TRIBUTES have been paid to Worcestershire’s cricket director who has moved onto a new role after a decade of working in the county.

Tom Raymond-Hill, who plays Birmingham Premier League cricket for Bromsgrove, has thanked everyone for their support during his time with Worcestershire.

Tom has moved onto his new role with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take on the role of head of network support.

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He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing my part in the Worcestershire cricket family. It is after all the county where I started playing the game on a playground, coached on many playgrounds and moved my way through the ranks.

“It is a county where I have been fortunate enough to work with some incredible people across the broadest spectrum of the game so thank you for your support.

“I’d like to place on record my thanks to the board of directors, in particular Kevin Drew who works tirelessly to govern our game, the talented team of staff and the pool of extremely passionate volunteers driving the game locally.

“The game is in great hands and I look forward to working with you all in my handover period and supporting you from afar in my new role as Head of Network Support with the ECB.”

During Tom’s tenure he has grown the board from three to 12 full time members of staff, more than doubled turnover and played a key role in the ongoing development of the International Inclusive Cricket Centre supporting the University of Worcester.

Tom has also worked to ensure Worcestershire becomes the home of ECB disability cricket and had the vision to introduce the highly successful Street6’s competition.

Kevin Drew, Worcestershire Cricket chairman, said: “It’s with great pride and great sadness that Tom is leaving us for a role within the ECB. The ECB’s gain is Worcestershire’s loss and he will be a hard act to follow.

“We as a board always said that when any of us departed, we would want Worcestershire Cricket to be in a better place and that is absolutely the case with Tom.

“We are in a period of massive change and huge opportunities within the game and, although Tom’s departure gives us additional challenges, it also gives us great opportunities, especially for the existing team."