9th February 2024
| Matt Thompson
Wales National County (North) have confirmed their fixture programme for the 2024 season which promises to be it's most comprehensive edition yet.
Heading into it's third year - after being setup under the Wales National County senior team - the team has continued to grow and broaden its reach in a bid to provide a greater platform for development and progression for talented cricketers in the region. Five players have gone on to represent the senior national counties team during that time (Owen Reilly, Will Ryan, Harrison Jones, Jason Foulkes and Matt Ryan), which indicates a marked increase from years gone by.
2023 saw the integration of a North U19s side to further enhance the transition for youngsters into the Wales NC North senior team with both sides facing up against some stiff opposition this summer. The senior team embark upon their first three day fixture as they welcome Cardiff Met at Northop Hall, whilst Leeds Beckett University are newcomers to the fixture list from previous years. The RAF return as do Northumberland for a double header of limited overs cricket, and the U19s side will look forward to a number of multi day games against Middlesex Schools U18s and Pro Cricket Academies with a vist from the Glamorgan Academy being the highlight.
Team Manager and pioneer of the inital concept Russell Penrhyn Jones expressed his delight at the summer programme. He said: "I’m so excited about the fixtures we have this year - it’s a fantastic opportunity to give the lads some much needed exposure to high level representative cricket. Not only so we can showcase our talent to teams from all over the UK but to also showcase some of the excellent grounds we have in this region."
Head of Talent Pathway, Matt Dando-Thompson commented: "we're really pleased to have secured some top quality opposition for both teams this summer. We want the boys being exposed to a number of formats and opposition that can prepare them for national counties cricket, and really put them in the shop window for higher representation. It was brilliant to see the likes of Will Ryan and Harrison Jones make an impact in the red ball side last year - it provides further evidence that there is an abundance of ability in the North that we must continually be aware of, cultivate and help nurture."
The full fixture lists for both sides can be found below. The Wales NC North management committee (comprising of Russell, Matt, Ian Martin, John Bell and Gareth Ryan) will also be hosting an online webinar on Zoom on Thursday 28th March (7pm) for players, clubs and followers in the region to find out more about how the teams operate, the teams' objectives, criteria for selections with there being plenty of opportunitiy to ask questions.
The registration link can be found here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qdOmsrjotHdFAL1vMylc4f9neQ02Mz1Fk
