PROFESSIONAL CRICKETERS’ ASSOCIATION
SUPPORTING CRICKET’S ELITE The Professional Cricketer Association’s (PCA) newly appointed CEO, Rob Lynch sat down with Premier Sports Network to discuss the support the PCA provides for players, challenges facing crickets return and lessons from other player associations. IMAGES GETTY IMAGES
Rob Lynch has a life-long relationship with cricket and was a founding member of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association, which was formed in 2001 when his brief professional career saw him represent Auckland. After leaving the professional game in 2003, the New Zealander has maintained his passion for cricket and business throughout his working life, which has seen him in various senior roles within the game. As a Player Representative, he grew commercial profiles of professional cricketers before joining CricHQ as Managing Director. Lynch joined Middlesex in 2016 as Commercial Director before being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in May 2019 as a result of transforming the club’s commercial operation through securing major sponsorship deals and creating numerous successful commercial initiatives. Rob initially joined PCA as Commercial Director in February 2020, before being made Chief Executive Officer.
What guidance and initiatives do the PCA provide for players? The guidance the PCA provides to players is very broad and is lifelong because once players become PCA members, they are members for life. The two key areas of support for players revolve around offering personal development and welfare support 44 | OTFF ISSUE 13 ★ NOVEMBER 2020
and clear and comprehensive contractual advice. These are very wide-ranging offerings, and a huge number of initiatives and projects happen to make sure we are fulfilling our role in championing the ongoing interests of professional cricketers in England and Wales. Our support mechanisms start from when players join the academy. Our nationwide team of Personal Development Managers (PDMs), six in all, start to build relationships with players to guide them into the professional environment. One of our most important initiatives is PCA Rookie Camp which started in 2011. It is a day where first year professionals from all around the country head to Edgbaston for a busy day with different workshops and
seminars to officially induct them into the professional game. These sessions involve anti-corruption, contract advice, England player Q&As, gambling awareness, social media advice and much more. Players lean on support of the PCA for personal development and contractual support throughout their cricket careers and beyond. The Futures Week held in November is a key period in the calendar too. The week shines a light on the need to prepare players for their second career with the flagship Futures Conference usually held over two days at St. George’s Park, Burton-upon-Trent. This year we are adapting to a Futures Series of webinars to maintain the same level of support and guidance. ➡
