambition of producing home-grown cricketers for their pathway and senior team.
“It was amazing to see the Jessop Room full of volunteers from clubs across our County, shining a light on all the fantastic work that takes place across the recreational game. Whilst this event provides an opportunity to thank those who provide vital support to their local communities, it also highlights the wide variety of work that takes place, hopefully inspiring those in the room to diversify their offer at their local clubs,” said Harry Watts, Club Development Manager at the GCF.
The awards honoured contributions across 15 categories, recognising coaching, safeguarding, grounds work, and much, much more:
2025 Cricket Collective Award Winners:
- Young Coach of the Year – Fuzael Ahmed, Golden Hill CC
- Rising Star (11–16) – Freddie Bennett-Cheater, Churchdown CC
- Game Changer (17–25) – Shravani Philpot & Liara Hampton, Super 1‘s
- Cricket Innovator – Lesley Slack, Quedgeley & Hardwicke CC
- Inspired to Play – Alison Spurrell, GCF Dynamos Schools Competitions
- Growing the Game – Neil Stacey, Kingswood Village CC
- Volunteers Grounds Team – Quedgeley & Hardwicke CC
- Coach of the Year – Robin Munson, Quedgeley & Hardwicke CC
- Metro Bank Champion of Girls’ Cricket – Harry Brownless, Cirencester CC
- Safe Hands – Jackie Orr, Downend CC
- Tackling Climate Change – Xeena Cooper, The Next Test
- Connecting Communities – Derek Singleton, Cheltenham Walking Cricket
- Unsung Hero – Jo Hulin, Downend CC
- Outstanding Contribution – Services to Coaching – Craig Burden, Down Hatherley CC
- Lifetime Achiever – Brian Woodcock, Cirencester CC
Each award winner represents the very best of cricket in Gloucestershire, from inspiring the next generation to championing sustainability, inclusion, and innovation.
As the One Day Cup match unfolded on the pitch, the day served as a reminder that while players may capture the headlines, at the recreational and professional levels, it is the volunteers who keep the game thriving in communities up and down the county.
The Cricket Collective Awards remain a key date in the GCF’s calendar, shining a spotlight on those who give so much. Working in collaboration with Gloucestershire CCC and Wiltshire Cricket, who also ran their Cricket Collective awards on Friday, we can’t wait to run this event again in 2026.