UMPIRES & SCORERS DONATION TO CL INCLUSION FUND (2025)

We are delighted to announce that the Leinster Umpires & Scorers Association (LCU&SA) has generously donated €1,500 to the CL Inclusion Fund.

As most people will know, the CL Inclusion Fund was announced last year by the CL Board in memory of our friend and colleague, Paul Reynolds who tragically passed in late 2023. The CL Inclusion Fund is intended to honour and promote the ethos & values which Paul embodied in his capacity as a lead volunteer within cricket in Leinster and beyond.

In that context, all monies raised will be used to support projects which enhance inclusion at club level with a major focus on ethnicity, gender and mixed ability initiatives.

Some high-level examples of such initiatives could include

- establishing table and/or walking cricket at your club including equipment, training etc.

- establishing and/or sustaining female cricket at your club including coaching support, equipment etc.

- addressing rudimentary facilities challenges at your club including portaloos, mobile changing rooms, improved shelter, water containers etc.

- supporting clubs which sign up for the CL mentoring programme focused on good governance, accelerated development and championing the club in collaboration with the relevant CL Development Officer, CL staff and Committees as appropriate.

- supporting your club in the development & roll-out of practical and tangible inclusion initiatives which recognise/celebrate diversity.

In presenting the donation, Derek Dockrell, President LCU&SA commented as follows: "Paul Reynolds was a great contributor to his club, to Cricket Leinster and to the Leinster Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. As well as being an international umpire, Paul was very active and generous giving his time to the cricket community. He was always willing to share his knowledge and experience with his fellow umpires and we all remember the manner in which he constantly challenged our knowledge with his questions and video clips.

Therefore we in the LCU&SA, are delighted to be making this donation in Paul’s memory to the Cricket Leinster Club Inclusion Fund and through it, supporting Cricket Leinster and the clubs. It is a very worthy cause and we encourage others in the cricket community to support the fund."

Any excess proceeds from the Bollywood Night (scheduled for Friday next, 4th April in Krystle NightClub) will also be channeled to the Inclusion Fund.

The CL Board will then determine how best to open the fund for club-based applications - further details on this will be communicated to all clubs after Easter.

In accepting the donation, Brian Kelleher (CL President Elect) commented as follows: "Our thanks to Derek Dockrell (LCU&SA President) and all the members of the LCU&SA for this generous donation which will be used to support inclusion projects at club level."