The Southern Premier League has joined the ECB to pay tribute to former colleague Frank Kemp, who sadly passed away last weekend. A champion of recreational cricket, Frank held the position of Head of Operations for Non First-Class Cricket for a decade from ECB’s inception in 1997 through to 2007.
During this time he had numerous dealings with the SPL, past president Alan Bundy describing him as “one of the most sensible administrators I was privileged to work with.” The HCB’s Colin Savage added: “It’s an enormous loss. I knew Frank well and had a great respect for the very high quality of his work and ever-friendly personality.”
Frank helped lay the foundations of the organisation and was instrumental in raising standards across the recreational game, including with the introduction of the Premier League system, bridging the gap between recreational and first class cricket.
He was one of the driving forces behind the ECB Clubmark accreditation scheme, which recognises clubs for being well-run, sustainable, and providing the right environment for its members.
Frank also helped to put in place important guidance for the use of helmets and developed the ECB’s first child safeguarding procedures.
John Pickup, former Board Member and Chairman of the Recreational Assembly, said: “Frank’s legacy to the recreational game lies in his setting up and supervision of the Premier Leagues. It was an exacting task at the time, but one which he carried out with characteristic determination, persuasion, tact and efficiency. He was a true servant of the game.”
Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive, said: “Frank made a giant contribution to recreational cricket at all levels in England and Wales. His tenure at ECB over a decade set out the new relationship that the governing body had with recreational cricket at a time where it didn’t previously exist.
“He was the architect of that new relationship - a very difficult job which he handled with great skill and patience. He was a huge evangelist for the sport and a fantastic man of cricket who was recognised all over the country, always with a smile. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."
During this time he had numerous dealings with the SPL, past president Alan Bundy describing him as “one of the most sensible administrators I was privileged to work with.” The HCB’s Colin Savage added: “It’s an enormous loss. I knew Frank well and had a great respect for the very high quality of his work and ever-friendly personality.”
Frank helped lay the foundations of the organisation and was instrumental in raising standards across the recreational game, including with the introduction of the Premier League system, bridging the gap between recreational and first class cricket.
He was one of the driving forces behind the ECB Clubmark accreditation scheme, which recognises clubs for being well-run, sustainable, and providing the right environment for its members.
Frank also helped to put in place important guidance for the use of helmets and developed the ECB’s first child safeguarding procedures.
John Pickup, former Board Member and Chairman of the Recreational Assembly, said: “Frank’s legacy to the recreational game lies in his setting up and supervision of the Premier Leagues. It was an exacting task at the time, but one which he carried out with characteristic determination, persuasion, tact and efficiency. He was a true servant of the game.”
Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive, said: “Frank made a giant contribution to recreational cricket at all levels in England and Wales. His tenure at ECB over a decade set out the new relationship that the governing body had with recreational cricket at a time where it didn’t previously exist.
“He was the architect of that new relationship - a very difficult job which he handled with great skill and patience. He was a huge evangelist for the sport and a fantastic man of cricket who was recognised all over the country, always with a smile. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him."
