Junior coaching restarts at Glenpark

Following the Scottish Government's announcement in mid-March setting out the easing of certain of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the way has opened for the return of junior cricket at Glenpark from Wednesday 21 April.

The Club has for many years had a flourishing Junior Cricket section and now looks forward to welcoming back young players who have previously enjoyed playing cricket and also young people who would like to experience the game for the first time.

Opportunities for young players to take part are available every week from mid April through until the end of August. Teams are fielded in the Under-12 softball and hard ball, Under-14, and Under-16 leagues of the Western District Junior Cricket Union. Younger children under 10 years of age play in the Club's own fun softball Kwik Cricket festivals on Sunday mornings where parents can sample the joys of brunch.

The success of the Junior coaching structure at the Club can be demonstrated by the regular flow of young players who have received representative honours.

Tom Black, Jack Clark and Peter Duthie are well remembered for their club and country heroics whilst currently, Richie Berrington is Scotland's most capped senior international player. Richie came along to Glenpark as a 10 year old and began learning the game. Before long his cricketing ability was spotted and he began playing at Under-13 district then age group international levels. Since those beginnings, Richie has travelled the world with the Scotland team and played in the ICC World Cup alongside the leading test-playing nations such as England, India and Australia.

Most recently, just prior to the start of the Covonavirus pandemic, Sean Fischer-Keogh was selected and played for the Scotland Under-19 team at the Cricket World Cup which was held in South Africa at the beginning of 2020. And just four years earlier, Neil Flack captained the Scotland Under-19 team at the 2016 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh. Both came through the junior coaching set-up at Glenpark and are now key players in Greenock's senior 1st XI.

Numerous other Greenock youngsters have gained international or regional selection in recent years, having benefited from junior coaching at Glenpark. Some of these include Lukas Fischer-Keogh, Abigail Calder, Jamie Nowell, Cameron Calder, Tom Forrest and Emily Norris, all of whom now play in senior XI cricket at Greenock. Emily is also a member of the Scottish Ladies cricket setup.

The coaching sessions provide the opportunity for youngsters to develop an interest in the sport and with small numbers in each coaching group, they are an ideal introduction to cricket. All equipment is provided by the Club.

Coaching for youngsters, both boys and girls, aged 7 to 14 years of age will begin on Wednesday 21 April and will take place between 6pm and 7.30pm every Wednesday until the end of August. Parents and friends are made welcome to watch their children and enjoy the facilities of the Club.

The photograph at the top of this article shows Neil Flack, Tom Black, Jack Clark, Richie Berrington, club captain Greg McDougall and Emily Norris with some of the Club's young players.