Stansted Cricket Club junior section holds annual awards ceremony

More than 200 children, parents and other family members celebrated a successful summer at Stansted Cricket Club junior section’s annual awards ceremony.

The youth side of the club has enjoyed significant growth over the last three years and this season had more than 80 members ranging from children in Year 1 to Year 10.

The younger kids (Years 1-6) train with a soft ball on Friday nights while the older ones (Years 7-10) train with a hard ball on Monday evenings.

The club entered four teams in the West Essex League, with under-10s, under-13s, under-14s and, for the first time in five years, under-15s all getting the chance to shine.

All of the teams performed outstandingly, with the Will Gavin-coached under-10s doing particularly well thanks to three wins out of five.

There is also a clear pathway for the youngsters into the men’s teams, as shown by Jack Cope who, at the age of 13, hit an unbeaten 56 for the second XI against Little Munden in Tees Herts & Essex Border League, Division Three.

Head coach Matt Cope, who was named coach of the year at last year’s ECB Coach Awards, and club chairman Matt Abbotson presented the prizes at the ceremony which also featured drinks and a barbecue.