NCF Chair – Duncan Vaughan (100 Days into role reflection)

One year and 100ish days on

“The only sport where a cup of tea is seen as a performance-enhancing drink” was a quote that made me smile this week.  Apt as I drink a cup and compose some thoughts now I am just over 100 days into my role as Chair of the Norfolk Cricket Foundation (NCF).

I joined the NCF as it reached its first-year anniversary following attainment of charitable status. My time since joining has been focused on listening to colleagues, trustees, players, administrators and supporters at local clubs, the county and nationally. The messages I hear loud and clear are that the women and girls’ game is at an exciting place:

1. We are growing participation locally and nationally. 
2. We have greater visibility of the sport thanks to the Women’s World Cup. We have greater inclusivity – I was lucky enough to attend days 1 and 3 of the first women’s test to be held at Lords – England v India. With this game being the 150th test at Lords and 142 years after the first men’s test, it was long overdue this happened.
3. There is now increased financial support for female professional cricketers, with those participating in The Hundred now some of the highest paid women athletes in sport. At the same time, there is recognition that there is still a long way to go to reach parity with the men’s game. When recently analysing the NCF accounts, I queried how the financial support to the Norfolk Women’s squad had changed, so was heartened to hear that this support had increased dramatically in only the past few years from a few thousand pounds to tens of thousands. 

Success can bring its own challenges though – increased participation means increased competition for ground space. It also means that volunteers are being stretched further, so I urge all those that are not active in giving back to their club to step up and help out – learn to score, umpire or coach, join a committee – help and support to do this is out there, although I know that we need to do more to support you in this. Last year I took up umpiring to be closer to the sport and to support the new women’s softball team and youth teams at Sandringham and Dersingham Cricket Club – umpiring really is the best seat in the house. To see players and teams grow in confidence and ability and to share their joy (and disappointments) is a wonderful experience – although a car ride home can be frosty if you give your son out LBW! (It was plumb – no debate….) Umpiring has meant I have been criss-crossing the county to far flung grounds and villages so have been able to speak to cricketers across the county – yesterday was the lovely intimate ground at Hockwold. 

We at NCF will do more to help you. The change from a cricket board to a foundation was intended to provide us that ability to explore increased fundraising opportunities.  Just last week we found out that we had secured a grant to employ an individual to grow our fundraising capability so that we can increase the scope of activities that we organise across the county. At a board level, we are now focusing more on what we want to do and how we want to do it, rather than what we have done.

We need to celebrate success in the county, of individuals, teams and clubs. I am already looking forward to the annual cricket collective awards later this year. Recent successes in the county:

• The fantastic work that each of our 94 affiliated cricket clubs and amazing leagues/stakeholders have achieved to get so much cricket played this summer despite the drought conditions (and early season rain) covering a vast range of ages/abilities and formats;
• Outstanding year of successful delivery of primary and secondary school cricket offerings across the county through Chance to Shine programmes (we worked with a 1/3 of all primary state schools in 2025/26) and Lord’s Taverners SEND School provision (where we worked in 20 different schools);
• Comprehensive school competition offer running across primary and secondary schools for state schools and independent schools. A personal highlight included Ingoldisthorpe Primary School who made it through to the East of England Regional softball finals. This year, they walked away winners, beating teams from neighbouring counties;
• The women’s game continues to grow from strength to strength with 36 clubs now running a women and or girls section;
• We continue to have 3 successful walking cricket hubs running across the county. The Great Yarmouth team recently traveled to Worcestershire CCC (New Road) to take part in the national walking cricket finals for the second consecutive year.
• We have an ever growing talent pathway programme providing opportunities for boys and girls to play representative cricket for the county and help develop talented cricketers and give them the best opportunity to go on and play for Norfolk senior men/women teams or professional counties. We have close links to Essex (Girls) and Northants (Boys). Across the Early Engagement Programme and County Age Group Teams we have over 300 players involved this year;
• The Iceni Maidens (the Norfolk LGBTQ+ team) also competed in their first tournament and also came away winners;

Each player and club will have trials and tribulations across the season. Make sure we support each other and celebrate wins, from a player’s first wicket, catch or four to a debut hundred, no matter what the format of this wonderful game we love.

I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Best wishes

Duncan Vaughan
Chair Norfolk Cricket Foundation

28/07/2026