There were some excellent nominations for our Grassroots Heroes of 2020, and we are going to highlight as many people as we can over the next month. Our next Grassroots Hero is Jimmy Drew from Breadsall CC.
Jimmy has been one of the Breadsall CCs “doers” for many years, but his contribution in this strange year has been outstanding across an even broader range of activities. Often incorporating caring for his young family into tasks, he has frequently made time to travel to the ground to do jobs or simply to check on things without being asked. Apart from the constraints imposed by the pandemic, the club has been working on (and working around) the construction of a new pavilion, progress on which itself has been held up by circumstances outside our control.
Jimmy said:
“Whilst the Pandemic and initial Lockdown caused a lot of uncertainty around whether we’d actually get to play any cricket whatsoever in 2020, it did provide time to take a step back and do a few things at the club that we wouldn’t usually have time to do in amongst people’s busy schedule.”
Specific items that Jimmy has been credited for, in no particular order, are as follows:
- Leading on creating, designing and publicising a very successful crowdfunding campaign which raised over double the original target. This should enable a high-quality finish to the internal decoration and fitting of the new pavilion. Jimmy said:
“It was fantastic to see so many people connected to the club both currently and from years gone by getting behind our project and donate what they could. That said, we’re hopeful that our new Clubhouse will be ready in time for the start of the 2021 season, and we’re hoping that players, supporters of the club, and visiting teams will get to experience and benefit from our new facilities!”
- Helping with other successful funding applications, particularly relating to publicity and technological input.
- Organising a fundraising golf day, which fell foul of the pandemic.
- Co-ordinating the club’s response to Covid-19 compliance requirements.
- Mowing areas of the outfield and field edges in Spring and early Summer. This was before there was any realistic prospect of cricket being played, but helped to ensure the ground looked good and was ready for action if and when the time came.
- Preparing the large disturbed area of ground in front of the pavilion building work in late Summer and then seeding it for restorative growth.
- Organising other club members, via a WhatsApp group he formed for the purpose, to carry out urgent maintenance tasks at short notice.
- Liaising with some of the tradespeople working on fittings in the new building.
- Arranging many Sunday friendly games to offer playing opportunities for juniors and seniors who otherwise would have missed out on some cricket following the reluctant, but forced, decision to drop from three to two Saturday senior sides.
- Chairing team selection, notifying players, sometimes seeking players at short notice and chasing late payments of fees.
- Continuing his personal commitment to junior coaching.
- Contributing on the field to our 1st XI’s success in winning the Division 4N plate competition.
Jimmy is yet another example of someone who gives up a lot of his time to his club. Well Done Jimmy!
