jack bannister

PCA president
outgoing president
david lloyd, all in
in blue for cricket
united day 2015
ndrew Flintoff
was elected
at the PCA’s
annual
general
meeting, held
at Edgbaston
Golf Club in
Birmingham, and succeeds
his fellow Lancastrian
David Lloyd in becoming
only the seventh President in the
Association’s history.
His presidency will include the PCA’s 50th
anniversary celebrations next year which will
include a number of high profile events.
“This is a huge honour, especially as it will
be the Golden Jubilee of the PCA in 2017,”
Flintoff said.
“I have been a PCA member for more than
20 years now and it is an organisation that I am
proud to be involved in.
“The Association has carried out pioneering
work on mental health and wellbeing for past
and present players through the Mind Matters
series and the PCA Benevolent Fund does
outstanding work in looking after players, past
and current, and their dependants who fall on
hard times.
“We have a small but dedicated team of
professional staff who I look forward to working
closely with during my time as President.”
Jason Ratcliffe, PCA Assistant Chief
Executive, said: “Fred has always offered his
help freely down the years, so it’s fantastic that
he will take up this prestigious honorary role.
He has transcended cricket since finishing, and
as the last terrestrial cricketing hero, he has
earned respect and universal popularity. We’re
all looking forward to having him on-board
especially over our 50th anniversary”
Flintoff joins a very exclusive club as only
John Arlott, Jack Bannister, Mike Gatting,
Sir Ian Botham, Chris Broad and Lloyd have
previously held the PCA’s highest office.
Arlott served as President for the first 23 years
of the PCA’s existence but the term of office for
the Presidency is now two years.
Flintoff has already become one of the
PCA’s Mental Health Ambassadors, continuing
his commitment to raising awareness of
mental health in sport which began in a 2009
documentary ‘Freddie and Depression’.
The PCA used aspects of the programme, in
the formation of its own core, online mental
health awareness programme, ‘Mind Matters’
and in 2012 Flintoff addressed the PCA’s third
annual Rookie camp.
“This subject isn’t a new subject for me, and
“I’m
delighted to
hand over the
reins to Freddie
who I know will be
as thrilled as I
was to become
pca President”
DAVID LLOYD
again, I’m delighted
to offer my support
to the PCA’s push to
help educate and raise
awareness in this area,”
Flintoff said.
“I feel they are really
leading the way on this
subject, probably since
Marcus Trescothick opened
to his difficulties in 2006.
I want to help carry on this
momentum and ensure that we help as
many people as possible,”
Flintoff, 38, played 79 Tests, 141 One Day
Internationals and seven T20 Internationals
between 1998 and 2009, playing in two Asheswinning
series in 2005 and 2009.
He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2005
and ICC Player of the year in 2006, and BBC
Sports Personality of The year in 2005.
Since retiring from playing, Flintoff’s
broadcasting career has taken off both in the
UK and Australia. Working as a television
commentator and presenter on Channel Ten in
Australia for The Big Bash and The Project.
Now in its eleventh series Freddie is captain
of the BAFTA winning ‘A League Of Their Own’
along with authoring and presenting numerous
documentaries for Sky One and BBC.
30 BtB issue 18 / thepca.co.uk