Family cricket is back at Barton CC

Barton Cricket Club’s youth section is already looking ahead and making plans for the 2025 season.

The transformation of the Cricketfield Road’s Colts’ setup in the past 12 to 18 months has been remarkable.

Club chairman and cricket manager Jim Parker reflected on how far the club has come at its presentation night when there was standing room only at the best-ever attended event.

Youth coordinator Chris Ward was singled out for special praise, especially for his passion and commitment to growing the youth section and, in particular, on Friday club nights where colts’ numbers have increased from around 30 to a staggering 130.

Several soft and hard ball teams are now playing cricket, with more teams competing in the 2025 Devon Youth League than last year.

The club also now boasts more than 20 ECB qualified coaches, the Barton Belles womens’ team is up and running again and playing league cricket next summer, the club will have a third team in the Devon League next season, they have disability champion status and, by the way, the first-team won promotion to the A Division last season!

Parker said: “The club has made so many great strides on and off the field. The colts’ setup, the First XI’s promotion to the A Division and consolidation in the D Division for the twos. More than anything ‘family’ is back at Barton Cricket Club.”

He said a first-team photograph from last summer summed up Barton’s success on the field with every player but one (and that was our overseas player) coming through Barton’s youth ranks.

“Our policy of investing our future in the youth is paying off with youngsters performing in the first and seconds. Our youth section is now the envy of many clubs,” said Parker.

Testimony to that was Riley Calland, who was named Overall Colt of the Year. Riley made his first-team debut last year aged just 14 and was a regular wicket-taker in the seconds. He was also leading wicket taker for the Devon under-14s development team and is hoping to break into the full county squad in 2025.

Most Improved Colt was Harry Shelton, another first debutant last season and who was selected for the Devon u16 squad.

Both Riley and Harry will hopefully play a big part in Barton's future.

The club's unique partnership with our neighbours Torquay Academy is also paying dividends. Because of our joint lease initiative, we have now secured £25,000 'CIL' funding from Torbay Council.

Bids are in for £50,000 worth of further funding. It is hoped the money will kick-start our regeneration plans for the club with work starting on improving our changing rooms and, hopefully the indoor wicket and clearing part of the derelict house as soon as possible.

The partnership with Waldon FC both and off the field is also vital to these future plans. So, too, are links with the community with more and more groups and organisations using the facilities, including Play Torbay, SPACE and even the local WI!

Parker said none of this would be possible either without Barton's priceless army of volunteers, from its coaches and committee and officers to its ground staff, bar workers and tea ladies. He also thanked the club's sponsors, including Adam Parker and Pro Direct and, Chris Penner and CEP Building and Renovation.

"Our volunteers and our sponsors are also the envy of many clubs and I can't thank them enough," said Parker.

Special 'well done' certificates were handed out to every colt.

TINY TOTS AWARDS:
Monty Nowell
Stanley Jones
Morgan Willatt
Joanne Woodgett
Neave Parker
Otis Porter
Sidharth Sreejith
Remi-Jean Parker

NEWCOMER TO CRICKET AWARDS:
George Cresswell
Henry Wood
James Duke
Keegan Weston
Marco Clements
Byron Coughlin-Sherwood
Bertie McManus
Jason Woodgates
Xavier Rees
George Oakley
Toby Callaghan

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARDS
Ollie Payne
Ed Leigh
Reuben Hargreaves
Luke Wood
Oscar Abraham Noodles
Isaac Waters
Flo Ryder
Louie Edwards
Rowan Hammercott
Emily Penner

SPECIAL 'MOMENTS OF THE SEASON' AWARDS:
George Edwards hat trick v Ipplepen
Fred Gaggini 6-2 v Ipplepen
Isla Cresswell bowling v Exeter

COUNTY AWARDS
Riley Calland
Harry Shelton

MAIN AWARDS
Tormohun Lodge - Toby Ward
Abe Stringer Award - Louis Hargreaves
Barton Surgery Shield - Devanshu Sina
President’s Clubman - Josh Parkinson
Mike Cribbett Award - Ben Hales
Craig Lardner Shield - Thomas Cox
President’s Colt of Year - Ollie Shelton
Most Improved Colt of Year - Harry Shelton
Colt of the Year - Riley Calland