ABERGAVENNY Cricket Club now boasts its largest and strongest ever coaching team with no less than 20 qualified coaches focusing on youth development.
Preparation for the forthcoming season is already well underway with indoor nets in Ebbw Vale attended by seniors and youngsters.
The sessions are led by recently retired first-class umpire Graham Burgess, the former Somerset team mate of superstars Sir Ian Botham, Sir Vivian Richards and Joel Garner.
Alongside Burgess in the coaching set-up is coach of the Wales U14 team Alun Dawkins, who is currently leading indoor net sessions in Crickhowell on Mondays.
With a total of three ECB level three and three ECB level two coaches, this is indeed the club's strongest coaching structure in its history.
Abergavenny plan to start outdoor nets for juniors on Friday, April 17 and anticipate running teams at U15 (two sides), 13, 11 and nine, as well as a development side for older youngsters.
In addition, there will be specialist sessions led by Graham Burgess, working on advanced individual and team skills and game planning.
With celebratory matches planned in their 175th anniversary year, 2009 promises to be an exciting season – not least because Richard Levi, a highly talented player with Western Province and the South African Academy, will be joining the club as player/coach in late April.
The aim of the youth committee is to produce skilled, knowledgeable and enthusiastic youngsters, who will go on to be talented club cricketers, maybe gain representative honours and even follow in the footsteps of current Glamorgan first-team regulars Mike Powell and Mark Wallace and Academy member Jon Denning (pictured).
Anyone requiring any further information, please contact chairman of youth cricket Kevin Schofield on 01873 832074