Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Former Gloucestershire keeper blown away by surprise ‘Walkers and Talkers’ honour
Andy Brassington was named the PCA’s first Outstanding Contribution Award winner at the cinch PCA Awards.
The former Gloucestershire wicketkeeper won the accolade after creating the ‘Walkers and Talkers’ group earlier this year, which aimed to help with people’s mental health and wellbeing after the covid pandemic.
Brassington collected the new award, especially created by the PCA’s Official Trophy Partner Mappin & Webb, from PCA Chief Executive Rob Lynch and then produced a moving speech that gripped the 550 guests at The Hurlingham Club.
Watch the video to find out how Walkers and Talkers has helped improve people’s lives and find out what the members think about Brassington winning the award.
Anyone is free to join, members generally meet at Gloucestershire’s Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, although this often changes to other stadia in the city, every Wednesday for tea and coffee, followed by a walk around the ground and then a talk from a celebrity guest speaker with a question and answer session.
After starting in April, Walkers and Talkers sessions gets upwards of 50 people attending each week and has so far included guest speakers such as former England cricketer Jon Lewis and former professional footballer Gary Owers.
Members are extremely grateful to Brassington for setting up the group which has improved people’s mental health and lifestyle.
Brassington was unaware that he had won the award at the time of filming and was stunned when the video played at the cinch PCA Awards ceremony in London on Thursday 6 October, eventually realising why he had the film crew following one of his sessions in mid-September.
On winning the award Brassington said: “I’m blown away in all honesty, I had no idea that was going to happen. Now I’ve had time to reflect I’m so proud for the group, it’s a fantastic award to win and I look forward to showing it to the Walkers and Talkers on Wednesday.
“I’m just part of the group, it’s not about me and we’re all part of it, mixing together, sharing our stories and making friends.
“It’s just like going to see your makes on a Wednesday morning and the numbers are growing and the celebrities that have come along and helped us out have been awesome. It gets emotional and we shed a tear sometimes, including me.
“I just thought it would be a nice thing to do but it was clear after a couple of weeks that people really needed the support from one another.
“I had no idea what was really going on with the filming, I thought you guys were just coming down to cover it and when I saw us on the big screen at the Awards I was just really proud of everybody.
“It’s really important that we all talk to each other, so the focus now is to really kick on and help more people.”
Find the group on Facebook: @walkersandtalkersQandA or contact Andy Brassington on 07831 532670 or andy@finderskeepersuk.com for more details.
About the cinch PCA Awards:
The cinch PCA Awards traditionally brings the curtain down on the professional season with the biggest awards ceremony in English cricket. Hundreds of current and former players join key members of the industry to champion the best-performing individuals of the summer while reflecting on those who have given so much to the game.
Covering the full professional game, players are honoured across international, domestic, men’s and women’s cricket, the awards ceremony returned to The Hurlingham Club on Thursday 6 October.
Full list of awards announced at the cinch PCA Awards:
- cinch PCA Men’s Player of the Year – Jonny Bairstow
- cinch PCA Women’s Player of the Year – Nat Sciver
- cinch PCA Men’s Young Player of the Year – Harry Brook
- cinch PCA Women’s Young Player of the Year – Freya Kemp
- PCA Outstanding Contribution Award – Andy Brassington
- ECB Special Merit – Brenda Trenowden CBE
- PCA Umpire of the Year – Men’s Game – Nick Cook
- PCA Umpire of the Year – Women’s Game – Anna Harris
List of awards recognised at the cinch PCA Awards
- IG PCA Men’s Team of the Year – Adam Lyth, Shan Masood, James Vince, James Bracey (WK), Harry Brook, Will Jacks ©, Wiaan Mulder, James Fuller, Keith Barker, Simon Harmer, Sam Cook
- Vitality PCA Women’s Team of the Year – Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver, Georgia Adams ©, Amy Jones (WK), Bryony Smith, Grace Scrivens, Emily Arlott, Katie Levick, Lauren Bell
- PCA Women’s Overall Domestic MVP – Georgia Adams
- PCA Men’s Overall Domestic MVP – Will Jacks
- Royal London ODI Men’s Player of the Summer – Jos Buttler
- Vitality IT20 Men’s Player of the Summer – Moeen Ali
- LV= Insurance Test Player of the Summer – Jonny Bairstow
- Vitality Blast Player of the Year – James Vince
- Royal London Cup Player of the Year – Wiaan Mulder
- LV= Insurance County Championship Player of the Year – Keith Barker
- The Hundred PCA MVP Men’s Player of the Year – Adam Lyth
- The Hundred PCA MVP Women’s Player of the Year – Nat Sciver
- Vitality IT20 Women’s Player of the Summer – Sophia Dunkley
- Royal London ODI Women’s Player of the Summer – Charlie Dean
- Charlotte Edwards Cup Player of the Year – Amy Jones
- Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Player of the Year – Lauren Winfield-Hill
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.
