Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club gearing up for life back in the Championship

Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club are back into the Saracens Hertfordshire Championship this summer after a two-season hiatus - and the North Herts club are gearing up for a big season on and off the field.

The club gained promotion from Division One on the final day of the 2023 season, and with overseas leg-spinner Zac Hayes returning to Whitethorn Lane in 2024, 1st XI captain Harry Aitkenhead is feeling buoyant ahead of the campaign.

"Nobody wants to be relegated but going down to Division One presented us with an opportunity to re-set and focus on our club ethos of homegrown talent and hard work," said popular Harry.

"Around 16 of the 21 players who featured in 2023 were Letchworth juniors from the age of seven or eight, and our average age was just 24.

"It's been the best winter I can remember in terms of hard work and dedication and we're now returning to the Championship a much stronger, fitter, closer and more well-rounded side than in 2021.

"We can't wait to get going and the sky's the limit for this squad going forwards," added the respected captain.

Letchworth GCCC thriving at all levels

The club has run free winter training for all its members, with five Saturday teams entered into the Herts League again this summer.

The 2nd and 3rd XI will be in new surroundings of Division 3A and 7E, whilst the 4th XI move back to Division 10N after winning the league in 2023 under the captaincy of Paul Hubbard.

A total of 102 people played a senior game for the club last summer, aged between 13 and 60, with all elements of the club thriving.

The junior section now has 180 juniors registered, including 33 girls, and are sponsored by Nandos now for 2024. Sixteen junior teams, boys and girls and all coached by qualified volunteers, are entered into competitive cricket this summer and the ECB-led All-Star and Dynamo programmes will also be run for children aged 5-11.

It's not just on the field though where things are going well. The club's second ground, at Fairfield Park, has undergone a refurbishment which includes putting in a brand-new cafe and bar for the first time.

See Letchworth Nub News over the Easter weekend for more on the exciting new refurbishment

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