Cricketers’ Trust President David Graveney has stepped down from his role with the players’ charity after a 50-year affiliation with the Trust and the PCA.
Playing a key role in the early days of the PCA, becoming Gloucestershire rep in 1974 and enjoying a playing career that lasted 22 years, amassing 9,370 runs and taking 1,268 wickets, it’s off the pitch that Graveney made his biggest impact, ensuring the welfare of his fellow professionals was catered for through the creation of the Cricketers’ Trust.
Helping to set up the PCA Benevolent Fund in 2000 (later becoming the Cricketers’ Trust), Graveney had lobbied for years to help support professional cricketers as the PCA’s Chief Executive in the late 1990s.
Graveney became Chairman of Selectors for the ECB between 1997 and 2008, earning an OBE in 2005 for services to cricket, whilst maintaining his important work with the Cricketers’ Trust.
Fondly knows as ‘Grav’, the 72-year-old has overseen millions of pounds worth of fundraising for the Trust as President, helping an incredible number of professional cricketers and their immediate families that fall upon hard times.
Speaking at the PCA Christmas in the Long Room at Lord’s, Graveney spoke of his pride in the support the players’ charity has been able to offer professional cricketers past and present:
“It’s been a privilege to have been involved. I would say that in all aspects of my cricket, being a player, working with the England team, I’ve been so lucky to be around it for so long, but the Trust is the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done in life, because there is evidence of you helping people.
“Setting up the Cricketers’ Trust was such an important feature and has been followed by other sports in the country. I know the Trust is doing really well and the game appreciates the work that it has done.
“To help people in need is the best thing you can do, unfortunately in sport people find it hard to adjust once their playing days are finished.
“Daryl Mitchell is doing a fantastic job with the PCA, David Ford with the Trust and the Trustees and I felt it was the right time to step down.
“Looking back, we changed the landscape, I’m proud of the work we’ve done as the charity, it’s there to help players and their families cope with things that are thrown at them and we played our part.
“There are a whole catalogue of people that are thankful for the help they’ve received from the Trust. Visiting Jamie Hood is the most uplifting experience you can ever have. He joined Yorkshire the same time as Michael Vaughan and Jamie was left paralysed from the neck down after a car crash and we’ve been supporting him ever since. To see his optimism for life is a lesson for everyone. I’ll always speak to him as long as we’re both around, I will still continue to help.
“The Trust is in fantastic hands for the future, there are a lot of sad stories that happen around professional cricket and when your dreams fail you have to be there for people and the Trust always will be.”
Graveney is taking over the Presidency of Gloucestershire from his good friend David ‘Syd’ Lawrence and wants to continue the good work of his dear friend.
Cricketers’ Trust Chair, David Ford, said: “Since my appointment as Chair of the Cricketers’ Trust in 1997, ‘Grav’ has been a tremendous support. His care and concern for current and former players is well known. He played a particularly important liaison role in the merger of the Cricketers’ Charity into the (then) PCA Benevolent Fund which established the largest charity exclusively dedicated to the needs of current and former players who had fallen on hard times. I’d like to thank ‘Grav’ for his help and support and for his dedication to the players of the game that he loves, and to which the name Graveney is rightfully respected. I wish him and his family all the very best for the future.”
Cricketers’ Trust Trustee and PCA Managing Director, Ian Thomas, said: “Many PCA members and the game of cricket are extremely grateful for the influence and support David has provided through his role at the Cricketers’ Trust. ‘Grav’ has been a true carer for PCA members over the years and has represented the charity at any given opportunity. After the best part of over 30 years of serving the Cricketers’ Trust, I would like to thank ‘Grav’ on behalf of all members for his unwavering care and passion.”
