ECB launches new award to honour grassroots and professional contributors to the game
At today’s ECB Annual General Meeting in Southampton, six exceptional individuals were announced as the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) inaugural Honorary Life Vice-Presidents. This newly created accolade recognises outstanding service and contributions to cricket, particularly in breaking down barriers and driving long-term development of the sport.
Each recipient was presented with a commemorative silver bat during the AGM ceremony, marking their dedication to both professional and recreational cricket. The announcement represents a formal shift by the ECB to honour those whose efforts have had lasting impact across the cricket ecosystem.
Meet the six inaugural ECB Honorary Life Vice-Presidents
- Raj Cherodian – A stalwart of Ifield Cricket Club for over 30 years, Raj has championed cricket in the Sussex community through youth coaching, fundraising, and volunteer work.
- Keith Cook – After more than 50 years as Cricket Operations Manager at Warwickshire CCC, Keith retired in 2025. His tenure spanned the club’s transformation from makeshift facilities to the world-class Edgbaston Stadium.
- David Lawrence – A pioneering fast bowler and the first British-born Black cricketer to play for England, Lawrence is now President of Gloucestershire CCC. His journey continues to inspire, especially following his recent battle with motor neurone disease.
- Ron Pearson – Over 63 years, Ron has helped transform Gwersyllt Park Cricket Club into a community hub, earning the 2025 National Cricket Collective “Lifetime Achievement Award”.
- Helen Smith – With 47 years of service to Plymouth Civil Service & Roborough Cricket Club, Helen has advanced youth and women’s cricket through grassroots initiatives including the club’s Colts section and tea preparation.
- Alec Stewart – One of England’s greatest cricketers, Alec scored 8,463 Test runs and later led Surrey CCC to four county titles as Director of Cricket. He remains a role model for players and administrators alike.
ECB Chair Richard Thompson: “They embody cricket’s best values”
Speaking at the event, ECB Chair Richard Thompson highlighted the significance of the honour:
“It is a tremendous honour to recognise these six remarkable individuals as our first-ever Honorary Life Vice-Presidents. Each of them has made an extraordinary contribution to cricket — whether through decades of selfless volunteering, pioneering achievements on the field, or tireless work behind the scenes.”
The award will now be given annually to individuals who demonstrate excellence in service, inclusion, and leadership across all levels of the game.
ECB financials and growth in grassroots participation
Also announced at the AGM, the ECB Financial Statements for 2024/25 showed a turnover of £319.6 million and pre-tax profit of £2.6 million, exceeding expectations in a year without a home Ashes or India Men’s Test series.
Participation data revealed encouraging trends in grassroots cricket:
- Recreational fixtures: increased from 178,000 to 198,000 year-on-year
- Clubs with junior sections: rose from 2,635 to 2,693
- Women’s and girls’ fixtures: up 23% from 2023
- Total number of girls’ teams: reached 2,658 — a 21% increase
The ECB says these numbers reflect its commitment to growing a more inclusive and dynamic cricket ecosystem across England and Wales.
