Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Legends and Greene King help raise vital funds for grassroots game.
Fundraising from PCA England Legends matches since Greene King became the lead sponsors in 2016 has surpassed £1 million, following host clubs raising over £160,000 this summer.
The 2022 season has seen the Legends travel from Bexley in Kent to Settle in Yorkshire and many places in between to play against clubs and schools to help raise vital funds for the grassroots game.
With great support from lead sponsor Greene King, Legends events have raised £167,000 this summer which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the club committees and event organisers.
All the money raised on the day of a Legends event is retained by the clubs and the PCA are on hand in the build-up and during the day to provide guidance on how best to maximise the takings.
Club’s typically make money through event sponsorships, gate receipts and bar takings, as well as a marquee lunches with auctions, raffles and other fundraising activities, which all helps towards making a variety of improvements to the facilities and set up of the host clubs.
The Legends enjoyed a competitive summer on the pitch winning six of their 12 games, which included a fixture against a Kent XI for the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, as well as coaching countless children ahead of their fixtures.
Some amazing performances were seen throughout the season with 43 Legends involved across the summer including the eight debuts of: Ian Bell, Samit Patel, Chris Read, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Jim Troughton, Rikki Clarke and Mark Stoneman.
Visiting six new clubs as well as six previous hosts the cricket was of great quality and the Legends produced some memorable performances such as a brilliant debut from Samit Patel where he scored 115 off 53 balls against Brentwood.
However, there could only be one Greene King PCA England Legends Player of the Summer, as voted for by the players, and that award went to Phil ‘Daffy’ DeFreitas who scored 156 runs and took six wickets during the campaign.
“To raise £167,000 for the grassroots game is a great achievement from the Legends and the clubs that we visit and it would not have been possible without the help of Greene King.”
ALEX TUDOR
For the second season in a row, the Legends supported the Festival of Cricket at Wormsley Estate against a select Kent XI in aid of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and in memory of Alan ‘Iggy’ Igglesden. The day raised an additional £10,000 for the players’ charity which provides support for PCA members and their immediate families when they need it most.
This summer, the Legends were also supported by two new partnerships in official bat supplier Neon and casualwear supplier Crew Clothing.
You can register your interest in hosting the PCA England Legends in 2023 by getting in touch with the PCA England Legends Manager Stephen Newell.
PCA England Legends Captain, Alex Tudor, said: “It’s always a pleasure to captain this side and it’s be especially nice having our first full season since the pandemic.
“To raise £167,000 for the grassroots game is a great achievement from the Legends and the clubs that we visit and it would not have been possible without the help of Greene King.
“It’s always great getting together with these guys and sharing old stories, I’m already looking forward to what we have in store next season.”
Will Hemmings, Greene King Brewing & Brands’ Marketing Director, said: “We are really proud to continue to support the PCA England Legends as they raise incredible and vital funds for grassroot sports. We are honoured to be involved in such a brilliant project that inspires and enables people to be active and enjoy sports in their community.”
Find out more about the PCA England Legends programme and get in touch at pcalegends@thepca.co.uk to register your interest.
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.
