The Cricketers’ Trust would like to thank everyone who has supported ‘What Cricket Means To Me’, the fundraising book produced by Gill Smith and Neil Brinsdon, which has now raised more than £5,000 for the Trust.
Launched at the Kia Oval in April, the book has received tremendous support from the cricket community and beyond. Copies have been sold across the UK and internationally, helping the project reach this fantastic fundraising milestone in just a few months.
Featuring the stories of almost 100 people from across the cricketing world, ‘What Cricket Means To Me’ celebrates the friendships, community and lifelong impact of the game.
Contributors include some of cricket’s best-known names such as Jonathan Agnew, David Gower, Charlotte Edwards and Amy Jones, alongside grassroots players, volunteers, umpires, scorers and supporters, all sharing what cricket means to them.
The Trust would also like to thank NFU Mutual Vale of York, whose generous sponsorship of the printing costs has ensured that every penny raised from book sales can go directly towards supporting current and former professional cricketers through financial assistance, wellbeing and mental health support, education and crisis care.
This is a wonderful achievement, but the fundraising continues throughout the season, and we look forward to seeing the total grow even further in the months ahead.
Thank you to Gill, Neil and everyone who has purchased a copy and helped make such a positive difference.
Former England women’s international and author, Gill Smith, said: “Cricket was a huge part of my life and I was incredibly fortunate to enjoy such a wonderful career. Being able to undertake this project and give something back to the game has been a real privilege.
“Neil and I were very fortunate to meet some amazing people while putting the book together, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who has bought a copy and supported the Cricketers’ Trust. The response has been fantastic and reaching £5,000 so quickly is beyond anything we expected.”
You can purchase the book by clicking here. Or find out more on Instagram @whatcricketmeanstome
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Gill Smith first picked up a bat on the beach at Sandsend, near Whitby, in 1975, playing cricket with her father and the family dog, Cindy. Ten years later she was representing Yorkshire Women in the County Championships before moving on to spend six seasons with Middlesex Women.
In 1986 she achieved a lifelong dream when she was selected for the England Women’s Cricket Team, making her debut in both Test and One Day International cricket against India Women’s National Cricket Team.
Her left-arm medium-pace bowling took her around the world for seven years. She played in two Women’s Cricket World Cup finals, including the unforgettable 1993 victory at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
She still holds the record for the best One Day International bowling average in women’s cricket — though she modestly notes that “the game has changed a bit since then.”
Cricket gave Gill far more than achievements on the field. It gave her lifelong friendships, unforgettable experiences and what she describes as a “second family”.
Neil Brinsdon began pursuing photography in 2014 after a successful career in financial services.
A keen sportsman at school, he captained his school cricket team before his love of football led him into grassroots coaching.
His interest in cricket continued through memorable moments such as a visit to Trent Bridge during the famous 1981 Ashes series.
In 2021 he published his first book, Beyond the Mask, Through the Lens, a photographic reflection on the impact of COVID-19 through the stories of people in his community.
Several collaborations followed, including What Football Means To Me in 2023.
His work combines portrait photography with storytelling, capturing the experiences of remarkable people through both images and words.
