Norwich School today launched a Cricket Academy, in partnership with Sussex County Cricket Club, at the U15 Norfolk Twenty/20 Finals day.
The launch was attended by Sussex Director of Cricket Keith Greenfield, Academy Director Carl Hopkinson as well as Vice-Captain Ben Brown, with Carl and Ben running the warm-up and giving the team talk for the Norwich School side in the build-up to their semi-final against Thorpe St. Andrew.
The aim of the partnership is to provide a route for talented cricketers in the East Anglia area to be involved in an elite development programme, which will in turn lead on to them becoming first-class cricketers or international women’s cricketers. They will benefit from top level coaching and support at the impressive facilities at Norwich School.
The Academy will open to both boys and girls aged between 10 and 16 years from across the Norfolk area.
Sussex’s Director of Cricket Keith Greenfield said when the partnership was first announced, “The school is very ambitious and with the expertise and facilities it possesses, it is clear this will become a huge success and we are very excited about what the future holds for this partnership.”
Norwich School currently has links to Sussex Cricket through two former players; teacher Rodney Bunting, who played first-class cricket for Sussex between 1988 and 1991, is Assistant Director of Sport, whilst Joe Gatting, who progressed through Sussex’s Academy and played as a professional at Hove between 2009 and 2013, was appointed Cricket Professional at the school in August 2016.
"It's been a privilege to help set up a partnership between Norwich School and my former club Sussex County Cricket Club. A player pathway of this nature is unique to Norfolk and we look forward to working with the most promising cricketers within the region" commented Joe Gatting.
Parent Simon Woodhead added, “I have been very impressed by not only the strength and depth of the cricket coaching staff at Norwich School and the sheer number of sessions provided, but by the excellence and intensity of the training. The way in which the training is delivered clearly focuses on providing an opportunity for each player to achieve their potential and my boys have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions whilst being challenged at the same time.”
Applications to the Academy can be made via the booking form here or you can get more information by emailing sussexcricketacademy@norwich-school.org.uk.
Many thanks must be made to the generous sponsors of the Academy Martin Berrill Sports and Link Construction.