Coinslot: What inspired you to launch the tournament, and what causes were being supported this year?
Freddie Shreeve: The idea was simple really, I wanted us to give something back to good causes while bringing industry colleagues together. I’d heard stories about the old annual industry charity cricket matches from years ago and thought it would be great to revive that tradition.
There are already plenty of golf days on the industry calendar, but nothing quite like this. Cricket has always been my passion and Walton Cricket Club is my home club, so it felt like the perfect place to create something a little different. This year we were proud to support three fantastic charities: the Bacta Charitable Trust, Variety – The Children’s Charity and St Giles Hospice.
Coinslot: At the time of going to press, how much money do you estimate has been generated?
Freddie Shreeve: We’re estimating that we’ve raised more than £5,100, which is absolutely fantastic. Every penny will be shared between the Bacta Charitable Trust, Variety – The Children’s Charity and St Giles Hospice, and that’s what makes all of the hard work worthwhile.
Coinslot: You received widespread support from all sectors of the industry – who were the sponsors and supporters that you would like to thank?
Freddie Shreeve: The event simply wouldn’t happen without the incredible support we receive, so I’d like to say a huge thank you to every sponsor, volunteer, player and supporter who helped make the day such a success. Particular thanks go to Electrocoin, SilverTime, Club 3000 Bingo, the Bingo Association, Bacta, Inspired Entertainment, Game Nation, Shipley Creative, Buzz Bingo, Cowells Arrow, Mecca Bingo, DG Creative Media, Castle Amusements, Gaming Solutions, Midlands Wealth Solutions, Palace Amusements, The Rudd Group, Coinslot, Event Booth, Legacy AV and TVC Technology Solutions. I’d also like to pay tribute to our volunteers.
Many booked annual leave just to help organise, support and run the event. Their enthusiasm and commitment are incredible, and we genuinely couldn’t do it without them.
Coinslot: Can you outline how has the event grown over the last three years?
Freddie Shreeve: It’s been wonderful to watch it evolve. We’ve exceeded our fundraising target for three years running, attracted more sponsors than ever before and gradually turned it into a proper family day out rather than simply a cricket tournament.
The addition of entertainment, the charity darts competition and even the ice cream van has helped create something that appeals to everyone, whether they’re playing cricket or not.
More than anything, it’s become an annual get-together where customers, suppliers and friends from across the industry can relax, catch up and network away from the pressures of the day job.
Coinslot: What is it that makes this tournament different from other sporting events on the industry calendar?
Freddie Shreeve: It’s all about being super inclusive. Quite simply, everyone is welcome, whether you’re a cricketer, bringing the family along or simply coming to enjoy the atmosphere. It’s an outdoor summer event with cricket, a barbecue, music, entertainment and refreshments throughout the day, and people stay well into the evening. It’s different from any other industry event, and I think that’s why people enjoy coming back each year.
Coinslot: The tournament has a reputation for being a family-friendly celebration of the camaraderie that underpins the industry: what do you do to build that carnival-style atmosphere?
Freddie Shreeve: We put a lot of thought into making sure there was something happening from morning until late, especially for family members and friends who weren’t playing cricket.
Bradley and Ginge provided hilarious live comedy commentary throughout the day, Boomerang’s Jigsaw Entertainment System supplied the music, there was a highly competitive charity darts competition, a barbecue, arguably the most popular ice cream van in the country, live-streamed cricket and the World Cup in the evening.
When you bring together customers, suppliers and industry friends in that sort of relaxed setting, the atmosphere almost creates itself.
Coinslot: What were the biggest challenges that you faced and how did you overcome them?
Freddie Shreeve: Without question, the biggest challenge was the unbelievable heat! It was around 33°C, although it felt even hotter, and really tested the players. We ensured there were plenty of drinks, regular World Cup style hydration breaks and the aforementioned ice cream van to help everyone cool down.
The volunteers did a superb job of keeping everyone hydrated while making sure everything continued running smoothly. The conditions were tough, but everyone embraced them and still produced some fantastic cricket.
Coinslot: From a cricketing perspective, what were the highlights?
Freddie Shreeve: Well, obviously Boomerang finally winning the trophy is right up there!
The round-robin competition couldn’t have been closer, with Boomerang, Bingo and the Bacta teams each winning one match, meaning everything came down to a dramatic captains’ bowl-off. Jeremy Godden for Bacta, Dave Robson for the Bingo team and Sir Chris Widdowson for Boomerang each bowled six deliveries at the stumps. Chris hit the target twice to win the shoot-out, claim the Bowler of the Day accolade and secure Boomerang’s first-ever tournament victory.
Harry Shipley produced a superb innings to deservedly win Batsman of the Day, Ben Edge picked up the Biggest Six Award and Jordan Godden also deserves a special mention for an outstanding all-round performance.
Coinslot: Where will the coveted trophy live for at least the next 12 months?
Freddie Shreeve: At the moment it’s sitting very proudly in my home office! It’s perfectly positioned for my next Teams meeting with Jeremy and Jordan Godden, which I’m sure won’t involve any friendly banter whatsoever! After that, it will take pride of place at Boomerang HQ, where everyone can enjoy a year’s worth of bragging rights.
Coinslot: From launching in 2024 the tournament has come a long way. Have you been pleased by the appetite for cricket that exists within the industry, and what’s next?
Freddie Shreeve: Genuinely I’ve been delighted. There is a really strong core of cricketers within the industry who look forward to this event every year, and it’s also been brilliant to see so many new faces getting involved. I’d love to see it continue to grow and we’re already looking at whether a shorter format with more teams might allow even more people to take part.
Before making any changes, though, we’ll listen to players, sponsors and supporters to make sure we get the format right. Whether someone wants to play, sponsor, volunteer or simply come along to support, everyone is welcome. The more people we bring together, the more money we can raise for charity.
Coinslot: Finally, what were your personal highlights?
Freddie Shreeve: There were so many. But seeing Josh Guzdek score his first-ever 30 was a brilliant moment, while William Shipley bowling Dave Robson is a wicket that he won’t get tired of reminding Dave about for many years to come. I also loved seeing first-time players simply pick up a bat, get involved and enjoy themselves.
But above everything else, my biggest highlight was to see so many sectors of the industry come together on a sunny day, having plenty of fun and raising money for three outstanding charities. That’s what this event is all about!
Originally published on Coinslot on July 20, 2026. Republished with permission.