About Us

The East Grinstead Cricket Academy is now entering its seventh successful year and continues to provide a high level of coaching and instruction for the local community. Sessions are provided throughout the year to the local primary and secondary schools as well as weekly courses for over 140 Academy students aged from 5 to 18, with the benefit of tuition by ECB qualified coaches and ex professional cricketers.

The aims of the Academy, which is run and managed by Stuart Simmonds are

• Create and maintain a progressive coaching structure within the local clubs and the local community
  
  
• Provide the opportunity for young cricketers of all ages to reach their true potential
  
  
• Maintain a thriving and successful schools coaching programme
  
  
• Organise special fund raising activities and cricketing experiences
  
  
• Create a community women's and girls section
  
  
• To provide a pathway for young cricketers from local schools through to EGCC 1st XI and possibly beyond.

East Grinstead Cricket Club Links

EGCC was founded in 1857 by the vicar The Reverend JN Hayward. The club played on various land until 1890, when it moved to West Street in the middle of town, where it remained until 1989 when it merged with East Grinstead Hockey Club and moved to its current home at Saint Hill. Today the club runs four sides on a Saturday plus cup and friendly matches on a Sunday allied to the numerous junior sides that play throughout the week during the summer.

In recent years, it was decided that a more structured approach was needed in order to retain a regular supply of players to all the sides. In late 2003, Stuart Simmonds devised and drew up the blueprint and with the support and help of Geoff Border and Peter Dickson, this idea became a reality when the Cricket Academy opened its doors for the first time in April 2004, linking with the Cricket Club to run a fully functional development programme that would aid and assist the excellent job already being completed by Andy Hayes and his panel of junior managers.

EGCC were thrilled to be awarded the prestigious Clubmark accreditation in August 2007.