Thank your volunteers with an OSCAs nomination
by Alan Rowley, 8th March 2005

Every club has them - those hard-working volunteers who put every minute of their spare time into helping their local club. They prepare the wicket, paint the sightscreens, run the bar and generally keep the club neat and tidy. Without them, no club cricket team could survive, and yet they go unrewarded for their efforts. Now, you have your chance to praise these stalwarts of the local cricket scene.

The England & Wales Cricket Board has officially launched the 2005 Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards (OSCAs), sponsored by NatWest. Your nominations are now being accepted at www.play-cricket.com/oscas, so why not take this opportunity to propose someone from your club? There are seven categories in the awards, covering everyone from youngsters to senior figures.

Outstanding nominees will be chosen by county cricket boards and will be invited to the OSCAs ceremony to be held at Lord's on October 3rd. The event will be attended by cricket stars and personalities.

Lee Bailey, NatWest Sponsorship Manager, said: "2005 is a particularly proud year for NatWest as we celebrate supporting English cricket for 25 years. Together with the ECB we fully recognise the valuable contribution made by volunteers to the development of cricket in this country."

Christine de Cruz, the ECB National Volunteer Manager, added: "Volunteers are the 'designer' fabric of our game at community level and we are delighted to honour our leading stars in this way."

What are the OSCAs? | Make your nomination | The categories | The pyramid