GRAYSHOTT Cricket Club chairman Paul Roberts has been shortlisted for the ‘Unsung Hero of the Year’ award at this year’s Institute of Groundsmanship Industry Awards.

The winners will be announced at the National Conference Centre, within the National Motorcycle Museum, on Wednesday, November 2.

Mr Roberts (pictured), who spends many hours preparing and maintaining the pitches, has been club chairman for the last 11 years.

Grayshott CC now boasts 200 junior members and 35 adult members, and Mr Roberts runs the clubhouse bar on every other weekend.

He also umpires and represents the club at various meetings and somehow manages to find time to go to work.

Paul took over the care of the village cricket ground six years ago and, after attending a few cricket-related ground preparation courses, set about improving the square, outfield and surrounding area.

The ground is now well-known as being of a high standard and more than 80 games have been played on it during the past two years.

He undertakes all the pitch maintenance routines including cutting, rolling, marking and watering, as well as providing treatments of fertilisers and iron.

He also manages the end-of-season renovations and looks after two artificial strips, all the while keeping a tight rein on the purse strings.

This year, he has also overseen work at the club’s second ground at Broxhead Common in Lindford.

A club spokesman said: “Paul spends endless hours, ensuring cricketers get a decent game of cricket and without such work there is no game of cricket.

“His nomination is thoroughly deserved and we wish Paul good luck on November 2.”