Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Tom Lace starts marketing role with Sporting Chance
Gloucestershire batter Tom Lace has started his year on the front foot by working with the PCA’s mental health partner, Sporting Chance.
The 24-year-old has shown his desire to explore his personal development by commencing a work experience role with Sporting Chance as a Marketing Executive within the charity’s commercial department.
Lace’s main responsibilities will be to raise awareness of Sporting Chance’s services and events in line with the overall marketing strategy.
The right-handed batter has previously displayed a passion to explore his personal development by balancing his cricket with a Business and Economics degree.
“Sporting Chance is an amazing charity which continues to support and nurture wellbeing amongst professional athletes, something I am extremely passionate about.”
TOM LACE
On the field, the former Middlesex youngster has amassed more than 2,000 professional runs, including four First-Class hundreds with a highest score of 143.
Lace is grateful for the opportunity to work with the organisation, “Sporting Chance is an amazing charity which continues to support and nurture wellbeing amongst professional athletes, something I am extremely passionate about. I’d like to thank Colin Bland, CEO of Sporting Chance, who has been supportive in me doing this alongside my cricket,” he said.
The PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme enables and encourages professional cricketers’ to explore their interests outside of playing cricket and plan for their transition into life once they retire from the game.
Lace’s Personal Development Manager, Martin Cropper, believes that the Gloucestershire batter’s internship is an example of the expanding positive relationship between Sporting Chance and the PCA, “Enhancing Sporting Chance’s reach across their communication platforms will make a positive difference to the mental health and wellbeing of professional sports people. Tom will be gaining valuable experience to support his personal and professional development as he continues to explore his dual career interests,” he said.
Sporting Chance is an integral partner of the PCA, providing first class mental health support to professional cricketers. The partnership first arose in 2020 with 107 present and former cricketers receiving help for their mental health through Sporting Chance and the PCA in 2021.
The mental health provisions provided through Sporting Chance are paid for by the players’ charity, The Professional Cricketers’ Trust, who are there to support past and present players and their families when they need it most.
Sporting Chance supported over 1,400 athletes in 2022, and a common theme that arises amongst athletes is the difficulties in transitioning away from a career in professional sport. Sporting Chance works with the PCA to offer opportunities like these for personal development and to support athletes with their career aspirations.
David Bartlett, Commercial Director at Sporting Chance, is pleased to have Lace join the team, he said: “I discussed the opportunity with Martin Cropper, PCA PDM for the South West, and he immediately signposted me in Tom’s direction as someone who would thrive in this position. In the few weeks Tom has been involved, we’ve already seen a significant increase in our reach and engagement on social media and we’re really excited with the ideas he has to take us forwards over the next year.”
Find out more about the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme.
Name of Author: Professional Cricketers Association
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), founded in 1967 by former England fast bowler Fred Rumsey as the Cricketers’ Association, represents past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales. In the 1970s, the PCA established a standard employment contract and minimum wage for professional cricketers. It also helped create a pension scheme in 1995 and launched the magazine All Out Cricket and the ACE UK Educational Programme in 2002.
