We are sharing some correspondence from Emma Cowdrill from the Hampshire Cricket Board

The Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) are pleased to share we are expanding the MCC Foundation 'Hubs' to Southampton, Portsmouth and Basingstoke in 2026!

What is an MCCF Hub?

The 'MCCF Hub' programme is a free-to-access cricket training and coaching programme for secondary school, state-educated, talented cricketers. The programme is available for players who do not attend a fee-paying school and are not currently selected in County Age Groups or shadow squads. - RPC players are eligible.

The programme starts with an assessment/taster session, where squads will be selected for the upcoming winter programme. The selected squad will attend weekly training and coaching sessions totalling 15 hours contact time with our HCB coaches.

In recent years, HCB have developed a summer fixture programme, which adds match-play against other state-school performance pathways and community programmes available for young people in Hampshire.

The 'hub' squads will also enter regional and national fixtures as part of the National Hub Competition run by the MCC Foundation. - Southampton U16 groups both reached the quarter-finals in 2025!

Feedback has been fantastic and as the programme grows across the county, so do the opportunities we are able to provide players.

2026 programme
Slight changes to the upcoming programme means the age groups are now different for girls and boys.

• Girls - U15s (school years 8-10) and U17s (school years 11-12) - Year 7s up are eligible to attend assessment.
• Boys- U13s (school years 7-8) and U15s (school years 9-10) - Strong year 6s are eligible to attend assessment.

Winter training information (so far)

Southampton - King Edwards School, Wilton Rd

• Assessment dates TBC
• Girls sessions- Evenings on Mondays + Wednesdays from January (TBC)
• Boys sessions- Evenings on Tuesdays from January TBC)

Portsmouth - Priory School Sports Centre, Fawcett Rd

• Assessment dates - Tuesday 9th + 16th Dec (Boys) / Thursday 11th Dec (Girls)
• Girls sessions - Tuesdays 6:30-8pm/8-9:30pm Jan 13th onwards
• Boys sessions - Thursdays 5-7pm/7-9pm Jan 8th onwards

Basingstoke - Brighton Hill Community School, Brighton Way

• Assessment dates TBC
• Girls sessions - Thursdays 6-7:30pm/7:30-9pm from mid-Jan (TBC)
• Boys sessions - Tuesdays 6-7:30pm/7:30-9pm from mid-Jan (TBC)

Expression of interest

To ensure this opportunity is not missed by any keen young cricketer in the area, please encourage all parents of state-educated players to fill in the expression of interest forms below. This will give us contact details and information about players in the area - All parents who complete this will then be contacted by Sam Moss and will be invited to the assessment sessions.

1. Girls form - https://forms.office.com/e/SZiTFqJjBM
2. Boys form - https://forms.office.com/e/LeeFFm5pNz

Official sign-up process

• When the official sign-up process goes live, Sam will be in touch with parents directly to explain the steps to register.
• Contacting us:If you'd like more information about the programme, please contact Sam via sam.moss@utilitabowl.com.