Over £100k raised by PCA England Legends programme

Over £100,000 has been raised for grassroots cricket with the help of the PCA England Legends, sponsored by Greene King, as the team of former international stars returned to local clubs across the country this summer.

The 2021 season saw the Legends travel from Hampshire to Lancashire and everywhere in between to participate in showcase fixtures against amateur cricket clubs, and it also included the side’s first four-team tournament at Monton Sports Club on 6 August.

With generous support from lead sponsor Greene King, Legends events raised £101,500 which will be used by clubs including Barnt Green CC, Blackheath CC and Eversley CC to invest in amateur cricket to support the game from the bottom up.

As an example of what the Legends programme can offer local clubs, Suffolk-based Bury St Edmunds CC has signalled its intention to put money raised at their 2021 fixture towards a new net facility as well as a donation to the NHS.

Amazing work by the PCA England Legends off the field this season has been complemented by some fantastic performances on it, from both the Legends and their opponents.

Top-order batter Owais Shah, who made 94 appearances for his country between 2001-09, has been voted by his teammates as the PCA England Legends Player of the Summer following a campaign which saw him involved on the winning team at the Legends’ first tournament alongside Ryan Sidebottom.

In total, 25 former England stars appeared for the team this summer, including debuts for Kabir Ali, Graeme Swann and PCA President Charlotte Edwards who became the first female cricketer to represent the Legends when she turned out against Eversley CC on 27 August.

The Legends returned to the field this summer for the first time since 2019, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, with renewed vigour on the back of a new three-year sponsorship deal with Greene King, new formats to participate in, and a new name having been formerly known as the PCA England Masters.

With spaces for 2022 already filling up fast, you can register your interest in hosting the PCA England Legends by getting in touch with the PCA England Legends Manager Stephen Newell at pcalegends@thepca.co.uk.

PCA Chief Executive, Rob Lynch, said: “Cricket has enjoyed something of a return to normality this year, and it has been heartwarming to see the PCA England Legends getting back out there and raising money for clubs nationwide as part of that.

“To raise over £100,000 for the grassroots game is an incredible achievement, and I would like to thank all of the players involved this season for contributing, but it would not have been possible without the generous and ongoing support of our lead sponsor Greene King.

“We were delighted to extend the Legends’ partnership with Greene King and we look forward to doing further work with them in the future on behalf of local clubs across the country.”

Will Hemmings, Greene King Brewing & Brands’ Marketing Director, said: “We have been proud to support the PCA England legends for several years and to see how much the programme has raised throughout the summer is incredibly impressive.

“Everyone knows how much of an impact the COVID pandemic has had on grassroots sport throughout the country, and helping cricket clubs raise over £100,000 will make a significant difference moving forward. We are delighted to be supporting the PCA England Legends programme for the foreseeable future and look forward to continuing to raise vital funds for clubs throughout the nation.”

Find out more about the PCA England Legends programme and contact Stephen Newell at pcalegends@thepca.co.uk to register your interest.