During these challenging times for all, we want to help keep everyone associated with the club and wider community positive and engaged. We’re in this together and Together, We Are All Derbyshire.
Billy Godleman and a number of his teammates have begun calling Derbyshire Members to check they are keeping well at this challenging time.
The Make The Call initiative, which has spread across the cricket family, is a voluntary, player-led idea to reach out to cricket’s long-standing Membership.
The captain is joined by Wayne Madsen and a trio of young all-rounders; Matt Critchley, Fynn Hudson-Prentice and Anuj Dal in contacting over 150 of the club’s Members.
“We are 100 per cent keen to do what we can to help supporters and the local community,” said Godleman.
“The club worked with the ECB and other clubs to ensure all necessary safeguarding measures are in place, so when I suggested this idea it was great to see it was already being thought about across the game.
“In the first four calls I made, I spoke with Members with a combined supporting-period of over 100 years. It’s fantastic to see such great support and if we can’t see them at the cricket currently, it’s a pleasure to be able to speak to them over the phone.”
The 31-year-old has added charitable community work to his list of daily activities as he tries to give back to the county which he has called home since 2013.
“As a family, we’ve felt so welcome in Derbyshire ever since we moved here. It’s always a big decision to make such a move and we’ve had nothing but support and friendliness from the community,” Godleman told the ECB Reporter’s Network.
“In the past I’ve done quite a bit of work behind the scenes with the YMCA and other charities so me and my family decided we were going to help and support our local community and friends.
“We have been cooking food and distributing it but, by keeping ourselves isolated and healthy as much as possible, we hope we are supporting everyone in our own way by doing that.
“So a lot of my focus has been taken up with doing as much as I, and my family, can to keep ourselves and some of our local community as healthy as possible.
“Although I desperately miss playing cricket, it’s been overshadowed by all the great work the health sector is doing and all the challenges the world is facing at the moment so when you consider that, not playing a game of cricket in mid-April loses importance really.”
The skipper leads the way as #DCCC join the cricket family in making the call and keeping supporters talking ??
Get involved ➡️ https://t.co/reKFXScBa8 #WeAreAllDerbyshire pic.twitter.com/N6EwS0kx2x
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) April 14, 2020
Godleman would have led his side out for the first time this summer last Sunday, with Derbyshire taking on Leicestershire. Now with the season postponed until the end of May, he has been finding different ways to keep physically fit at home.
“There are five or six different sessions I can do each day,” added Godleman. “Other people will be looking to build their strength and they will get five or six options as well to keep physically fit in a way that’s not to repetitive or monotonous.
“There have been some funny reports from guys not just at our club but from around the county circuit who are doing an eclectic mix of exercises so people are getting quite imaginative within the guidelines.
“But other than playing with my young son at hallway cricket I haven’t picked up a bat too much. I’m doing a lot of running at the moment with a variation of sprints, middle distance and five to 10 km runs just so I’m hitting the different heart rates that will give me the best foundation for when we return to cricket.”
Been cool to catch up with a few of our @DerbyshireCCC members on the phone this week look forward to a few more next week #WeAreAllDerbyshire pic.twitter.com/gYEPBsWw6E
— Critch (@mattcritchley96) April 17, 2020
Get involved!
Our Members, supporters and stakeholders are vitally important to the club and we want to give back where we can – whether that be providing you with new and exclusive interviews, re-living the club’s greatest moments, or hearing about your favourite moments.
Join in on social media, tag friends and contact the club via the form below and we’ll aim to feature as many of the discussion points as possible.
If you would like to remain anonymous, please let us know in the body of the message.
Together, We Are All Derbyshire. Share memories, favourite moments and engage with fellow supporters. Get in touch on social media, at [email protected], or call 01332 388 101.
