Recently, MyGuava had an incredible opportunity to turn the dreams of young cricket fans into reality as we hosted Charlie and Orla, with a once-in-a-lifetime money-can’t-buy experience at The Kia Oval.
Recently, MyGuava had an incredible opportunity to turn the dreams of young cricket fans into reality as we hosted Charlie and Orla, with a once-in-a-lifetime money-can’t-buy experience at The Kia Oval.
This experience was part of a broader MyGuava giveaway. As the official merchandise payment partner with Surrey Cricket, we offer winners a chance to explore the Kia Oval and get an insider’s look at one of the most celebrated cricket venues in the world.
On the big day last week, as Surrey took on Durham in the crucial T20 Vitality Blast Quarter Final, Charlie and Orla were right at the heart of the action! MyGuava selected these two lucky recipients to host the ‘Money Can’t Buy Experience’ who were also the winners at the Surrey Cricket Foundation’s 'Cricket Collective Awards'.
The two young fans enjoyed the day with an exclusive pitch walk where they stood just feet away from their cricket idols, including the incredible Sam Curran, as they were warming up before the game - talk about dreams coming true!
Further adding to the experience, they were both treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Kia Oval. They explored the stadium, soaked in its rich history and got a glimpse of the action from close-up angles most fans can only dream of. During the innings break, they also participated in the thrilling ‘Kia High Catch’ competition, further adding to the magical day.
And it didn’t stop there, we made sure Charlie and Orla took home something special – signed merchandise from their favourite players - definitely a treasure any cricket fan would cherish.
Charlie won the Rising Star Award, recognising young volunteers making a difference in the 11-16 age group.
"Charlie Mullins, a pleasant polite young man, who will turn his hand to anything to help at the club, not someone who wants to sit inside and play the Xbox, he wants to be out and helping. He has firstly a love of the game, playing in our successful U15 team, but it’s how he helps others that we recognise. He is now an active young leader of the Friday night coaching sessions for our Year 7 and below juniors, this year being part of his D of E and Young Leaders in Cricket volunteer programme. He is a member of the club's Young Leaders in Cricket group. The group had to raise £630 for the course. Charlie off his own initiative set up a GoFundMe site and sold sweets on a Friday night to raise £350 by himself, just incredible. Away from cricket, you can find him cleaning up inside and outside of the club, ensuring all the practice kit is put away and with the BBQ. At just 14 years of age, Charlie finds the club an inspiring place to be, but we as a club find Charlie an inspiring young man who is deserving of recognition.’’
Orla has been awarded the Young Coach of the Year for inspiring the next generation of players in the 16-25 age group.
"Orla is 18 and has been involved in playing cricket at Merstham CC for over 5 years in the girls', ladies' team and recently open-age teams. She has a passion for the game like no other in the club - spurred on by wanting to give back to the club to coach the next generation as she coaches a number of age groups. In the off-season this year she started what has now become something as a club we could never have expected! She gained her Level 2 coaching qualification and then began coaching girls-only groups indoors with the U12 and then created a new u10 girls’ group for girls new to cricket which started this season. She has led this entirely on her own. organised time slots on training nights, recruited coaches and helpers, created flyers and advertised, took time to liaise with parents and carers by email, phone and after training sessions, administered the SPOND subs and most importantly managed all of the Friday training sessions warmups and drills which have all been fantastic and fun! This has seen the girls’ skills as well as numbers grow! What started as a handful on the first session to over 25 attending each week! It has been wonderful to see the girls' squad getting ready for league games next season. Orla’s confidence and abilities have also grown, and this has been amazing for the club to see - the youngsters look up to her, listen to her, respect her and she is always looking for feedback and ideas to improve each time. I have received praise and thanks from parents each week saying their girls are loving the game and training! She has been in touch with other local clubs and organised for them to play friendly matches before this season ends and intraclub friendlies are also booked in. She’s already planning for next year and we have a date to meet to debrief the end of season already!! Potential to split the age group to cater for hardball and soft and ensure the girls get great cricket. Thanks so much, Orla for all you do at Merstham CC.”
At MyGuava, we focus on transforming money management into a seamless and rewarding experience. The MyGuava App simplifies transactions and budgeting while offering valuable features like multicurrency accounts, free debit cards, cashback, payment chats, and discounted gift cards. Whether for personal finances or business transactions, MyGuava serves as your comprehensive solution.
Managing your money with MyGuava is an opportunity to earn exciting rewards, similar to the unforgettable experiences we crafted for young cricket fans at The Kia Oval.
Stay tuned for more thrilling developments - we are just getting started!
