Burgess Hill Cricket Club is a Focus Club and is registered under the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Clubmark Accreditation Scheme. This means we have demonstrated that we are fully equipped to look after and develop youngsters and promote cricket to youngsters throughout our community. Consequently our coaches are able to carry out in-school training under the Chance to Shine national scheme in conjunction with Sussex CCC coaches.
Burgess Hill Cricket Club is very proud of their Youth Development. Many great players have come up through the ranks and gone on to record fantastic achievements. Alan Hansford, one of five brothers to have played first eleven league cricket for the club, progressed from Burgess Hill youth cricket to go on and play for Sussex County Cricket Club between 1989 and 1992. One of his older brothers, Robert, won the Sussex Invitation League Batting Trophy for most runs scored in a season on no less than five occasions between 1984 and 1999. Caroline Atkins, who until recently played for the England Women’s Test and One-Day International teams, grew up playing youth team matches before moving on to greater things. In 1999 the club’s Sussex Invitation League winning side included nine players who had regularly played youth team cricket at the club. Last season’s first eleven team consisted of eight players who came through the youth setup.
In 2008 the club committed itself to the Chance to Shine programme (see separate page for details) and acquired the ECB Clubmark accreditation. Its Youth Academy has expanded steadily to ensure a steady flow of young players equipped to play cricket at Sussex Cricket League standard. Fundamental to this was developing a wealth of ECB Level 2 qualified coaches to deliver quality coaching to youngsters of all ability, both girls and boys.
As we enter 2024 the club are entering boys and girls teams in The Southern Area Youth League, across all age groups, are undertaking coaching sessions in schools, Easter and Summer schools. Youth membership is projected to further increase membership well beyond the 190 figure this season. For more information about our Girls and Ladies section please go to their pages.