The Pca Professional Cricketers Trust Announced as charity of choice at 15th Cross Sports Book awards The Professional Cricketers’ Association’s (PCA) Professional Cricketers’ Trust has been selected by the Cross Sports Book Awards as its charity partner for the ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Wednesday May 24th. The PCA is the representative body of past of past and present first class cricketers in England and Wales, since the organisation was founded in 1967 and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017. The PCA is embarking on a major fund raising initiative to raise £ 250,000 for the Professional Cricketers’ Trust to ensure they can keep delivering key services to all members. The Professional Cricketers’ Trust, helps former and current cricketers and their immediate family members in times of hardship and upheaval by providing vital funding for operations, helping those who are having difficulty adjusting to life after cricket find an alternative career and helping current players with professional support and expert advice. The Cross Sports Book Awards will once again reward their Cricket Book of the Year award with a stellar group of judges on board including former England Captain Bob Willis, fellow Sky Sports pundits in Paul Allot, Charles Colville and former England Women’s World Cup winner Isa Ghua. David Leatherdale, CEO of the PCA commented: “We are extremely grateful the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust has been selected as charity of choice by the Cross Sports Book Awards, in our Golden Jubilee year. It is a privilege to be involved in such a prestigious event, and the funds raised on the night will continue to help cricketers who fall on hard times.” Jonathan Trott, England’s three time Ashes winner and Warwickshire batsman has been nominated in the long list for the much sought after Best Autobiography of the Year award said: ” I’m delighted to be nominated at the Cross Sports Book Awards, especially as it’s in a year where the PCA Professional Cricketers’ Trust have been chosen as their official charity of choice. ” To be nominated for the Best Autobiography award which has previously had Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain as winners is an honour in itself so I’m looking forward to the ceremony in May.” David Willis, Chairman of the Cross Sports Book Awards added: ” The work that the PCA does is fantastic and we are looking forward to helping them raise funds for the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.” The winner of the Autobiography of the year will be announced at the 15th Cross Sports Book Awards Ceremony which takes place at Lord’s Cricket Ground on May 24th 2017. The ceremony features 12 other award categories and highlights will be broadcast on Sky Sports. The final shortlist for the award will be announced alongside those from all the other categories in the Cross Sports Book Awards at the end of April 2017. Autobiography of the Year long list 2016 in alphabetical author order: No Nonsense Joey Barton Simon & Schuster Football Triumphs & Turbulence Chris Boardman Ebury, Cycling What Doesn’t Kill You Johnny herbert Transworld F1 Watching the Wheels Damon Hill Macmillan F1 This Mum Runs Jo Pavey Yellow Jersey, Athletics Unexpected Greg Rutherford Simon & Schuster Athletics Firestarter Ben Stokes Headline Cricket Unguarded Jonathan Trott Sphere, Little Brown Cricket Inside Track Laura & Jason Kenny Michael O’Mara Cycling From Nowhere Jamie Vardy Ebury, Football Man in the Middle Howard Webb Simon & Schuster Football My Story Ian Wright Constable, Little Brow Football The 2017 event is the 15th annual awards campaign, previous winners of the Autobiography award include: 2016 – Max Mosely 2015 – Gareth Thomas 2014 – Jimmy Connors 2013 – David Walsh (combined with biography award) 2012 – Matt Hampson (combined with biography award) 2011 – Brian Moore 2010 – Andre Agassi 2009 – Paul Canoville 2008 – Bobby Charlton 2007 – Paul McGrath 2006 – Frank Bruno 2005 – Nasser Hussain 2004 – Gareth Southgate & Andy Woodman 2003 – Niall Quinn For more information about the 2016 Cross Sports Book Awards visit sportsbookawards.co.uk facebook or twitter @sportbookawards #csba
