Framlingham College announce partnership with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

Framlingham College have announced a new partnership with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club.

As part of the agreement, college pupils will have 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.

Northamptonshire, meanwhile, will gain access to the College’s cricketing facilities for their own players, while also using Framlingham as a base from which to provide masterclasses in the local area, and coach development programmes for college and college prep school staff.

Mark Robinson, co-curricular deputy head at Framlingham College, said: “The formalisation of this relationship provides yet another string to our bow, which has already benefited 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.

“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.”

Ray Payne – chief executive officer of Northamptonshire CCC – added: “Our educational partnership with Framlingham College will provide a firm pathway for young player development and continue our strong link with the College.

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.”

There is a long-standing association between the college and Northamptonshire, going as far back as the 1960s, when Old Framlinghamian David Larter opened the bowling for the county to devastating effect, taking 666 wickets at 19.53.

He also played 10 Tests for England (37 wickets at 25.43) before injury cut his career short.

More recently, Robert Newton (another O F), has cut quite a dash for the county as an opening batsmen.