Skipper Firth excited by new S&B youth policy
CHRIS Firth believes Southport and Birkdale’s recently formed Academy will further develop what the first-team skipper already regards as the finest group of young players seen at Trafalgar Road this century.
Under the new arrangements, 12 of the club’s junior cricketers will be coached by the former Lancashire slow left-armer Gary Keedy every Saturday morning during the season and Firth is already keen to see the impact of this initiative on senior cricket.
“This is an exciting time for S&B,” he said. “We have the best crop of young players coming through that I’ve seen in my time at the club and we are determined to give them all the help we can. Gary is the best person we could possibly have to coach them and you can already see the effect of the work he’s done in the indoor nets.
“The attitude of the players he has coached has changed in that as a group they want to take the game seriously and play first-team cricket.
“It’s just great the S&B Academy now offers them a clear pathway towards the achievement of those goals.
“Realistically, Saturday morning is the only time we can get them all together given the exams they will be taking, the games they will be playing and their other commitments.”
Keedy’s agreement to play and coach at Trafalgar Road until the end of 2019 will enable him to work with players over two full seasons and it is hoped that in that time the club might develop a largely home-grown first team which will eventually be capable of making their mark in the Liverpool Competition’s ECB Premier League.
Meanwhile, those businesses or individuals thinking of making hospitality bookings for the county match at Trafalgar Road are advised that only a few tables remain unsold for August 31, the third day of the game.
A few more tables are available on the first two days of the Division One match against Worcestershire and while each table of 10 normally costs £900, those who book by April 30 will pay £800. Those attending will receive match tickets, breakfast on arrival, a two-course lunch, including a half bottle of wine, and a sandwich tea, all with private bar and viewing area.
For further details, or to reserve your table contact Nigel Knight on nigelknight112@ btinternet.com.