This year, for the first time, we set up an Academy group for 15 of our older youth players. Our aim was to help them make the step up to playing higher-level men's cricket.
An experienced coaching team worked with the group - building up specific, individual skills - every Tuesday evening during the season. Those weekly sessions proved invaluable as the Summer went on.
The majority of our U17 County Cup winning side was taken from the new Academy group, and the side that won the County U19 Hundred was made up entirely of Academy players.
Five of the 1st XI who played in the County Senior T20 Cup Final were Academy players, and five of the group also played in our 2nd XIs Pullinger Cup winning side!
All in all, 13 members of the group played 1st XI or 2nd XI league or T20 cricket for the club this season. The group's commitment to working hard, learning and improving was reflected in their performances for all four of our men's sides.
A massive thank you to the coaching team, and of course to the lads themselves, for making this new group such a success in its first year!
We are already looking forward to next season!