Published on: Thursday, April 20, 2023

King’s College and King’s Hall School are delighted to announce the renewal of their long-standing relationship with Somerset County Cricket Club (SCCC). This agreement will see the partnership take on a new and fresh direction, providing even greater benefits to both parties, whilst also maintaining the strong link between the Club and the schools.

The partnership has been in place for many years and has provided countless opportunities for young cricketers to develop their skills and love of the game. Both King’s and SCCC have a long tradition of sporting excellence on the field and have played a vital role in the development of young sportsmen and women in Somerset for over 100 years.

Michael Sloan, Headmaster at King’s College said: “The renewal of the partnership is a testament to the strong relationship between King’s and SCCC, and our shared commitment to promoting the benefits of sport and physical activity to young people.

“There is such a strong cricket tradition within our school and passion for the sport, and we are all looking forward to both girls and boys enjoying the season ahead.”

A designated Centre of Cricketing Excellence at King’s College has produced a number of professional cricketers in recent years, many of whom have gone on to play for various major county sides as well as at international level. However, it is not just at the top end of the school that they are producing top players. Throughout the school there are numerous county players representing their age groups, all of whom are hoping to follow in the same footsteps as Jos Buttler and the rest of their recent professional cricketers. Former pupils currently playing in the First XI include James Rew, Eddie Byrom, Sonny Baker, Will Smeed, Tom Banton and Nathan Gilchrist. As part of the new partnership, King’s will be sponsoring James Rew and Tom Banton, as well as the T20 Vitality Blast match in May. Pupils will also benefit from several joint initiatives such as school visits and lectures from guest speakers.

Somerset CCC Strategy Director, Sarah Trunks said: “We have been working successfully with King’s for a number of years and we both have an important role to play when it comes to young people in the region achieving their sporting dreams. We are delighted to build on what has already been a very successful relationship.”

Cricket at King's has always been at the forefront of the school's culture and preparations for the very popular King’s Cricket Festivals are underway. Led by former Somerset player and King’s cricket coach Keith Parsons, the 2023 Festival will start in the middle of July and run for six weeks. King's boasts an amazing campus of pitches where six games can be going on at any one time, so during the Festival almost 1,000 young cricketers from all across England and the world will have the opportunity to play on perfectly manicured grass pitches.

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