Northamptonshire and Suffolk’s Framlingham College have today announced an exciting new educational partnership which will give outstanding opportunities to some of the region’s most talented young cricketers.
This new agreement will give College pupils a direct and clear potential pathway into professional cricket, with regular opportunities for boys and girls to take part in Academy and Elite Player Programme (EPP) sessions at the County Ground.
Meanwhile Northamptonshire will enjoy access to the College’s outstanding cricketing facilities for their own players, while also using Framlingham as a base from which to provide masterclasses in the East of England, as well as deliver Coach Development programmes for College and College Prep School staff.
“Our educational partnership with Framlingham College will provide a firm pathway for young player development and continue our strong link with the College,” said Northamptonshire Chief Executive Ray Payne. “It will enable Framlingham’s talented young cricketers to improve through having regular access to first-class county coaching facilities and support networks, thereby complementing the great work that is already carried out by the College.”
Mark Robinson, Co-curricular Deputy Head at Framlingham College, is equally excited by this development.
“The formalisation of this relationship provides yet another string to our bow, which has already benefitted from the arrival of Johann Myburgh as Head of Cricket Development, the establishment of an MCC Foundation Hub for state-school pupils, the development of girls’ cricketing facilities and playing opportunities and an extension of the support we offer to the Suffolk Young Cricketers,” he said.
“We are thrilled to now be in a position to offer our most-gifted cricketers the opportunity to seamlessly progress into the professional game with such a prestigious county as Northamptonshire.”
A number of Framlingham College alumni have worn County colours.
David Larter took 666 First Class wickets for Northamptonshire between 1960 and 1969, earning 10 England caps along the way.
More recently Rob Newton – who recently extended his commitment to Northamptonshire by signing a new contract – has become an established professional cricketer after setting records while at Framlingham.
And the next generation is coming through, too, with current Framlingham College pupil Fred Heldreich a member of the Northamptonshire Academy system. Heldreich made his full Suffolk County T20 debut aged 16, and his left-wrist spin saw him be invited to net with the full England Test team last summer ahead of their series against India.