Remembering Tom Maynard – 10 years on

On Saturday 18 June the cricketing community will come together to remember Tom Maynard and the impact of the charity set up in his name, 10 years on from his tragic death.

Tom died on 18 June 2012. Within months of Tom’s death The Tom Maynard Trust was set up, initially to help the development of aspiring disadvantaged cricketers and other athletes who require support with the different aspects of their career development, including bursaries, training, education, financial support and kit.

The former Glamorgan, Surrey and England Lions player was considered one of the most gifted youngsters on the county circuit and had a bright future to look forward to in the game of cricket. Sadly his promising talent was cut short at the tender age of just 23.

The TMT has since gone on to support the educational needs of young sportspeople, initially through the PCA, and help create a long lasting legacy for Tom.

Tom’s father and Glamorgan Head Coach, Matt Maynard, is immensely proud of the work the Tom Maynard Trust has done over the last 10 years, he said: “Our initial target was to raise a quarter of a million pounds and I think by the end of fundraising we’ll be three times that so it’s been beyond our wildest dreams. We’re delighted with the success the charity has had this past decade.”

The Tom Maynard Trust has supported the PCA’s Rookie Camps, part of the Personal Development and Welfare Programme, since 2013. Matt said, “I’m very proud of the work we’ve done with the PCA. Everyone learnt a lot of lessons from Tom’s death and supporting the Rookie Camps has been very well received by young players and hopefully given them an insight into the potential dangers and pitfalls of professional sport. Knowing that we’re educating youngsters, to ensure that what happened to Tom doesn’t happen again, gives the family a lot of satisfaction in Tom’s name.”

Following Tom’s death in 2012 the Professional Cricketers’ Trust supported the Maynard family with counselling. Speaking to the Trust in 2017 Matt encouraged others to use the players’ charity if they need help.

“You need to talk, you need that avenue of communication and that channel is very helpful. Speaking to a counsellor about Tom really helps. And it continues to be very beneficial. I still have dark days but I know that I can always pick up the phone and speak to someone if I need to,” Matt said.

Director of the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, Ian Thomas, is proud of the joint work the two trusts have undertaken. He said: “It was obviously vital that we supported Matt and his family after Tom’s tragic death but to then develop a relationship where we could help each other with fundraising through the ‘Big Bike Rides’ and ‘Three Peaks Challenge’ really is a fantastic way to be able to give Tom the proper legacy he deserves.”

Maynard recently opened ‘Tom’s Nets’ at Glamorgan’s home ground, Sophia Gardens, along with Tom’s mum Sue, sister Ceri and grandmother Pat. The Tom Maynard Trust funded the nets through Matt’s ‘Wellyman Walk’ last October, a 230 mile trek wearing wellington boots from Cardiff, where Tom was born, to Colwyn Bay, where he made his Glamorgan debut.

The walk raised £30,000 and Matt believes it’s a perfect way of remembering his son, “My wife suggested it because that’s where Tom used to play, so to have a four lane net area for the kids to use and for us to remember Tom by makes me very proud,” he said.

Matt admitted he’ll miss the charity once they finish fundraising this year, “The charity has kept us motivated to do good work, so it is a little bit sad to be finishing but we’ve been fantastically supported and now is the right time to concentrate our efforts on something else,” he said.

To find out more on The Tom Maynard Trust visit https://www.tommaynardtrust.com/