Umpires and scorers in the spotlight

The contributions of umpires and scorers across Shropshire in 2026 were recognised at the Shropshire Association of Cricket Officials (SACO) awards night.

St Georges Sports and Social Club hosted the event with former Worcestershire skipper and current Shropshire Cricket Board Director Joe Leach the guest speaker.

Secretary Andy Johnson said: “The evening is a thank you and a recognition for what umpires and scorers give to cricket in Shropshire.

“Without scorers and umpires there wouldn’t be a game – something I don’t think is always appreciated.

“It was a hot summer that meant added complications – and we provided officials for more than 2,000 games across all formats.”

The Young Officials awards recognised five youngsters who have come through Cricket Shropshire’s Young Ambassadors programme and taken on scoring and umpiring and scoring roles at their clubs and shown a willingness to progress their skills further.

Chair Ray Collins said: “Well done to all the winners. It is really good to see that year on year the gradings for umpires is getting better.

“We are all working really hard to push ourselves forward and improve.”

Cricket Shropshire Lead Officer Steve Reese said: “The progress made in Shropshire with our officials’ association is credit to endless hours of dedication and commitment from the committee.

“They have provided hours of support selflessly in the interests of the greater good of the game.

“It is so exciting to see that all areas of officiating being recognised, which in recent years wasn’t the case.

“All credit to the SACO Committee for the drive giving equal standing whether you are working your way through the pathway or just starting off as a young official or a club legend who does it for the love of their club.

“It is another statement to the harnessing of the game, where Shropshire continues to look at cricket in the county as ‘One Game’.”

There will be a number of umpiring and scoring courses available organised by SACO and Cricket Shropshire ahead of the new season – the details will be available on the Board website.

If anyone is interested in getting involved in umpiring or scoring they can contact Andy via [email protected]

Winners

Young Officials: Pheobe Preston, Nilly Patel, Declan Taylor, Mia McGivern, Rosie Hasulm.

Club Scorer: Tim Clare (Allscott CC).

Most Improved Scorer: Joe Barton (Madeley CC).

Most Supportive Colleague: Maggie Boydon (Shropshire Seniors, O60s & O70s).

Craig Simms Trophy: David Morris (Wellington CC).

Special Award: Claire Ecclestone.

Outstanding Contribution to Umpiring: Ian Humphries (Bomere Heath CC).

Outstanding Contribution to Scoring: James Bellamy (Bomere Heath CC).

Club Umpire of the Year: Satch Norton (Bishop’s Castle CC).

The final three categories recognised the contributions of panel umpires in the Shropshire County Cricket League and were based on the marks given by captains after each game.

New Umpire: Neil Bushnell.

Most Improved Umpire: John Gough.

Umpire of the Year: 1st Andy Johnson, 2nd Paul Evans, 3rd Tim Barber.