Energy Check Game Changer of the Month - Winton Cricket Club

Lancashire Cricket is delighted to announce that the winner of The Energy Check Game Changer of the Month Award for April is Mike Shepherd from Winton Cricket Club.

The monthly initiative aims to recognise and reward the outstanding contributions made by individuals working in cricket across Lancashire every month, with a Game Changer of the Year to be named at Lancashire Cricket’s annual End of Season Awards.

Mike has been a dedicated and loyal supporter of Lancashire Cricket and his local cricket club, Winton CC for many years.

Both Mike and his late wife, Sandra, became closely involved with Lancashire Cricket over 20 years ago, volunteering on match days at Emirates Old Trafford and selling hundreds of tickets for the Club’s Souvenir Draws.

Together, they helped to bring Winton onboard with the Lancashire Line Weekly Draw and Mike has consistently shown a high level of commitment and dedication over the years, bringing new members on board, and collecting door-to-door subscriptions, on foot throughout the year.  

Mike has collected over £30,000 which has provided Winton CC with much needed funds. This has helped the Club with several vital purchases including a new mower, security fencing, electronic scoreboard, and the most recent donation of £4,500 went towards a three-lane practice net.

On behalf of The Energy Check, Mike was presented with a check for £150 to purchase something which will assist Winton CC with the Club’s day-to-day running.

Mike was also presented with a trophy to mark his achievement from Lancashire Cricket bowler Tom Bailey and a complimentary stay at Emirates Old Trafford’s on-site Hilton Garden Inn for a domestic matchday.

Upon receiving the Game Changer of the Month Award, Mike Shepherd said: “I’m gobsmacked to receive this prize from Lancashire Cricket and The Energy Check. I feel as though what I do here at Winton CC is just a minor part of what goes on around the Club.

“I thought it was a joke when I found out that I had been nominated, but to actually win the award I am really, really chuffed.”

Mike received his nomination from Gary Porter, Lottery Manager at the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, who praised his contribution: “Mike has been working as a lottery collector for the Foundation, on behalf of Winton CC, for the last 20 years.

“He goes out on foot every other Thursday night and collects money from the local housing estate. The earnings Mike collects go a long, long way to the day-to-day running of his cricket club. Mike is a first-class guy, and I can’t say enough about him.”

The Game Changer recognition programme affirms The Energy Check’s involvement and commitment to recreational and grassroots cricket in the North West, with Lancashire players awarding winners at their clubs.

Andrew Brewer, Corporate Partnership Manager for The Energy Check commented: “The Game Changer of the Month programme came about as a concept to engage with the community of grassroots cricket in Lancashire and to reward volunteers whose work helps to keep their Club going.

“Especially in the current climate, it is guys like Mike and the amazing work he is doing which is keeping these Club’s afloat and allowing them to continue to serve their local communities.

“We are delighted to be on board with Lancashire Cricket and to be able to go out into these communities together and reward some of the incredible, and often unsung, work being done.”

Lancashire Cricket bowler Tom Bailey added: “Mike has made a huge impact over a number of years at Winton CC, and it is great to come down here today and recognise him for his efforts. 

“I know from my own experiences within recreational cricket just how valuable the work done by volunteers like Mike can be, clubs cannot exist without it.

“Their hard work often goes unnoticed in the background, but it is really pleasing to see a scheme like the Game Changer of the Month which allows us to give them something back.”

To find out more about Lancashire Cricket Foundation’s weekly lotteries and how your club can benefit from the funds raised, please visit: https://www.lancashirecricket.co.uk/lotteries/