We were delighted to have been nominated for the “Cricket Club of the Year” award by the judging panel at Club Mirror earlier in the summer and are delighted to announce that we have announced the Winners at the event on 27th November at Athena, Leicester which was attended by some of our club members.

Below is the brief submission that was made -
We talked about how we have increased numbers of young people playing, our programme to promote girls, by visiting schools and running out of school camps, some subsidised and re starting the All-Stars and Dynamos programme. The improvement of the facilities was mentioned, Hybrids pitch, electronic scorebox, toilets and showers and club improvements for the social aspect to list a few. We mentioned working with the local community to gain funding to promote sport to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Our commitment to using high quality coaches to improve the junior section to see them through to senior cricket and a lifetime of playing cricket. We mentioned the club is actively working to convert its legal status from an unincorporated community amateur sports club status to a legally incorporated Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a wholly owned trading subsidiary. This status will generate multiple benefits for the club and enhanced access to grants, fundraising and corporate match funding, along with tax benefits and limiting the liability of all members. This legal incorporation will support the medium to long term growth plans of the Club.

Our treasurer worked with accountants to show we generated a healthy sponsorship income and reducing costs where necessary, looking innovatively and forward thinking.

We described how Finchley Cricket Club is a friendly, sociable, and all-inclusive club. We were founder members of Middlesex County Cricket League in 1972. We offer junior cricket for boys and girls from age 6 to 17. We run and extended schedule of colts and girls coaching from April through to August with a comprehensive programme of player development and talent identification. We are always striving to build on our reputation as a happy and progressive club and centre of cricketing excellence. We are actively promoting cricket to girls and women to show that nothing should stop them playing sport and bringing down any boundaries they may face with social networking, school visits and local advertising. Also the improvement of our facilities means being of use to all, so no member of our community is unable to enjoy playing cricket and feels excluded from our club for any reason as we know the benefits of sport both mentally and physically.

The club was recognised with a Club 100 award for its time of existence with a certificate and then Cricket club of the year nominations were announced, and Finchley then being proclaimed the winner to much celebration and surprise from the Finchley delegation, with a lovely glass trophy to add to our collection in the cabinet. A great night and coming away as winners was truly amazing and we all felt so proud.

This is an fantastic accolade and true recognition to all at the club for the time and effort put in, and what makes Finchley the great club it is.

Thanks
Jon Mather