Get Set Weekend, powered by Toyota signals more than the readying of facilities before the recreational cricket season begins; it’s also a moment when clubs across England and Wales gather their communities, reset and prepare themselves for the months ahead.
At St Albans Cricket Club – the host of a showcase event – Get Set Weekend offered a uniquely clear picture of what community cricket relies upon: a diverse, committed and generous group of volunteers.
The pathway into volunteering
At St Albans Cricket Club, most volunteer journeys begin quietly, often by chance.
For some like Ben Adshead, now Head of St Albans Youth, it begins with familiarity. Having joined the club at eight, he’s been part of it for sixteen years. “It’s my second home. I’ve grown up here.” His move into coaching and committee work came after a positive 2022 season. “We’d had promotions, everyone felt connected, and when some junior roles opened up, I thought, ‘Why not?’ It grew from there into something I love.”
Others find their way in through new beginnings. India Newman, the club’s Women’s and Girls’ Cricket Coordinator, moved to St Albans in 2022 and saw cricket as a good way to build local connections. “I hadn’t played in ten years,” she says, “but I thought joining would help me make friends.”
While India’s journey started as a player, she soon became a leader too and has since led three seasons as first team captain and is now responsible for the club’s development plan for women and girls. “Cricket is all encompassing now — in the best possible way.”
Some step in because someone has to. When the club warned parents that All Stars wouldn’t run without a volunteer, Kate Ball put her hand up. “My daughter was on the list, so I thought: well, I want her to have this opportunity. I’ll do it.” She now coordinates sessions for 80 5 – 8 year-olds every Friday. “The first year was chaos,” she laughs. “But wonderful chaos.”
And for Molly Green — a coach and content creator — cricket arrived at a time when she needed it most. “I was homeless at eighteen,” she shares. “Cricket gave me stability and a supportive community.” Today, she coaches under‑11s and under‑15s and creates digital content celebrating the women’s game.
Building belonging and community
Once people start volunteering, most find little reason to stop — and much of that comes down to the club’s atmosphere. Many describe Friday evenings as St Albans’ social anchor: hundreds of juniors in training, parents gathered along the boundary, the bar busy and conversations flowing.
Nicola Palin, who volunteers as a scorer, first came along to support her cricket-mad son, Eddie and felt the pull immediately. “Friday nights are just lovely,” she says. “Kids everywhere, people chatting, the bar open. You feel part of something immediately.” Nicola got into scoring to offer additional support to Eddie and his team. She says it was a hands-on experience.
“Another parent sat next to me and taught me. Cricket looks slow from afar, but when you’re scoring you can’t lose concentration. I love it.”
Ian McKinley, St Albans Junior Lead reflects on just how powerful participation can be in building a thriving community. “On a warm Friday night, with maybe 150 kids across the park, you can literally feel the heartbeat of the club,” he says. “That’s what community cricket looks like.”
Looking to the future
One of St Albans CC’s defining strengths is its ability to grow new parts of the club — not through large-scale programmes, but through volunteers spotting a need and filling it.
Andy Knill Jones, the club’s Head of Safeguarding, has played a leading part in this.
“15 years ago, we didn’t have girls’ teams,” he says. “So we set one up. Then we helped create the Hertfordshire Junior Girls Cricket League. There were just a handful of clubs then; now there are dozens.”
The ambition is to keep developing the pathway – both at the club and beyond. “Girls go from under 9s to under 15s and then face a huge leap into women’s cricket”, says India, “especially in terms of moving from softball to hardball. Our focus is building stepping stones, so the transition is supportive and confidence building.”
And for Kate there’s no ceiling to what the club can achieve. “We’re looking at how to make All Stars more inclusive — especially for children with additional needs. The aim is to support them without separating them.”
Why volunteers matter
Delivering growth relies on volunteers investing their time and energy into the game.
As Junior Lead, Ian McKinlay oversees everything from coaching structures to safeguarding ratios, fixtures and communications. “Last year we ran 17 junior teams,” he explains. “This year it’s 15. On a Friday night, you might have 200 kids on site. Every team needs a scorer, a match manager, DBS checked adults. It’s a huge operation.”
“It’s all about making sure things join up,” says Ben, “…fixtures, communications, volunteers.”
That sense of connection isn’t just administrative; it’s also cultural. Dan Baylis, St Albans Men’s XI Captain, reflects on how many people contribute to a player’s development, and why it matters that senior players stay involved. “It takes so many people to get a child from All Stars to adult cricket. I had older players support me when I was younger; now I want to support the next generation.”
And whether it’s safeguarding or groundskeeping, there’s always plenty of essential work going on behind the scenes. Phil Caley, St Albans Groundskeeper, has spent more than three decades caring for the square and outfield. “The outfield takes four hours to roll,” he says matter of factly. “People don’t realise. Winter is reseeding, topsoiling, treating the square. There’s always something to do.” He smiles as he adds, “But it’s better than sitting at home all day.”
A club sustained by its people
What stands out from the stories at St Albans CC is not a single role or programme, but the collective effect of many people giving what they can. Volunteers arrive with different experiences and motivations, yet their contributions connect to form something coherent and lasting.
In the end, the club’s strength isn’t defined by matchday results or bowling figures, but ultimately by the people who choose – consistently and quietly – to make cricket happen.