The club are delighted to announce an agreement with the Grass Roots Cricket Academy (GRCA), set up by former county pros Carl Greenidge and Ricky Anderson.
The GRCA has 5 simple but focused aims:
1. To produce high quality cricketers and model professionals for the game to serve as future role models
2. Stimulate passion for the sport of cricket
3. Empowering inner city youth through cricket
4. Provide the necessary structure for personal and professional success
5. Help to produce international cricketers
Targeting school leavers and under-privileged young people through specialist cricket coaching and education, the GRCA aims to provide another option for young people setting the highest standards for education, lifestyle and cricket, who might have been disillusioned and disaffected by social circumstances that have hit underprivileged urban areas.
Having already run a series of successful winter nets with our Colts, the partnership grants the GRCA access of WHCC facilities, coaching prowess as well as acting as a feeder organisation for WHCC in return.
Having already been able to recruit current 1st XI fast-bowling all-rounder Lasbourne Edwards directly from the GRCA last season, the omens are good for a fruitful and long term partnership to work for both parties.
THE COACHES
Ricky grew up in the inner city of London has always been passionate about cricket from a young age. He started playing cricket at school (Brent area) and quickly progressed to club level and then represented Middlesex at youth level. At the age of 17, Ricky was offered a life changing scholarship at the London Cricket College, formerly known as Haringey Cricket & Sports College, where his cricketing career was taken to the next level.
Following the opportunity of representing the London Cricket College, Ricky played against and represented various county cricket clubs between 1994 to 1999 until he secured a full time contract at Essex and then with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. His first class career span over 8 years, playing over 30 first class games and taking over 100 wickets and average 17.23 with the bat.
Following his professional cricket career, Ricky became a Business Partner in a Property Agency and is currently a Level 3 ECB qualified Cricket Development Officer/ Coach at Surrey County Cricket Club. His experience to date has helped him gain valuable skills and experience at development and elite level. As an ex-professional cricketer and having grown up in the inner city London, Ricky is keen make a contribution to cricket and help pave the way for young people who, similarly to him, would benefit from the structure, confidence building and a platform to success offered by the sport of cricket.
Carl, son of ex West Indies batting legend Gordon grew up with cricket all around him travelling the world’s cricket playing nations with his father. He was exposed to the wonders of the game at a very young age so it was only natural for him to pursue a path in the game that has led him to play for a number of institutions. Shortly after completing his first year at college, in 1997 Carl was offered an inviting scholarship at the then London Cricket College where he was allowed to express and develop his natural game.
Carl was then offered another opportunity to attend the MCC YC’s at Lords in 1998 and in 1999 secured his first professional contract with Surrey. Carl then went on to represent Northamptonshire (2002-2004), and then Gloucestershire (2005-2008). After leaving the game he set up and became the managing director of Cricket for London, a cricket development company based in East London. He says “Harnessing and developing raw untapped talent is both challenging and exciting. It represents all that is good and natural in the game and at the Grass Roots Academy we aim to assist in moulding the shape of English cricket for the future”
