Among a number of initiatives that The Northern Cricket Union have instituted is its first ever Cricket Academy. 
It is the 'Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy' and is being supported by its Official Partners, the Ulster University.

The Academy will also benefit from a kit sponsorship agreement with O'Neills.

Chairman of the NCU Andy Clement commented: ''We are absolutely delighted that Andrew has agreed to lead the Academy.  Following a superb international career I can think of no one better to pass on his knowledge and expertise to our best young cricketers.' 

Andy also said 'We are delighted that the Ulster University will be an official partner of the Academy and are willing to support it through a range of resources from which the boys will benefit'.

These resources have already been put to great use and the boys and girls of the Academy have already been put through their paces by the professional staff at the Ulster University over a three week period.  In the first week the players were all screened by physios in terms of their functional movement, joint mobility, core strength and flexibility. In week two the University staff took the players through fitness testing.  In week three University staff took the players through programmes designed for the next 4 weeks that are all based around minimal weight, if any at all, other than body weight.  They will be retested after the 4 weeks. The cricket specific sessions have also started and there will be 3 before Christmas and it will run regularly in the lead up to the 2016 season.

Andrew said 'These three weeks have been a big part of what the Academy has hoped to achieve and we have been impressed with both Ulster University's buy in and also that of the players themselves.'

Andrew will be assisted by some of our leading coaches and international players and the Academy will challenge our best young cricketers in a more intense learning environment.

The 'Academy Syllabus' has been devised following meetings with Richard Holdsworth (Cricket Ireland High Performance Manager), Craig Hogan (National Academy Director) and Ryan Eagleson (National Academy Coach).

The Academy will include the best young cricketers in the NCU area between the ages of 12 and 17. 

Dr Nigel Dobson, Ulster University, said, 'As a Sports Scholar Andrew himself benefitted enormously from the expertise, resources, services and programmes of the University during his playing career, and we are excited that other young players and Ulster students will get the opportunity to learn from the world class experience gained by Andrew throughout his highly successful time as an international cricketer. Young players, young coaches, future physiotherapists, performance analysts and fitness coaches will all have a unique opportunity to enhance their skills and education as they too strive to achieve their ambitions through the innovative practices of this new and exciting Academy. We wish the NCU and the Academy every success.'

Andrew retired from International Cricket in February 2015 as Ireland's most capped player following a long and successful career that included appearances at 2 ICC World Cups, 3 World T20's and the winning of 4 ICC Intercontinental Cup Winners' medals.

Andrew White NCU Cricket Academy 2015-2016

• Jack Burton (Carrickfergus)
• Nathan Doak (Lisburn)
• Matthew Foster (CSNI)
• John Glass (Ballymena)
• Rachel Harrison (Waringstown)
• Amy Hunter (Instonians)
• Craig Irvine (North Down)
• Archie Johnston (CSNI)
• Adam Kennedy (Instonians)
• James McClean Ballymena)
• Peter McCreery (CIYMS)
• Oliver Metcalfe (Instonians)
• Ben Rose (Instonians)
• Michael Waite (Waringstown)
• Calum Walsh (Holywood)
• Harry Warke (Carrickfergus)