The Cricket Foundation

Simon Dyson arrived as a volunteer on the Appeal Committee of Chance to shine in 2005 having retired after spending 37 enjoyable years grinding the corporate wheel at IBM.

Apart from times spent working abroad in the United States, he managed to play cricket every summer weekend between the ages of seven and fifty.  Escaping from Reedham School into Dulwich College aged 11, he satisfied entry criteria when explaining to The Master that cricket and the Goon show were his two major pre-occupations.  ‘The state paid for my education at Dulwich - and presumably also for my cricket kit!’  After school, Simon played cricket for Old Alleynians, Incogniti, Wimbledon,  Bowdon, and Cheshire CCC, as well as touring Bangladesh, East Africa, and Australia with M.C.C.

My life has been shaped by cricket.  I absolutely believe in its civilising effect.  It is a consummate team game where collective and individual responsibilities are clearly defined.  Working for Chance to shine is simply the best way I know of repaying my debt to cricket and the life-opportunities it opened up.’

Simon became Executive Chairman of Chance to shine in January 2007.

Nick Gandon arrived as Director of the Cricket Foundation in September 2003 following a career in education. During a period of over twenty years within independent schools, he taught English and Drama, coached cricket and hockey, directed plays and much else besides. He joined the Cricket Foundation after a mid-life moment. 'Part of me had always wondered whether I might one day merge my passion for cricket within professional life', he confesses.

Cricket has been a constant in his life ever since he first picked up a cricket bat in the back garden as a small child. An opening / top-order batsman and occasional purveyor of 'flighted filth', his cricketing experience includes representing Durham and Oxford Universities and playing Minor County cricket with Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire CCCs.

Despite being comfortably past his sell-by-date, he continues to turn out on a Saturday for Hoddesdon CC in the Hertfordshire League. 'In my previous life as a schoolteacher my professional concerns lay most obviously with the 7% benefiting from private education. My overriding concern now is for the 93% that don't.

The Chance to shine campaign, bringing cricket back to state schools, will help effect cultural change in Government schools and ensure that the untold benefits of cricket - and competitive sport in general - are shared with hundreds of thousands of young people throughout the country.'

Our Operations Director was a stylish left-handed opening batsman who made his First Class debut for Warwickshire in 1995 - the year of their second successive county championship. Wasim Khan earned his medal with 740 runs @ 46.25 and a highest score of 181. He moved from Warwickshire to Sussex in 1998 and spent three seasons at Hove before a brief spell at Derbyshire in 2001.

Wasim's First Class record is more than respectable - nearly 3,000 runs @ 30.15. After retiring early from First Class cricket, he helped to promote the game in schools in Birmingham. Later he moved successfully into national cricket administration, becoming Community Development Manager at the Professional Cricketers' Association before bringing his considerable experience and expertise to Chance to shine.

Frank joined the Cricket Foundation as Commercial Director in February, 2006. Before that, he'd been in charge of PR and marketing at the Lord's Taverners for two years.

Frank is a Masters graduate of sports science and a Level 3 cricket coach, thus bringing sports expertise as well as considerable commercial experience to the Chance to shine team.

Our Regional manager for the South West, West Midlands and Wales comes to the Cricket Foundation from a four year stint as cricket development officer in Devon. Before that, Stuart was with Gloucestershire CCC as a youth and schools coach. He has also worked extensively in schools and clubs in Somerset & Wiltshire. He brings to the role significant experience of establishing club and school partnerships, a comprehensive understanding of cricket development and a detailed knowledge of the area.

On the cricket field Stuart was a slow left armer of teenage promise who attracted interest from Somerset. However, a case of the yips brought a halt to his career. Fallow years followed until growing maturity allowed him to showcase his talents with Bath CC and Sandford CC in Devon. He retains a deep passion for the game.

L brings a wealth of experience to the role of Regional manager of the North and east, having played and coached at the highest level. He made his debut for Yorkshire in 1975 and, during 15 years with the county, scored more than 10,000 runs @ 31 with a top score of 170 not out. A highlight was winning the gold award in the 1987 B & H final. He also played for England in three one-day internationals in 1981.

In 1992, Jim became Director of Cricket for Scotland and in the following ten years, oversaw a complete transformation of Scottish cricket; he led Scotland to the 1999 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Jim was a publican for three years before accepting his new role with Chance to shine

Tim moved back to the Midlands in November 2006 to take up his role of Midlands Regional Development Manager.  Before moving back to the Midlands he worked as Cornwall’s Cricket Development Manager for the last four and a half years and before that a Community Sports Development Officer for Nottingham City Council.

Tim played representative colts cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and played club cricket for Southwell C C in the Notts Premier League before moving down to Cornwall where he won the Cornish Premier League with Newquay CC. He now plays for Warwick in the Warwickshire League.

After eight years experience within sports development Tim has a great understanding and knowledge of cricket development and what is required to sustain cricket within state schools.

Martin has been the Fundraising Consultant to the Cricket Foundation since 2001. Before that, he was involved in fundraising for various causes including spinal cord injury, mental health and historic aircraft. He's also been a documentary film-maker and spent some time marketing Scotch whisky.

He played cricket from the age of six in England and Sri Lanka and was vice-captain on leaving school at eighteen to join the Royal Marines. As a commando soldier and naval aviator, he played cricket at regimental level and for the Army versus the Navy in the Mediterranean.

Manori has been Finance & Admin. Manager with Chance to shine since March, 2007. A Chartered Accountant, ACA  with post qualifying experience in not for profit and audit sectors over 7 years, Manori trained with Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Manori has a BSc (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) and MBA in Business Administration from London Metropolitan University.

Jay volunteered to work for Chance to shine in December, 2006 following 23 years in The Civil Service in the Regional Office of Employment Service and Department of Education and Skill.

Our Admin. Assistant, Jay is responsible forkeeping everything running smoothly.