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Boost for aspiring black cricketers as ACE scheme launches in northern England

Young black cricketers in the north of England will receive unprecedented support in pursuing professional careers thanks to a scheme in Sheffield which is launched on Monday.

The program is a partnership between Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Sheffield Caribbean Sports Club and African Caribbean Engagement (ACE), a charity launched by former England cricketer and pundit Ebony Rainford-Brent to increase black representation in the sport.

Andre Jackson, the new ACE Development Officer for the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, will lead the Sheffield operation, which he hopes will follow on from the success of iterations in south London, Birmingham and Bristol.

He said: “It is vital that every young cricketer is given specific opportunities and support so that they can reach their full potential.

“In my role, I want to help young black cricketers to be passionate about cricket and have that love for the game because that’s what my coaches gave me and I still have that passion today.”

ACE was originally launched by Surrey in January 2020 in response to alarming research which revealed black players made up less than 1% of the recreational game and found a 75% drop in black British professional players.

Now an independent charity, ACE has expanded to Birmingham and Bristol with the help of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and, in the latter’s case, Royal London.

To date, it has welcomed over 6,000 young cricketers into its programs and fielded over 200 players for trials, resulting in 109 ACE National Academy scholarships for elite talent.

ACE Open Day at the OvalACE Open Day at the Oval

The Sheffield launch is part of even wider expansion plans which include Nottingham and Manchester (Yorkshire Cricket Foundation)

The ECB funding will also facilitate further expansion plans in Nottingham and Manchester, with over 10,000 young cricketers expected to come through ACE’s talent identification program each year in the new areas.

ECB Acting CEO Clare Connor said: “The work ACE has done to date is truly inspiring and we are delighted to support their continued expansion.

“This new funding ensures that more young people from black communities in Sheffield, Nottingham and Manchester have the opportunity to play and hopefully thrive in our game. Working in this way is vital to ensure we make cricket a game for everyone.”

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