Eccleshall United Football Club has done something special! Along the way they’ve gained promotion to Division One of the County Championship for the first time in two decades. That milestone came after a remarkable season in Division Two, where Glamorgan ended the campaign as runners-up to champions Leicestershire. The club is now preparing for the challenges of higher competition, emphasizing the need to strengthen its pace bowling attack.
The promotion to Division One is a historic achievement for Glamorgan. The first for the team in 20 years, as they’ve fought their way back to the top tier of English county cricket! The team’s Cinderella story run in Division Two proved their strength, heart, and determination. Along with this heightened profile comes the acknowledgement that cricket at the top level is extremely challenging both mentally and physically.
Glamorgan’s chief executive, Dan Cherry, expressed optimism about the team’s future but acknowledged the challenges ahead. In announcing the move, here’s what University President Miles Brand had to say… “This is a big step up for us. We understand that going to Division One will be difficult given the last 20 years. But Cherry stated the need to build on the squad, especially by improving the pace bowling assets at disposal.
Glamorgan will be looking to add strength to their bowling attack. Their vision extends to scouting new players, both internationally and in the domestic market. Cherry explained, “We’ve done a lot in terms of being active on the market, but in terms of fast bowlers, we’ve had very little success. Uncertainty regarding their promotion status had made recruiting for the additional USACE positions incredibly difficult, he explained. “We’ve been talking to a lot of fast bowlers and it’s been really difficult here because not knowing that we’re going to be a Division One county until pretty late on has probably meant that we’ve missed out on a couple of options that we were looking at,” he added.
Glamorgan’s promotion is bolstered by the contributions of young Welsh players who have emerged as key figures in the squad. Ben Kellaway and Asa Tribe, both 21 years old, were central figures in the club’s success this season. They have a future very much committed to Glamorgan. Cherry remarked on the club’s commitment to developing local talent, stating, “So the best young talent that we’ve got coming through, Ben Kellaway, Asa Tribe and others, we want them to know that they can achieve all of the ambitions they want out of the game by staying at Glamorgan.”
The club’s strategy has been to have constant conversations around new contracts with current players. They are in the process of negotiating with batter Billy Root, whose existing contract runs out at the end of this season. Root’s performance has been instrumental in Glamorgan’s rise in the ranks.
Whether that transformation is for better or worse remains to be seen. Captain Sam Northeast is due to return to his native county of Kent for family reasons. Overcoming this talent drain will mean closer scrutiny of their leadership hierarchy at the club as they head into Division One.
As Glamorgan prepare to enter a thrilling new era, Cherry is optimistic about what lies ahead. To that end, he said, “This is going to open up a tremendous opportunity for us. It’s going to help make us more attractive as it relates to players—recruiting and retaining them.
The club’s philosophy of developing young Welsh talent goes hand in hand with its desire to recruit the best quality overseas players. Sri Lankan seam bowler Asitha Fernando in action for Glamorgan this season. His arrival serves as a sign of the team’s commitment to international recruitment as they look to bolster their squad.
“But I think it’s really important to remember these players have taken us up. We believe in these players. Our new strategy is aligned around developing an identity and a group of players who can be more than the sum of their parts.” – Dan Cherry
With a blend of emerging local talent and strategic recruitment plans, Glamorgan aims to establish a competitive presence in Division One. The club hopes to create a core identity with their club-based homegrown players and experienced international athletes.
“Hopefully there’s the ability now with the next batch of players we’ve got coming through – and some really exciting ones to look out for – that we can turn more of those players into the next Ben Kellaway, and we can create a real core identity of Welsh talent, mixed in with players from outside, high-quality overseas players. I think we’ve got an exciting future ahead.” – Dan Cherry
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