GLOUCESTERSHIRE BOARD What We Do About the GCB The Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for all recreational cricket across the county, creating links between schools, clubs, leagues and the community.

Based at The County Ground in Bristol, we oversee everything from county and district youth teams to groundsmanship and disability cricket. We also support the training of coaches, officials and groundsmen.

The GCB has more than 200 affiliated clubs and we are committed to helping them increase their memberships and improve their facilities.

Each year the Board coaches more than 10,000 children across 200 schools, trains around 200 new coaches and young leaders and runs 35 representative teams.

Affiliated to the and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) our goal is to develop a fun and enabling environment in which more people in Gloucestershire play and are involved in cricket.

1 Performance Raising the standard of cricket in Gloucestershire and developing future professionals The GCB runs 35 representative teams across its county and district programme.

This includes eight boys county squads from under 10s to under 17s and girls As well as enjoying team success, a number of our young players teams at under 13, 15 and 17 level. We also have a senior women’s team and four have received national and regional recognition in recent years. veterans’ teams, two for over 50s and two for over 60s. They include: Junior squads receive coaching during the winter and play competitive matches • Tom Shrewsbury and Miles Hammond – England Under 19 against other counties during the summer culminating in a festival or tour. • Alex Macdonald – England Women’s Academy Squad Underneath county level we a boys district programme at under 11, 12, 13, 14 • Patrick Grieshaber, Ben Slade and Duvall Pierre – and 15. Every age group has a representative team from each of our four districts - West of England Under 15 Cheltenham and Cotswolds, Bristol, Gloucester and the Forest of Dean and Stroud and South Gloucestershire. They receive coaching during the winter and play each • Fi Morris - England Under 19 Women other home and away during the summer. • Eve Alder – England Under 15 Women’s Development Squad There is also an annual district under 10 festival where the best • Tom Smith – ECB Yorkshire Bank Under 17 Batsman of the Year players in this age group play against each other. The tournament takes place over five days and features seven different teams from across the county.

Gloucestershire’s best young players are selected for our Emerging Players Programme (EPP). This is an elite scheme that offers our most talented youngsters individual coaching, fitness and mentoring in addition to the work they do with their age group squads. There is a separate EPP for our best young female players and a development EPP for boys who are just below the full set-up.

We also run one-to-one sessions and holiday camps for our county and district players. This is known as the Developing Future Professionals programme. 2 3 Schools Making cricket the sport of choice On average the GCB coaches more than 10,000 children a year in around 200 schools – including work in Colleges, Secondaries, Primaries and Special Schools.

Working closely with the Cricket Foundation’s Chance to Shine scheme and our local County Sports Partnerships we provide coaching and competitions throughout the whole year – not just during the cricket season. The GCB runs a number of competitions for primary Our sessions are delivered by qualified coaches and take place in schools and facilitates the local rounds of national curriculum time, during lunchtimes and as after-school clubs. secondary school competitions like the annual Lady They typically involve working with the same school for six to 10 Taverners indoor girls tournament. weeks in order to introduce children to cricket, improve their skills and encourage them to join a local club. At primary level we run three forms of soft ball competition which are made up of more than 35 individual festivals We also deliver bespoke programmes based on a school’s response to our targeting children aged seven to 11. The biggest of these is the Education Offer which provides a menu of different coaching options for Year Five and Six Kwik Cricket festival. This typically involves them to select from. more than 250 teams and over 2500 children each year.

The GCB’s schools work includes providing cricket leadership courses for students and professional development opportunities for staff.

We also help The City Academy in Bristol to develop their best young players. This includes running an academy for talented young people aged 16 and over. The award-winning programme offers students the chance to combine their education with elite cricket training.

4 5 StreetChance Using cricket to develop young Junaid Hussain – people and build communities StreetChance participant (Easton) StreetChance is a programme that uses cricket as a social tool The GCB’s award-winning StreetChance projects are to engage with young people in some of the county’s most about more than just cricket. disadvantaged areas. “I like StreetChance because everyone gets a chance. The scheme also brings communities together and Led by qualified coaches, each project offers youngsters the chance to play a helps develop the young people who attend. fast-paced version of cricket called Street 20. This is a shortened game that It’s not about individuals; it’s consists of 20-ball-a-side matches using a tennis ball wrapped in tape. Sessions about being a team and everyone An example of this is Junaid Hussain who has take place every week and are free to attend. Participants are also educated on been transformed since attending the sessions unites from the community. some of the social issues they might face including drugs, crime and in Easton – a place in the most deprived 10% of gang culture. I used to get nervous meeting local areas in England according to the Index of new people, but I’ve done it loads Multiple Depravation. Supported by the Cricket Foundation charity, the GCB runs StreetChance projects in both Bristol and Cheltenham. Around half of these are aimed now at StreetChance sessions and Initially lacking confidence and with a short at children aged eight to 15, while the others are for young people and competitions.” attention span, Junaid’s skills and behaviour adults between the ages of 16 and 24. have drastically improved and he is now Junaid Hussain a regular in the Bristol team at national The GCB also has several girls-only StreetChance projects – the competitions. Having never played cricket first to be launched outside London. before StreetChance he has since gone on to join his local club. Our partners include the local police forces, Bristol City Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Bristol City FC.

In addition to the weekly sessions the GCB also runs four Bristol StreetChance representative teams who compete in national competitions.

6 7 Women & Girls Growing the women and girls game from the grass roots upwards… Charlie Walker The GCB is committed to supporting the growth of women and girls cricket Charlie Walker began playing cricket at 13 for her at all levels of the game. local men’s village club and is now of the Gloucestershire senior women’s team. We currently run four full county teams - under 13, 15, 17 and senior women – who take part in ECB competitions. We also have development squads at under 13 and 15 for Her first involvement with the county performance players just below county level and an under 11 team that play a series of friendly matches. programme came as a 14-year-old when she attended a There is also an Emerging Players Programme (EPP) that provides extra coaching for our junior coaching course and was asked to join the under “Having been through the best young female players aged 11-14. 15 squad. county programme myself The GCB also works with clubs to help them develop women’s and girls’ teams. This After moving to Thornbury CC she went on to play for it is great to be able to has resulted in a growing number of leagues and competitions. These include county the Gloucestershire under 15s, under 17s and senior help the next generation leagues at under 13 and 15 level and two at senior level. There are also local leagues women by the age of 15. of players come through. and an annual under 11 festival. Having captained the under 17s Charlie served as vice- There are a number of captain in the senior side for a couple of years before These competitions are overseen by the GCB’s Women and Girls Development girls who I have coached Group which is responsible for driving the women and girls game forward in taking over as skipper. She has also represented the Gloucestershire. There are also a growing number of opportunities for women England Women’s indoor team. in the age groups that and girls to play more informal cricket including indoor leagues and girls-only are now playing with me StreetChance sessions. As she progressed through the ranks she decided she wanted to give something back and at 19 she completed in the senior team. Girls To support our clubs there is a strategic programme of coaching in schools her level one coaching qualification. cricket has gone from aimed at encouraging girls to try cricket and pursue it out of school. The GCB strength to strength in also facilitates the local rounds of national girls schools competitions including She has since gone on to become a level two coach and the Lady Taverners’ indoor secondary school competitions in the winter and the is the under 13 county girls manager. Gloucestershire in primary Kwik Cricket festivals in the summer. recent years and I am We are supported in developing the women and girls game by Chance to delighted to be able to Shine England Women Coaching Ambassadors. This involves members of play a part in it.” the England Women team visiting the county, holding coaching sessions and sharing their experience with the next generation of players. England Charlie Walker internationals who have visited include , , and Heather Knight.

8 9 Disability Cricket for everyone There has never been a better time for people in Gloucestershire to get involved in disability cricket, with more opportunities than ever before. From coaching sessions in special schools, to Gloucestershire Growlers inclusive clubs and a visually impaired team - the Gloucestershire Growlers - we provide cricket for Visually Impaired Cricket Club people with a wide range of disabilities and special The Growlers were formed in 2012 after the GCB ran a taster session with Insight Gloucestershire’s young person needs. group, Outlook.

Each year from September to March we provide coaching The club has since gone from strength to strength, increasing members, joining a league and having a player in around 20 special schools with the aim of giving pupils selected for the England VI Women’s team. a taste of cricket and encouraging them to join one of our disability clubs - Frenchay or Frocester. Both clubs offer The team is led by chairman Marc Gulwell, a keen cricket fan who attended the very first session and has specialist coaching throughout the year. been the driving force ever since.

We also run a number of competitions including both In addition to supporting the team’s training sessions, the Gloucestershire Cricket Board helped the indoor and outdoor Kwik Cricket festivals. For those that Growlers to find a home ground at Upton St Leonards Recreation Ground. They also secured a £6,000 are wheelchair bound or non-ambulant, the GCB also holds grant to help pay for travelling costs, supplied playing kit and arranged for Marc and the team to give a festivals to facilitate the local rounds of the national table demonstration of blind cricket during the interval of a Gloucestershire CCC match at Bristol. cricket competition. “A lot of our players had never played cricket before joining the Growlers but we are open to everyone. We are a mixed team, with players ranging from their early 20s to their 60s and different levels of visual impairment - everyone is welcome. It is great for socialising, great for fitness and a lot of fun - to be a part of this group is fantastic.’’ Mark Gulwell

10 11 Clubs Helping our clubs to be successful on and off the pitch… In order to meet the needs of our 218 clubs the GCB has two full-time Clubs and Programmes Officers – one in the north of the county and one in the south.

Their roles include offering help and advice across a wide-range of areas including; developing junior cricket, improving facilities and securing funding. They also help clubs achieve and retain Focus Club and Clubmark status.

The GCB works hard to help clubs attract and retain new junior, senior and social members. This includes helping them to develop high-quality facilities - from better nets and practice areas to pavilions, bars and changing rooms.

To support our clubs the GCB has compiled a list of partner companies who have agreed to offer our members a preferential rate for their products and services. Winterbourne CC To complete the ‘Gloucestershire Cricket Family’ the GCB works With five senior teams and six junior sides Winterbourne CC feared closely with Gloucestershire Club to improve their they would become victims of their own success without a new pavilion relationship with our clubs by providing ticket offers, club days and to house their burgeoning playing membership. player visits. But with initial quotes coming in at more than £270k the club’s dream looked in danger of becoming a financial nightmare.

Club stalwarts Alan Luton and Mike Anstey gave up their time to complete all the block work for free but after speaking to the GCB they found a number of innovative ways to slash their costs.

Through the GCB, Winterbourne got construction students from South Gloucestershire and Stroud College to help with the building work as part of their course. They were also given £750 worth of building materials by local construction firm Gaiger Brothers after appealing to local businesses for help.

The Board also helped the club win a grant of £40,000 from the England and Wales Cricket Trust and secure a £20,000 interest free loan towards the project.

Just over 18 months later Winterbourne had a brand new pavilion complete with changing rooms, toilets and showers, kitchen, lounge area and facilities for 12 people with disabilities. 13 Workforce Sue Drinkwater: Sue began scoring for her local side Chedworth CC Supporting the unsung heroes more than 30 years ago and has scored in many representative matches including a game that who make cricket possible… featured the 2013 Ashes team. The GCB is responsible for supporting everyone involved in running She has been a member of the Association of the recreational game including coaches, officials and groundsmen. Cricket Officials (ACO) and its predecessor for over 25 years Working with the Gloucestershire Coaches Association (GCBCA), Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Officials (GACO) and the Gloucestershire Grounds Association For the last eight years she has also been the (GGA), the Board assists with training and development opportunities. scorers training officer for the Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Officials (GACO). She On average the GCB trains more than 200 people to become qualified coaches, designed her own training courses when none coach assistants and young leaders each year. Our tutor team run a range of ECB previously existed and many of her ideas have courses in both the north and south of the county. Through the GCBCA we also offer been adopted by the ECBACO and rolled out a number of annual bespoke Gloucestershire workshops led by elite coaches. nationally. As a result of her standing, Sue sits on committees to advise on current training Coaches on our schools programmes benefit from a mentoring scheme to and examinations and she has also pioneered aid their professional development and ensure high standards of coaching training for computerised scoring. are upheld. Club coaches are also encouraged to improve their knowledge by attending our district and county training sessions. Sue has trained more than 100 scorers in Gloucestershire including many in the Scorers and umpires are vital to cricket at any level. To support and develop West of England Premier League and officials in the county the GCB works with GACO to ensure courses are Gloucestershire County Cricket League and available for all levels of experience from beginners to those wishing to pursue has received a national ECB Outstanding it professionally. A programme of help and boundary edge assessment has also Service to Cricket Award for her work. been set up to maintain and improve the standard of our umpires.

The GCB is committed to improving the county’s playing facilities. “What I would really like is to create a The GGA plays a pivotal role in making sure this happens by running community of scorers in Gloucestershire that regular workshops and giving clubs access to the best advice and could meet up regularly to talk about their equipment. experiences. Scoring tends to be a fairly solitary business and I think we often don’t realise how useful it can be to learn from 14 each other.” 15 Sue Drinkwater Competitions Creating competitive opportunities for players of all ages and abilities… The GCB aims to ensure that a wide-range of competitions are on offer to junior and senior players at all levels of the game and in all areas of the county. Some are run by affiliated leagues, while others are run directly by the GCB.

Across Gloucestershire there are nine senior league competitions which the GCB supports and advises through its Senior Club and Competitions Development Group. The group analyses the current competitions offered and continually looks at how they can be improved. This work is underpinned by regular surveys to find out what our members really want.

To ensure more cricket is played the GCB runs two senior cup competitions which are played on Sundays - the County Cup – contested by Gloucestershire’s West of England Premier League (WEPL) teams and the County Trophy for clubs outside the top four tiers.

To ensure cricket is played throughout the year we now also run a number of senior indoor leagues across the county. These take place in each of our four districts and are growing in popularity each year.

Junior cricket is going from strength to strength with five leagues and associations working to offer playing opportunities that range from under nine festivals to under 17 leagues. This work is supported by the GCB Youth League and Performance Development Group. There are also a number of local district area leagues which place an emphasis on both participation and performance.

The GCB also runs the Gloucestershire Youth Cricket League during the summer. This provides a longer format of the game than is offered by most local leagues. Played on Sundays, it is designed to ensure the gap between club and representative cricket does not grow too wide.

During the school holidays the GCB runs a ‘Cricket Ladder’ competition that rewards clubs which play the most games after the end of their league season. The idea is to ensure that cricket is offered throughout the summer.

16 Gloucestershire Cricket Board, County Cricket Ground, Nevil Road, Bristol, BS7 9EJ

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