The Shropshire Cricket Board
Cricket in Shropshire has a proud and distinguished history over two centuries. The first reference to cricket in the county was in 1794 and a county organisation existed from around 1829. The Shropshire Cricket Board (SCB) is recognised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) as the local governing body responsible for recreational cricket in Shropshire. The SCB fulfils a number of roles. Amongst these is the pursuit of the:
• Active encouragement, support and promotion of the playing and development of cricket at all levels and age groups in Shropshire
• Excellence in playing, coaching, officiating
• Improvement in playing facilities for recreational cricket and the support of the club game generally. We are nothing without our clubs.
• The Shropshire Cricket Board (SCB) was founded in 1997 by the newly established England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) with overall responsibility for non-first class cricket in the county. The SCB is based in Telford at Wrekin College. In 2010 the SCB became a company limited by guarantee with a Board of Directors. In 2012 the Board took the decision to apply for charitable status. In 2014 the Directors undertook to reshape the operations management with a view to corporate planning for a period of 3-5 years. The Board is supported by professional staff, volunteers and subsidiary groups including:
• Shropshire Cricket Clubs (including Shropshire Clubs who play in the Birmingham League)
• Shropshire County Cricket League
• District Club Cricket Development Groups (South,Central-East/Central-West)
• Council Sports Partnerships
• Groundsman’s Association
• Shropshire Association of Cricket Officials
• Shropshire Coaches Association
• Women and Girls Club Development Group
Against a background of unprecedented change in the sporting landscape, and awareness of ECB Changes with regard to its programmes and funding the restructured (2015)SCB has been using this time to review its strategic direction. This “Action Plan for Cricket in Shropshire” has been created to respond to this situation and to outline what it will do and how it will work over the coming years to increase regular participation in cricket across all sectors of the population and communities within Shropshire.
The SCB hopes that its mission, vision and values will help it to become an ever more successful Board, serving the cricket community of Shropshire and contributing to the improvement of all aspects of the game in the county.