Volunteer of the Month: Celebrating Exceptional Contributions to Cricket

Hampshire Cricket Board is thrilled to announce the nominees for our second Volunteer of the Month for 2025, showcasing the incredible contributions made by individuals who help strengthen and support cricket in our community. This month’s selection is a testament to the outstanding dedication of our volunteers across the county.

Winner: Rob Franklin (Sarisbury Athletic Cricket Club)
Rob has been instrumental in the club’s development since joining in 2019. Elected to the committee in 2021, Rob drives sustainability, leads All Stars/Dynamos, and oversees sponsorship, fundraising, and community outreach. His standout achievement this year was leading the SACC Cycle 2025 — a 24-hour cycling event raising over £5.5k (plus gift aid) to provide free summer cricket camps for 60 local children. Rob led on planning, fundraising, marketing, photography, rode in the event, and stayed up for nearly 48 hours to ensure its success. His commitment, vision, and energy are unmatched, and Sarisbury Athletic CC would be proud to see his extraordinary efforts recognised through a Cricket Collective Award.

Highly Commended: Gordon Selbie (Fareham & Crofton Cricket Club)
Gordon has been dedicated to developing youth cricket for over 30 years, with unwavering passion. This year, he built a team of 25 coaches and managers, supporting 125 juniors in training. Gordon wears many hats — U9s Coordinator, Tier 1 Manager, Safeguarding Officer, Kit Manager — and plays a key role in organising and chairing club meetings. His tireless commitment and love for the game have created a thriving environment for young players and his impact on generations of cricketers is immeasurable.

Highly Commended: Frans Badenhorst (Fleet Cricket Club)
Since becoming Social Secretary, Frans has transformed the club’s social scene. The well-organised, enjoyable events he arranges have become a cornerstone of club life. These gatherings foster camaraderie, create a welcoming atmosphere, and play a vital role in generating income. Thanks to Frans’ efforts, the club has been able to improve facilities, including the pavilion, and continue providing valuable cricket opportunities. His creativity, dedication, and attention to detail have made a lasting impact.

April 2025 Nominees:
We are also delighted to recognise the following individuals who were nominated for their outstanding contributions this month:

• Rob Watts (Fleet Cricket Club) - Rob is a hugely valued member of our club, dedicating countless hours to coaching the U15s and tirelessly maintaining the clubhouse—always ready to tackle any job, big or small.
• Paul Farrell (Cadnam Cricket Club) - Paul has worked tirelessly over winter on the clubhouse and wickets, earning praise from umpires for producing an outstanding April pitch.
• Wayne Dennison (Hedge End Junior Cricket Club) - Wayne is the backbone of Hedge End CC, showing unmatched passion for the game and the development of young players.

We encourage everyone in the Hampshire cricketing community to celebrate the hard work and enthusiasm of these volunteers, who make a huge difference to the success of our clubs and the enjoyment of players.

Thank you to all our nominees, and to the thousands of volunteers across Hampshire who make cricket the wonderful game it is.