ANDY Gloak has stepped down as captain after the most successful period in Grayswood Cricket Club’s history.

The club’s AGM was notable both for the change of captaincy and the introduction of two new awards to acknowledge outstanding performances.

The first, the Ben Williams Memorial Trophy for the Rising Star of the Year, was presented to Callum Kent, the club’s young wicketkeeper/ batsman.

Ben Williams, a talented keeper himself, died tragically aged 14 in 2006 of a heart muscle disorder.

The club has supported the Ben Williams Trust, dedicated to help both young children with arrhythmia, and youth cricket, and has teamed up with the trust to preserve the memory of Ben with this new trophy.

Ben’s parents, Phil and Gilly, presented the award and spoke movingly of their son’s great love of the game and of the cricket club.

A second trophy, for Most Valuable Player, was presented to Alastair Gloak for his outstanding performances with both bat and ball throughout the summer.

In 2016, he will be taking over as club captain from elder brother Andy.

Last season was Andy Gloak’s tenth year as captain and he was presented with a plaque and tankard by his team-mates to acknowledge the club’s great achievements in that time, including winning the I’Anson Division One title twice and being runners-up three times, including last season.

Grayswood CC chairman Malcolm Gloak said how happy he was to mark Ben Williams’ memory with such a trophy.

He also expressed the hope that his youngest son might be half as good a club captain as his brother. No pressure then ...