The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) continues to strengthen their youth development programme, seeking to provide a player pathway for young cricketers, from club cricket to the Northern Knights and hopefully to future international recognition.

Through the hard work of a dedicated group of NCU coaches there are excellent opportunities for young cricketers to enjoy playing the game, and to improve playing standards of youth cricket within the Northern Cricket Union.

This summers programme will feature over 45 games/practice days within a four month period, in addition to an extended junior domestic programme which will give our junior cricketers more game time both at grass roots and representative level. Many of the players are also involved in Cricket Ireland programmes and the NCU schedule takes this into consideration.

Uel Graham (NCU Cricket Operations and Administration Manager) said, 'Our youth development summer calendar continues to grow year on year and is testament to the hard work of the lead coaches, coaches and volunteers at all age groups. When factoring in the work at Under 9 and Under 10 by Peter Bates and his team and also Simon Johnston and the Emerging Players Programme, the calendar extends to over 60 days cricket. Our challenge is to keep this momentum going'.

NCU SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME FIXTURES

Under 11

• West Cricket Festival, Taunton, Somerset, (21st-24th July)
• NCU Under 12's, 7th August (Templepatrick)
• Leinster Cricket Union, 14th August (Templepatrick)
• Leinster Cricket Union, 16th August (Dublin Region)

Under 13

• Indian Touring Side, at Dundrum, Sunday 27th May
• Triangular Tournament, Ayr, Scotland, 6th-7th August
• Leinster (NCU Region), 8th August
• Leinster (Dublin Region), 10th August
• Glamorgan and the Vale U13's (NCU Region), Date TBC (anticipated end August)

Under 14

• West Cricket Festival, Taunton, Somerset, (22nd-27th July)

Under 15

• Interprovincial Series (Leinster Region), 25th-29th June (Matches to be confirmed)
• NCU versus Jersey U15 (T20) in NCU, 24th July (venue TBC)

Under 16

NCU Cricket Festival (NCU Region)

• 13th August NCU v Cornwall (Stormont) and St Josephs College, Ipswich v Yorkshire (Belmont)
• 14th August NCU v St Josephs College, Ipswich (Belmont) and Cornwall v Yorkshire (Stormont)
• 15th August NCU v Yorkshire (Stormont) and Cornwall v St Josephs College, Ipswich (Belmont)

Under 17

• Inter Provincial Series in NCU Region, 1st-5th July (matches to be confirmed)
• Indian Touring Side, at Dundrum, 29th July