Johnny Barnett: Coaching & community at Stainland CC

Johnny Barnett is the winner of June’s Yorkshire Tea Community Cricket Award and we had a natter by phone to talk about his journey in the game.

Volunteering at Stainland Cricket Club began in 2021 with Johnny coaching the juniors while he has since turned his efforts to supporting the women and girls’ teams too.

He is someone who stopped playing for 23 years but happily returned to the game after moving to the village and getting involved.

Coaching is far more than planning a fixture or honing a bowling action. It’s a mentor, organiser, cheerleader and friend to players, teams and parents. In the case of Johnny, that translates as helping the coaches on junior training nights or offering to score on away games even when his own kids aren’t playing.

He started out without all of the coaching qualifications but compared himself to Mr Miyagi in the Karate Kid films, as an old-school tutor with knowledge acquired. (Wax on, wax off, Johnny-san!)

After Stainland had been teeting on the edge of existence, the juniors were a key part of their revival. Coaching the under-nines, Johnny has had that satisfaction that all coaches get with seeing kids of all abilities progress in their own way.

Away from coaching, Johnny is keen to help where he can: “When I do go up there to watch, I can’t sit still! It’s little things you see that just need doing.”

Leah Proctor is Stainland’s Honorary Secretary who has seen the Proctor Effect first-hand:

“Johnny lives and breathes the spirit of cricket, giving his time selflessly and equally to every person he meets on the cricket field. He is patient, kind, and leaves you feeling ten feet taller.”

You will all know of volunteers at your cricket club who are utterly dependable and all-in when it comes to giving up time and their energy is infectious. Beyond coaching and playing himself, I hear Johnny turns his hand to pretty much anything.

From repurposing an old chair as a seat on the old roller to building a Santa’s grotto to mucking in on Get Set Weekend. Described as the heart and soul of Stainland CC, the magic doesn’t stop there:

“Johnny is the one who will spend hours, talking to or playing with children whilst their parents play cricket – building stick dens or playing “cricket” with action heroes. He is the one who makes the drinks for the opposition at their own ground. He’s the one who turns up to ladies matches with their bag for them, so they don’t have to.”

If Stainland have a cricket festival, it’s Johnny who brings the music and acts as DJ to add to the sense of occasion.

Now, volunteers at cricket clubs don’t typically like to make a fuss. They don’t do it for awards. That being said, the reason for these Yorkshire Tea Community Cricket Awards is to recognise those who make an impact at grassroots in Yorkshire and who symbolise the power of volunteering.

There will be many other cricket clubs who have a Johnny. Or a Claire. Or a Kammy. (To mention our other winners this season so far) and these awards are a small way to mention a few individuals and stories here on the Cricket Yorkshire website.

We can’t include everyone but have shared a few other tales on Cricket Yorkshire’s Facebook and will continue to do so.

🫖 Thanks to Yorkshire Tea for their support in backing these awards as we seek to champion volunteers during the season in a new way and tell their stories.

Here’s our podcast talking cricket, enjoy the listen and if you’d like to nominate a volunteer who makes an impact in Yorkshire cricket then you’d be very welcome. The awards run until end of September 2025.

🎧 🗣️ Listen to Full Cricket Yorkshire Podcast with Johnny

**60-sec preview below**