27th August 2020
| Mallory Gray
On the back of the recent news regarding changes to the
regional structure across the national pathway, we are delighted to announce
the appointments of our Pathway Leads for Cricket Wales South, East and West,
who are due to commence work from 16th September.
The new Cricket Wales South region (CWS) which is made up of the
previous West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and The Vale region is Port Talbot Town’s
Mark Cox. Mark is a hugely respected figure across the South West of Wales,
bringing with him a wealth of experience in junior cricket for boys and girls as
an administrator and coach up and down the pathway.
Mark has been instrumental in developing the junior section
at Port Talbot Town Cricket club, and the resurgence of junior girls softball across
the area. He has a sound knowledge of cricket development, and is a current committee
member on the South Wales junior league – he has also coached at national level
for Cricket Wales. Mark currently works for the Youth Justice Board with the responsibility
for oversight of the youth justice sector and will continue in this role
alongside his Pathway Lead commitments.
Heading up Cricket Wales East (CWE), which comprises of the Cardiff
and Gwent regions will be Ian Williams and Geraint Leach in a job share capacity
– more detail regarding this will be forthcoming.
Ian is a current director and solicitor specialising in
criminal and child care law at Robertson’s Legal Ltd. He has occupied the
position of Cardiff & Vale chairman for the last year, and has a plethora
of experience at club and regional level as an administrator, team manager and
coach. Ian has a deep knowledge of the national pathway with his children being
involved over a number of years. He remains a key senior figure at St Fagans
Cricket Club and has strong connections with Glamorgan CCC in a number of capacities.
Geraint has been one of three Regional Performance Managers
employed by Cricket Wales over the last two years which has involved a number
of leadership, management, administration and coaching roles. Geraint has been
heavily involved in the national pathway for a number of years from coaching in
Gwent, to coaching at national age group level. A current ECB Level 3 coach
with a Masters in Sport Coaching and Performance, Geraint remains heavily
involved in the thriving junior section at Abergavenny Cricket Club.
Cricket Wales West (CWW) - the forming of Carmarthenshire and
Pembrokeshire regions will be led by Steve Lewis. Steve has been an integral
member of the Pembrokeshire Junior Regional Committee, serving a vice chairman
for the last four years in addition to team manager duties within the region. A
maintenance supervisor for Haven Engineering Steve has a wealth of leadership
and management skills to bring to the role, and is widely respected across West
Wales during over thirty years of involvement on the club circuit.
Cricket Wales Head of Talent Pathway Matt Thompson stated, “we
always said from the outset that a key component of the new structure was
getting the right people in the right places, and I am delighted that we have four
outstanding people in Mark, Ian, Geraint and Steve to drive the
direction forward. They all possess a fantastic knowledge base and are hugely respected
in their areas and we all welcome them into the Cricket Wales team.”
You can meet your new Pathway Leads by signing up to one of
the virtual information evenings in your area via page 3 of the information document.