And the winner of the OSCA is....

Umpiring supremo honoured at Lord's for cricketing contribution

CRICKET: Master umpire John Golding has added to his Berkshire Outstanding Services to Cricket Award by winning the national trophy at Lord’s.

The East Ilsley resident claimed his Berkshire OSCA at the Ageas Bowl in August, and his contribution to encouraging and providing umpires was marked with the national OSCA at a ceremony compered by BBC Test Match Special’s Jonathan Agnew.

Set up by the ECB in association with Natwest Bank, the OSCAs reward the work, commitment and positive impact of volunteers in helping to foster cricket at every level.

In his role as education officer for the Berkshire Cricket Officials Association, Golding and his team have successfully trained more than 120 umpires and scorers from beginner to Level 2 qualification, and Golding continues to umpire Thames Valley League matches as well as being one of a select band of non-forces personnel to umpire top level matches for the Army.

“I’ve always loved cricket but I never dreamed that my umpiring journey, which started with the Quantel team 16 years ago in the Charles Hoile T20 evening league and with West Ilsley Cricket Club in the Oxfordshire Cricket Association League, would ultimately bring me Lord’s to receive a national award from one of my umpiring heroes,” said Golding.

“At the Berkshire Cricket Officials Association, we are continuing our mission to grow the number and quality of umpires and scorers. This winter we are running a big recruitment campaign under the banner ‘Stop complaining – get some training!’ and I would encourage anyone involved in cricket to sign up for one of our courses to improve the quality of their match day experience at whatever level they are involved in cricket.”

Golding is pictured receiving his award from the ICC's Elite Panel Umpire of the Year Richard Kettleborough.