Cricket heroes are the stars of the OSCAs

Club vice-chairman Keith Cooke and ex-president Jamie Fleet were both honoured at the annual ceremony, which is held to recognise outstanding contributions to cricket in the county.

Cooke, who also works as a scorer, groundsman and umpire, was presented with the Get the Game On Award.

Fleet received the Lifetime Achiever Award at the same event to honour around 40 years of service to the club.

The event was held at their Chase Park home ground and they will now both go forward to the National OSCAs which take place at Lord's on October 12.

Club treasurer and chairman of youth Anthony Wood said: "Keith is one of those essential people that all clubs need.

"He is there every week working on the pitches throughout the week. He has several pitches to prepare on a Saturday and Sunday, and on top of that he umpires as well.

"Without him, we wouldn't be able to play in the all the games we do and certainly not on such good quality pitches."

Cannock secretary Graham Machin added: "Jamie has been here for many years, He is a former chairman, he's put hours and hours into working on the ground.

"He's a former first team player and he is still playing at 60 years old for the thirds. We would be lost without him."

Fleet also coaches the club's juniors, is on the club's management committee and he was responsible for famously signing England batsman Kevin Pietersen as Cannock's overseas player in 2000.

Awards were handed out in 11 different categories at the OSCAs to recognise the vast number of people who dedicate their time and energy to the game in Staffordshire.

Aldridge's Neil Steadman scooped the award for Outstanding Coaching Achievement for his dedication to the club's thriving youth set up.

Steadman has built up the section from modest numbers to become a well-established, self-sustaining outfit catering for more than 100 youngsters aged four and upwards.

A Staffordshire cricket spokesperson said: "Neil's enthusiasm rubs off on those around him.

"Neil's passion for the sport and the club is also being passed through the family as his son Will is also now part of the volunteer workforce."

Church Eaton's lead coach Neil Groves won the Outstanding Contribution to Coaching Award. Groves has worked diligently to galvanise the junior section over the last decade.

He has also nurtured a huge number of players who have gone on to represent the club at adult and open age group cricket as well as at county level.

Wolverhampton's Springhill Cricket Club won the Natwest Cricket Force Award to thank members and supporters for their work to help prepare the club's new pavilion.

The actual building was funded by a variety of grants but it is estimated that club members, neighbours, supporters and local businesses have contributed more than £6,000 worth of services.

It comes in engineering, floor laying, fitting electrics, plumbing, painting and electrical certification to get it ready for its imminent opening.

Fordhouses' Stephen Mundy, 20, was named Young Volunteer of the Year for carrying out a multitude of tasks.

His work at the club includes junior coaching, preparing the wicket for the women's fixtures at the ground and running the newly-formed Under-19s team.

West Bromwich Dartmouth's Andy Cartwright was named the 2015 Groundsman of the Year.

Cartwright, a groundsman of more than 25 years, moved to Dartmouth four years ago from Beacon CC.

He is a member of the Institute of Groundsmen, the pitch adviser for the Staffordshire Cricket Club Championship and regularly provides advice to a range of clubs.

Colin Pearson won the Officiating Award in recognition for more than five decades of commitment.

Pearson has been officiating matches since 1959 and has stood as an umpire in Staffordshire for 48 years.

He has also stood in the National Club and Lord Taverners Under-15 finals for 20 years.

He's also been the North West Training Officer and a National Official since 1980, as well as chairman of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers from 1981–97.

He is the senior assessor for the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire Cricket League umpires and scorers as well as the Staffordshire Association of Cricket Officials County Performance and Development Officer.

West Midlands Youth Cricket League boss John Whistance won the league's award for his 33-year spell as secretary.

Whistance, who remains in the role to this day, has implemented several proactive changes to the format in the last two years to help sustain and improve it.

Sam Jones from Audley Cricket Club in Staffordshire scooped the Heartbeat of the Club Award, while David Hunt and Richard Rathbone were presented with awards for services to the English Schools Cricket Association.

Sam, Cooke, Whistance, Springhill staff, Pearson, Mundy and Fleet will now travel to Lord's in October to represent Staffordshire at the National NatWest OSCAs.

Cartwright will progress to the National Institute of Groundsmanship Awards and Steadman and Groves to the regional Sky Coaching Awards next year.