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Hampshire Academy keen to join Southern Premier League
Mike Vimpany - 16 August 2001
Hampshire want to play in the Southern Electric ECB Premier League next year, with a team made up of young contracted players and academy students.
The idea is the brainchild of Tony Middleton, who has guided Hampshire to the top of this season's County Second XI Championship table.
The proposal comes at an exciting time for Hampshire, who are pressing strongly for promotion in both the County Championship and the Norwich Union League.
Middleton, who spent his formative years playing for Trojans, Lymington and Bournemouth in the old Southern League, believes that fielding a young county team in the Premier League is an essential part of developing the most promising young players.
"Our aim is to have Hampshire competing with - and beating - the best, but to do this we must have a core of players coming through our own system and give them the best possible preparation," he pointed out.
Middleton wants to enter a fledgling Hawks team in the SPL at "the highest possible level" and has eyed the possibility of a Hampshire XI replacing Division 2 leaders Cove, who are returning to their old Thames Valley League haunts at the end of the season.
Hampshire's home SPL matches would be played on either the main Rose Bowl or adjoining Nursery ground at West End.
He envisages fielding four contracted county professionals, under the age of 25 years, alongside Hampshire's Academy students and a senior ex-professional in the county XI.
Cove's Chris Benham, Ventnor pair Ian Hilsum and Mark Mitchell, BAT Sports all-rounder Damian Shirazi and Ben Nolan (Portsmouth) are currently in the Hampshire Academy, alongside wicketkeeper Tom Burrows and paceman Luke Merry. John Francis and Chris Tremlett have already completed their time with the Academy and are on playing contracts with Hampshire.
"There is no doubt that league clubs have played a major part in helping Derek Kenway, Lawrie Prittipaul, Andy Sexton and Chris Tremlett become First Class cricketers over the past two years.
"The County Club is keen to put in place a structure where clubs can be rewarded for their endeavours in producing quality players," Middleton added.
Middleton has spent a lot of time this summer canvassing the opinions of Premier League clubs on his proposals and has been genuinely pleased with the feedback.
He is conscious that a certain degree of `self interest' could prevail amongst existing clubs, who could `lose' potentially promising young cricketers to the county side.
But points out that he has "told the SPL we will be happy to allow youngsters not selected for the county team to play for their own club sides."
"I appreciate this will involve a change in the league's playing regulations, but it is with the development of young players firmly in mind that we want to do this," he explained.
Hampshire's plan is not unique among county clubs.
Northants, Warwickshire and Yorkshire have all fielded `Club and Ground' sides in leagues in their specific areas, with varying degrees of success.
Middleton's proposals have got the support of the Premier League's Management Committee, with chairman Alan Bundy pointing out that "the league has an important development role to play within the ECB framework."
"But overall it's a compliment to the Premier League and its clubs that Hampshire want to put a side in it next year.
"There are obviously some loose ends to be tidied up, but I believe that having a county side in the Premier League will be mutually beneficial," Bundy added.
© Mike Vimpany / Daily Echo / SPCL
| Teams | England. |
| First Class Teams | Hampshire. |
| Players/Umpires | Tony Middleton, Christopher Benham, Ian Hilsum, Damian Shirazi, John Francis, Christopher Tremlett, Derek Kenway, Lawrence Prittipaul, Andrew Sexton. |
| Tournaments | Southern Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |
| Grounds | The Main Oval, Hampshire Rose Bowl, Southampton Nursery Ground, Hampshire Rose Bowl, Southampton |