From one club that hosts an annual music festival for hundreds of locals to others that are increasing their sustainability credentials and a more diverse membership, five fantastic clubs have made the shortlist for the 2023 Voneus Village Cup Community Legends award.
The award seeks to recognise the village clubs up and down the country that are integral to their rural communities, with nominees having to demonstrate excellence in at least one of four areas: that they are a pillar of the community, have shown a commitment to the future, is a place for everybody, or are true sustainability champions.
Club members from Ashmanaugh & Barton Wanderers CC with their Community Legends certificate
The five shortlisted nominees – stretching geographically from Cornwall all the way up to Lancashire – have a wide range of success stories to tell. They are:
Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers CC
Having grown from two villages – both over 100 years old – neither of which has its own community facility, this Norfolk club has become an absolute pillar. Parish council meeting place, bowls club venue, Jubilee beacon… you name it, Ashmanhaugh & Barton Wanderers are at the centre of things.
Constantine CC
From struggling to get two sides out four years ago, this Cornish club’s clear and deliberate five-year plan has helped secure their future and add new youth and women’s sections. That comes from a ‘do it yourself’ spirit that has built their own licenced bar and practice facilities, and purchased a defibrillator for the hamlet.
Pentyrch CC
Embracing All Stars and Dynamos kids’ programmes, Friday nights revolve around the clubhouse in this South Wales village, with cricket being the backdrop to social events for all ages. Having become the go-to venue, the club now holds an annual music festival featuring local bands and choirs, which is enjoyed by 600 villagers.
Tiddington CC
Tiddington CC proudly boasts a youth setup counting over 200 members from primary schools in its local villages of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire – that made it an essential social establishment to bring those boys and girls back together after the Coronavirus lockdowns.
Wrea Green Cricket Club
Describing itself as “a quintessential but small village cricket club,” – it even plays its games on the village green – Wrea Green in Lancashire is an integral part of the Parish Council and has strong ties to local businesses. They’re particularly proud of increasing their BAME membership, helping to increase inclusivity at the club.
Jake Baron and Abhishek Sumbad from Wrea Green CC with the club’s Community Legends Certificate
Voneus also highlighted the following nominated clubs as highly commended: Aston Ingham CC, The Baldons CC, Spaxton CC, Uphill Castle.
Christopher Traggio, CEO Voneus Broadband, said: “The passion and dedication these cricket clubs give to their communities is phenomenal. It wasn’t easy to whittle them down, but we’re delighted to name five finalists for the Voneus Village Cup Community Club Legend award as well recognising those who deserved to be highly commended for their efforts.
“We’re looking forward to hearing more about their stories over the next few weeks before the judging panel get together to announce the winner on June 27. Congratulations to all the clubs.”
Members of Pentyrch CC with their Community Legends certificate
The winning club will be decided by a panel consisting of headline sponsor Voneus Broadband, Huw Turbervill (editor of The Cricketer magazine) and England legend and Voneus ambassador Lydia Greenway.
They will be announced on Tuesday, June 27 – the eve of the Lord’s Ashes Test – and will bag a £500 contribution towards the Ultimate End of Season Do, together with 20 free tickets to join us at the Home of Cricket for the Voneus Village Cup final on Sunday, September 3.
Keep up to date with the Voneus Village Cup by following the competition on Twitter (@TheCricketerNVC) and Instagram (@villagecup)
