Black History Month: Finding the next generation of black cricketers in Birmingham – Edgbaston

A national cricket program designed to increase participation in black communities has marked its third year in Birmingham – and reached thousands of children in the region.

The African Caribbean Engagement (ACE) project, in partnership with the Warwickshire Cricket Foundation, runs cricket coaching sessions in primary and secondary schools in the town.

Many schools do not offer cricket as part of their PE curriculum, so the ACE program is often the first game of cricket for youngsters.

ACE also runs three regional centers – in Handsworth, Harborne and Erdington – for children to take up cricket and develop their skills.

“This year we reached up to 5,000 students, many from inner-city schools, picking up bat and ball for the first time,” said Leron Barker, cricket development officer at ACE.

“It’s all about having fun and enjoying the sport. We want the black community to fall in love with cricket again as we have had a generation that has lost interest.

“From our community hubs players can progress into the ACE Development and ACE Elite Academies and hopefully into the Warwickshire age group system.

“We have had some success: we now have six kids in the Warwickshire youth team who are doing well and there are high hopes that they will go on to get rookie contracts and who knows into the seniors.

“I want to see one of our players come out of Edgbaston, represent Warwickshire and then England. Aim high, why not.”

There are currently 17 children at the ACE Development Academy and 10 at the Elite Academy, both run by Edgbaston Indoor School.

England Under-19 and Birmingham Phoenix player Davina Perrin has progressed through the Birmingham ACE programme.

Chilwell Croft Academy, Newtown and St Patricks & St Edmunds are just two of the schools that have benefited from ACE coaching sessions.

Chelsea Alagoa, Women and Girls Development Officer at ACE, added: “Our school program provides courses for up to eight weeks. But when we leave, if cricket is not on the curriculum, there is a danger that the interest we have generated will fade.

“Our centers keep the momentum going, kids can keep playing and getting training.

“Handsworth has traditionally been a center for black cricket in the region, but we are now reaching out to other areas of Birmingham with a large proportion of people from the African Caribbean community.

“Our aim is to make cricket as accessible as possible. Ultimately we want to find the next generation of black cricketers.