Derbyshire CCC captain Billy Godleman knows connecting with the community is more important than ever

It's good to talk and now more than ever Derbyshire captain Billy Godleman recognises the importance of connecting with the local community.
Billy Godleman and his players will call members to check on their welfare.  (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Billy Godleman and his players will call members to check on their welfare.  (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Billy Godleman and his players will call members to check on their welfare. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

In normal times, Godleman would have been preparing to lead his team into the first game of the season but instead is focusing his energies on doing what he can to help others get through a national crisis.

The former Middlesex and Essex batsman is keen to reach out to members during this period of isolation by making phone calls to offer help and morale support.

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"It's something that has been discussed and it's just a case of setting out a protocol although it was something that had been thought about by the club before I suggested it," he said.

Billy Godleman says it's important to communicate during the current lockdown. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)Billy Godleman says it's important to communicate during the current lockdown. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Billy Godleman says it's important to communicate during the current lockdown. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

"So 100 per cent we are keen to do what we can to help supporters and the local community.

"In the past I've done quite a bit of work behind the scenes with the YMCA and other charities so me and my family decided we were going to help and support our local community and friends.

"We have been cooking food and distributing it but, by keeping ourselves isolated and healthy as much as possible, we hope we are supporting everyone in our own way by doing that.

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"So a lot of my focus has been taken up with doing as much as I, and my family, can to keep ourselves and some of our local community as healthy as possible.

Derbyshire's players will rally round for their members. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)Derbyshire's players will rally round for their members. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Derbyshire's players will rally round for their members. Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

"Although I desperately miss playing cricket, it's been overshadowed by all the great work the health sector is doing and all the challenges the world is facing at the moment so when you consider that, not playing a game of cricket in mid-April loses importance really."

With no indication as to when cricket will return, Godleman, along with the rest of the players has been maintaining his fitness from home.

"I'd really like to stress that within the guidelines of what the government has instructed us to do we are allowed one piece of outdoors exercise a day and within that we have been incredibly well supported by our science and medical team,” he said.

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"We are provided with a menu of options, not too dissimilar to going into a restaurant, in consultation with them as to what is best for you.

“There are different kinds of sessions you can look at and for me personally, I'm working on trying to develop my endurance capacity.

"There are five or six different sessions I can do each day. Other people will be looking to build their strength and they will get five or six options as well to keep physically fit in a way that's not to repetitive or monotonous.

"There have been some funny reports from guys not just at our club but from around the county circuit who are doing an eclectic mix of exercises so people are getting quite imaginative within the guidelines.

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"I had a conversation with a player who is playing a lot of garden cricket and I've also heard stories of hitting a ball on a string which I think originated from Sir Donald Bradman.

"But other than playing with my young son at hallway cricket I haven't picked up a bat too much. I'm doing a lot of running at the moment with a variation of sprints, middle distance and five to 10 km runs just so I'm hitting the different heart rates that will give me the best foundation for when we return to cricket."

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