Major Boost for Cricket at St. Mary’s

21 Dec 2021

St. Mary’s College has announced a major boost for the cricketing programme at the school.

As part of its extensive extracurricular programme, St. Mary’s has unveiled a long-term partnership with cricket coaching specialists Academy North who will run all pre-season training sessions in future.

The move is designed to improve levels of cricketing achievement at the school to reflect the advances that have been made in rugby and football over recent years.

It comes at a time when the college has also joined forces with Crosby’s Northern Club to use their outdoor net facilities for games lessons, and their front pitch for important First XI matches.

This will build on the school’s successful existing partnerships with Hightown St. Mary’s, Formby and Ormskirk cricket clubs.

The development will also complement other recent sporting developments at the college including significant investment in a new, state-of-the-art gym, the relaying of the junior cricket square and extensive drainage improvements at the school’s games field.

Head of Boys PE, Derek Williams, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Academy North on board with the school.

“We have worked extremely hard to improve rugby and football at the school over recent years and are proud of what has been achieved. We’re now very pleased that Academy North will help us to improve our cricket offering in the same way.”

Stephen Cole of Academy North said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a prestigious school as St. Mary’s College.

“Over a number of years our coaching, tours and cricket camps have seen our profile increase significantly and to have that recognised by St. Mary’s, and to be invited to work with them, is flattering beyond measure.

“We look forward to growing the culture of cricket – and cricket achievement – at the school together in the years ahead,” added Mr Cole.