With the Middlesex Youth Cup finals being played tonight, we spoke to Harrow CC before they take on Eastcote in the battle for the Future Think Youth Cup Trophy.
The Middlesex Youth Cup is a tournament aimed at 14-17 year olds, and offers an exciting first introduction to T20 Blast-style cricket, usually played on Friday nights. Setup by Middlesex Cricket in 2017, the competition has grown quickly, with 30 teams now contesting the parallel Trophy (for the leading teams) and Shield formats (all other entrants).
How has the Middlesex Youth Cup benefited Harrow CC?
The club has enjoyed success in the competition in the past, having won both the Trophy and Shield previously. Harrow rebuilt their junior structure in 2014, and most players at the club have risen through their youth system to go on to play Youth Cup, Under 19 T20 and in the Middlesex Development League (MDL) as part of their transition to open age league cricket on Saturdays. The young players have thrived from playing Youth Cup cricket as the format offers a way of continuing their development and forming a strong bond within the team, which can be strengthened as they get older and play in MCCL league cricket. The concept of playing in coloured kit is one young players very much enjoy, Harrow having done so since the inception of The MDL back in 2012, reflecting the growth of professional cricket doing the same worldwide.
What else happens at Harrow CC?
Harrow CC have grown immensely over the last six years, going from only 85 junior boys to now having a strong Women and Girls programme, four Saturday men’s adult teams, a Sunday eleven and over 270 junior boys and girls. The Women and Girls programme now has more than fifty playing members, with girls playing at the club from the age of 5. This is mirrored in the boys section, as All Stars take over Payne’s Folly every Sunday morning throughout the summer. Harrow have recently installed a new three lane net facility alongside their two playing pitches, enabling the club to be a thriving part of the local community that believes in home-grown talented cricketers.
What next?
Both the Youth Cup Trophy and Shield finals are being played this evening (Finchley are also hosting Osterley) at the culmination of another successful campaign. If your club is interested in playing in the 2022 edition of the Middlesex Youth Cup, please contact Raj Nath for more information. An updated FAQs document can be found here.
We would like to thank the team at Harrow CC for their contribution and wish them the best of luck tonight, in a fixture that you can follow on the Youth Cup Play Cricket site. You can find more information about the club on their website.
