The MCC Foundation is offering free cricket coaching in Southall to state school pupils aged 11 to 15. Trials are at Featherstone Sports Centre on 19 January.

Young cricketers aged 11 to 15 can sign up for ten weeks of free coaching in Southall, with a chance to play their way to Lord’s. Trials are on Tuesday 19 January 2027.

The programme is run by the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation’s Hounslow Hub, the MCC’s youth charity. Ealing Council announced it on 11 November and said the hub is recruiting boys and girls for 2027.

Who can take part

The council’s announcement sets out the terms:

  • age: 11 to 15
  • school: pupils at state schools
  • ability: new players are welcome, as well as those who already play
  • cost: free

When and where

The trial session starts at 5.45pm on Tuesday 19 January 2027. Players picked for the programme then train every Tuesday evening from 26 January, for ten weeks.

All sessions are at Featherstone Sports Centre on Montague Waye, Southall, UB2 5HF. The council’s page for the centre lists a five-court sports hall with four cricket lanes. Buses E5, 120 and H32 stop nearby, and Southall station is the nearest railway station.

Coaching is led by the hub manager, TJ Danee, and a team of coaches. Each player selected gets a Gray-Nicolls performance shirt and access to extra coaching resources during the programme.

The route to Lord’s

At the end of the ten weeks, the hub will pick an under-13 team and an under-15 team. Both will enter the MCC Foundation’s T20 national knockout competition next summer.

The competition is played against hubs from across the country. The national finals are at Lord’s Cricket Ground, according to the council.

Councillor Lauren Wall, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities, said: “Programmes like this help young people develop confidence, resilience and teamwork, while having fun and making new connections.”

What it means for you

Parents and carers register their child with the online sign-up form. The council has not published a closing date for sign-ups, so registering before the trial on 19 January is the safe course.