President hopeful plans for youth game merely delayed

Cricket: Ford says schedule to step up work with schools left on hold

Northern Counties president Jon Ford hopes the coronavirus crisis will prove no more than a delay to the club’s ambitious youth development plans.

The Inverness outfit had planned to step up their work with local schools, in an attempt to help the development of the sport in the city.

With schools having been shut down since March, and not reopening again until August 11, those plans have been scuppered, but Ford hopes they can be revived in future.

Ford said: “A lot of our emphasis this year was going to be on youth development and building a basis of school work to guarantee a future for cricket in the area.

“We had a large youth development programme planned across seven primary schools, which would have culminated in a cricket festival at the Northern Meeting Park.

“Alongside that we had all-stars cricket for five to eight-year-olds, an eight-week programme we had planned. We had another eight-week programme called dynamos for 8-11-year-olds. “That is obviously all on hold.” Northern Counties’ senior team will not be able to play again until August 1 at the earliest, after Cricket Scotland announced no league cricket will take place this season.

Ford remains hopeful the North of Scotland Cup and T20 competitions could still go ahead, adding: “We are waiting for news from Cricket Scotland to see what can be salvaged from the rest of the season.

“On top of that, the Highland Council might want to remain cautious, they may want to delay the accessibility of the Northern Meeting Park, which will affect what we are doing.

“We are in the hands of a lot of people but we’ve got plans in place which I would imagine can be easily resurrected.

“In the scheme of things it’s just a game, health and wellbeing are more important.

“In a different scenario, cricket has a role to play in health and wellbeing, like a lot of other things.

“It would be good to see people out playing again from that point of view.”

Ford’s son, Will, who is Counties’ vice-captain, insists he is eager to return as soon as the club is permitted. Ford says the launch of Counties’ new kit, sponsored by Monsternet and manufactured by Macron, will also be delayed.

Ford said: “I would love to just be playing cricket any time. It’s probably one of the few sports you could argue you could get away with, you are not that close to anybody any more. It’s got to be one size fits all though.

“I would be hopeful Nosca will try and get a cup competition, or push for some friendlies.

“We have been in touch with the sponsors. Our plan is to not count this as year one, because it’s null and void for everybody.

“We were hoping to get a kit launch organised, which is all not going to happen now until next year. We are disappointed because we’ve got a really good team, but most of the boys will still be about next year.

“It was going to be a big season for us as a club, but we will start next year afresh and use this as a bit of time to plan and move forward.”

Will Ford: Keen for a return