Richard White NCU PRO

The 2017 cricket season only finished a few weeks ago, however the Northern Cricket Union is ready to commence preparations for next year. A regional indoor coaching programme (sponsored by PwC) started on Sunday, 8th October, at the University of Ulster (Jordanstown Campus) Sports Centre, with the aim of providing more coaching hours to enhance the skills of young club cricketers. The Northern Cricket Union are grateful to the University of Ulster for the opportunity to utilise their superb facilities.

Brian Walsh (NCU Director of Representative Cricket) says, 'It is great to receive so many nominations of youth cricketers from the NCU clubs. They will all be invited to the Development Squads at the Ulster University (Jordanstown) and be given the opportunity to go on to be considered for Inter Provincial selection'.

The Under 11 and Under 13 age groups commenced this week with over forty-five cricketers in each group invited. A week later over fifty Under 15's will attend the first of six sessions between now and Christmas. 

The highly successful Under 9 programme from last winter, which extended into the summer of 2017, will commence in November followed by an Under 17 programme early in the New Year. 

One of the highlights of the 2017 season was the advancement in girls cricket with representative fixtures being played. Their winter sessions will also start before Christmas.

The Northern Cricket Union value the support of parents and the coaches involved in the Regional indoor coaching programme as they develop the future stars of the local game, and hopefully in years to come Ireland Test Cricketers.