Our Staff
Meet the team! We have produced some short biographies for all of our staff, including contact details to assist you with getting in touch with the person who can help you the most.
Jon Bendle
Managing Director
Jon’s main areas of responsibility are strategic planning, partnerships, financial management and managing the SCF employees. Jon is our main professional contact with the ECB and represents Somerset at a regional and national level. Jon works very closely with Somerset County Cricket Club to help align resources and support to the recreational and community game. Jon reports directly to the SCF Board of Trustees.
Brian Hoyle
Safeguarding and Education Manager
Brian leads on Safeguarding in the County, incorporating the role of Safeguarding Lead and County Safeguarding Officer. Key elements of this role include educating clubs and their volunteers to understand their safeguarding responsibilities, and pro-actively supporting Safeguarding Officers at clubs to help them achieve Safe Hands compliancy and meet their legal obligations.
Brian also manages our education programme in Somerset which typically runs over 35 courses throughout the year for Coaches, Umpires, Scorers, Groundsman, Safeguarding Officers and volunteers. Linked to this is his role in supporting the Somerset Coaches Association.
brian.hoyle
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
01823 352266
Scott Chappell
Schools & Coaching Manager
Scott manages our Chance to Shine and schools programme and offers support and guidance to the clubs and schools involved. Scott also manages our delivery team of Community Coaches and casual coaches, as well overseeing our community coaching programme which includes the Development Programme, Mini Crickets, holiday courses and one to one coaching. Scott is also our lead tutor on Coach Education courses helping to bring new coaches in to the game.
scott.chappell
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07590 724833
Matt Counsell
Clubs and Leagues Manager
Matt’s role is to support, guide and develop the recreational game in Somerset. He supports our clubs through a combination of bespoke local support (Club Roadshows and club visits) and tailored national programmes (All Stars Dynamos, U19T20, Small Grants Scheme). Matt also works very closely with our senior and junior league and plays a very active role in the Somerset Grounds Association.
matthew.counsell
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07772 538068
Nicky Clarke
Development Officer – Clubs and Leagues
Nicky’s role is to support senior and junior leagues as well as playing a leading role in running the SCF KO cups and the U19T20. Nicky will also support our clubs to develop and grow by utilising national and local opportunities that are available to them. These include National Programmes (All Stars and Dynamos), Creating Welcoming Environments, the County Grant Scheme and the Safe Hands Management system.
nicky.clarke
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07809 468291
Colette Gooding
Development Officer – Women and Girls
Colette will be supporting clubs to establish, sustain and grow their female-only cricket sections. There has been significant growth in female cricket in Somerset in recent years and Colette will be looking to build on strong foundations in the soft-ball game and develop our fledgling hard-ball offers for both women and girls across the county.
colette.gooding
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07986 981843
Steve Gass
Community Programmes Manager
Steve manages our community programmes which currently include our Super 1s hubs and Street Cricket programmes, Table Cricket and SEN delivery and our Mental Health Ambassadors project. Steve also leads on our support for the Disability and Visually Impaired County teams.
steve.gass
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07788 628526
Emily Vickery
Community Coach, North West Somerset
Emily is one of our Community Coaches delivering in schools, clubs and community settings to inspire future generations of cricketers. Emily’s role involves working on the Chance to Shine, Super 1’s, All Stars, Dynamos and Women and Girls’ programmes. Emily covers Weston Super Mare, Clevedon, South Bristol and surrounding areas.
emily.vickery
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07721 337870
Alex Taylor
Community Coach, North East Somerset
Alex works across North East Somerset which includes: the BANES and South Bristol areas. Alex delivers in the school, club and performance environments including Chance to Shine, Super 1s, All Stars, Dynamos and Women and girls. Alex is also a qualified ClubMark Support Officer and tutors on Cricket Activator and Cricket for Teachers courses.
alex.taylor
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07778 591707
Mark Watts
Community Coach, South East Somerset
Mark is based in Yeovil and works predominantly in Frome, Glastonbury, Yeovil and the surrounding areas. Mark delivers on many of our programmes including: Chance to Shine, Super 1’s, All Stars, Dynamos and Women and girls. Mark’s role like the other community coaches is to inspire people to say that ‘Cricket is a game for me’.
mark.watts
@somersetcricketfoundation.org
07858 713816
Thom Bunker
Community Coach, South West Somerset
Thom is based in Taunton and works predominantly in Taunton, Minehead, Bridgwater, Chard, Wellington and the surrounding areas. Thom delivers on many of our programmes including: Chance to Shine, Super 1’s, All Stars, Dynamos and Women and girls. Thom’s role like the other community coaches is to engage as many people as possible in cricket.
Tilly Bond
Apprentice Community Coach
Tilly is based in Taunton and will combine her coaching with her Level 4 Sports Coach Apprenticeship at Bridgwater and Taunton College. Tilly will work across the county on many of our programmes including: Chance to Shine, Super 1’s, All Stars, Dynamos and women and girls. Her ‘on the job’ training will involve shadowing the community coaches as well as delivering herself.
Keith Parsons
College Academy Head Coach (part-time)
Ex Somerset professional, Keith Parsons manages our College Academy (in partnership with Richard Huish College) programme. Keith designs the programme and manages the team of coaches who deliver to 12 college students each week at The Cooper Associates County Ground. The players combine academic studies at college with a mixture of weekly 2:1 coaching sessions, group coaching sessions and fitness sessions throughout the year.
Please contact Scott Chappell with any queries regarding the College Academy.