Ratcliffe College return as Official Partner

Leicestershire County Cricket Club announce Ratcliffe College return as Official Partner and official home venue for the Academy Pathway Under 12 to Under 15 programme for the 2022 season.

LCCC and Ratcliffe have been in partnership since 2018, while the College hosted their first Academy Pathway games the following summer.

As part of the 2022 partnership, Ratcliffe will become player sponsor for Running Foxes seam bowler Gavin Griffiths, while the College’s logo will adorn two boundary perimeter fences at Uptonsteel County Ground.

LCCC’s U12 to U15 Academy Pathway players will return to Ratcliffe for their 2022 fixtures, with full use of the school’s cricket facilities during the summer and practices sessions during term time evenings.

The agreement will offer the College’s students the opportunity to come along to a T20 Blast fixture, where pupils can play in a Kwik cricket competition on the hallowed Grace Road turf, as well as form the guard of honour and parade around the ground with flags of LCCC and the College.

Leicestershire will also lend their expertise to the College through several specialist staff development sessions, including ground staff maintenance advice from LCCC’s Head Groundsman Andy Ward and his team, strength & conditioning advice from the LCCC Sports Science & Medical Department, and playing masterclasses to develop Ratcliffe students.

Tracey Nightingale, Management Assistant & Cricket Partnership Manager at Ratcliffe College, said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

“The initiative will further help our boys and girls develop their talents by working closely with the coaches from LCCC, whilst our staff will learn invaluable lessons from the specialist masterclasses.”

Dave Whitmore, Talent Pathway Coach & EPP Head Coach at Leicestershire County Cricket Club, said: “We are really excited at continue our long-running association with Ratcliffe College.

“They provide perfect facilities to nurture the growth of our young cricketers and we relish the opportunity to play our home fixtures on their pitches.