Junior cricket activity returns to Glenpark

Cricket activity for youngsters returns to Glenpark on this coming Wednesday evening 1st July.

Greenock Cricket Club, in common with other clubs across Scotland, has been given the go-ahead by cricket's governing body in the country, Cricket Scotland, in conjunction with Sport Scotland, to begin its cricket coaching activities following the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

While cricket activity is being re-started, it is doing so with strict adherence to the rules which have been set down by the national authorities to ensure the safety of both the young people and the coaches who will be supervising the sessions.

Glenpark is a large, enclosed ground at the intersection of Fox Street and Brisbane Street and provides a safe environment for youngsters to enjoy the sport. The size of Glenpark also means that small groups of youngsters can each be coached in quite separate parts of the ground with their own coach and equipment. The Club will also provide sanitising materials to assist with ensuring all necessary provisions are in place for youngsters while using equipment.

The cricket coaching sessions being started by Greenock Cricket Club provide the opportunity for youngsters to develop an interest in the sport and with small numbers in each coaching group, the sessions will be an ideal time to pick up the skills of the game.

A number of young players who have learned the sport at Greenock CC have gone on to gain recognition at district and international level. Best known is Richie Berrington (pictured below) who is currently Scotland's most capped senior international player and who has travelled the world with the Scotland team and played in the ICC World Cup alongside the leading test-playing nations such as England and Australia.

In more recent times, Neil Flack (above)captained Scotland's team at the Under-1919 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2016, and just a few months ago in January Sean Fischer-Keogh (below) was a key member of the Scotland side at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup in South Africa.

Other young players who have developed well from the junior coaching set up at Glenpark and have west of Scotland District XI age group appearances and also progressed to make 1st XI appearances include Jamie Nowell (below), Cameron Calder, Lukas Fischer Keogh and Tom Forrest.

A number of girls too are showing great interest and ability for the sport and have caught the eye of district and national coaches. Emily Norris and Amelia Calder are two such youngsters who have a real future in cricket and regularly played in one the Club's adult XIs in competitive league cricket at weekends last season.

The coaching sessions for youngsters aged 7 to 13 years of age will begin on Wednesday 1st July and will take place between 6.30pm and 7.30pm each Wednesday until the end of August. Cricket equipment will be available at the Club and all necessary sanitising materials will also be available.

Until there is a further relaxation of rules, youngsters attending MUST be accompanied by an adult from their household, who they will have to pair up with throughout the coaching session.