Umpires bowled over by Saffery Champness’ support

The Guernsey Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (GACUS) has received backing from local accountancy firm Saffery Champness for the next three years.

GACUS provides umpires for Guernsey’s evening league games, which start on the 8 May, and officials will be wearing new coloured kit so that games can be played with white and pink balls thanks to Saffery Champness’ sponsorship.

Due to the Guernsey Cricket Board’s association with Sussex County Cricket Club opportunities now exist for GACUS to officiate for the Sussex Premier League and, with the return of the Channel Island Cricket League, they will also oversee games in Jersey again.

All the umpires and scorers in the association volunteer their time and rely on sponsorship to help fund training and development and travel costs, in addition to their new kit.

Saffery Champness partner, Jeremy Ellis, said: “We are pleased to be able to support local cricket and the voluntary work of the umpires and scorers without whom these cricket matches would simply not take place.

“Saffery Champness is committed to supporting the local community and this is a great opportunity for us during our 40^th anniversary year in the island.”

Umpires and scorers from GACUS recently officiated at the series of Netherlands v Guernsey games which took place at the KGV at the end of April where they debuted their new kit.

GACUS secretary, Jeremy Sharratt, said: “Without the support of companies, such as Saffery Champness, GACUS would not be able to operate.

“Our team of 23 umpires and 8 scorers oversee a wealth of games throughout the season in Guernsey, Jersey and Sussex and we are grateful for the support from Saffery Champness so that we can continue to do this.”