Gloucestershire CCC Academy aims to produce world class cricketers through identifying, assessing and further developing the most talented players available to us.
Led by Academy Director, Owen Dawkins, this year's squad are:
Reports, news and scorecards from the GCCC Academy season. Many Academy players form part of the 2nd XI squad so 2nd XI match reports are also included.
GCCC players visit the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club continued their links with the Glosters, with a recent visit to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. The new Academy squad began their winter training programme with a visit to the Museum in Gloucester Docks. They were joined by any contracted players who had not previously visited the Museum with the Club.
The visit included an introductory talk by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Dixon, former Commanding Officer of The Glosters on the history of the regiment, including the significance of being awarded the back badge, which GCCC players now proudly wear. The group also discussed the importance of team work and team spirit to both the regiment and a cricket team and had a tour of the Museum.
Academy Player, Kieron Smith, said "The visit provided us with an informative history of the regiment and the unique back badge, which we now wear on our club caps. Personally, the most enjoyable part of the visit was the discussion relating the military environment to cricket and the surprising similarities that they share. The tour of the Museum enabled us to understand the importance of the regiment's history and what we are representing when we wear our club caps."
Lieutenant Colonel Dixon said: "The Museum was delighted to host a visit by the Academy and senior players of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to continue the association between The Glosters and the Club which is now carried forward to The Rifles.
The new Regiment, The Rifles, has earned its spurs in Iraq and Afghanistan and we are keen to maintain the close relationship we have always enjoyed with the great county institutions. It is important that young men and women understand the sacrifices made by their county forbears for their freedom and to relate to learn from the military qualities of teamwork, leadership, self-discipline and selflessness which are all important in the great game of cricket. The Back Badge on the back of the cricket cap is there to remind them of the attributes they must defend!"
The links between Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and the GLOSTERS began in 2006 when the Club were asked by the Regiment to wear the "back badge" on the back of their County Championship caps.
The origins of the backbadge date back to Alexandria in 1801. For their gallantry in fighting back to back, the Regiment were given the unique honour of wearing a badge at the back of their caps. The Battle Honour 'Egypt' with the Sphinx together with the laurel leaves of victory are also borne on the Regimental Colour.
GCCC Player Richard Dawson and Academy Player Kieron Smith are pictured presenting a plaque on behalf of the Club to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Dixon for the Museum.
More photos can be found on the website photo gallery.
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club continued their links with the Glosters, with a recent visit to the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. The new Academy squad began their winter training programme with a visit to the Museum in Gloucester Docks. They were joined by any contracted players who had not previously visited the Museum with the Club.
