Brighton College Prep set to benefit from the re-opening of Brighton College 'Home Ground' pitch

Excitement builds ahead of 2025 launch date

Brighton is famous for the sea fret which drifts over the city at times of the year.

But Brighton College prep school director of sport Ed Hopkins says the city's unusual climate often means the worst weather blows through when it might be raining in other parts of Sussex.

Good news for cricket, then – and Brighton prep lost only a couple of blocks of 2023 fixtures to rain in what was otherwise a fairly wet British summer.

Their most memorable moments came in the County Cup: the U13 boys went on to win the tournament after somehow managing to get 31 off the last two overs to beat Brighton Aldridge Community Academy in the first round, and the U12 boys triumphed in a heartstopping final against Seaford College by scrambling two off the last ball.

And it all began again after the autumn half-term.

"We’re very lucky to have our rustic three-lane indoor centre located in the basement of our School of Science and Sport, underneath the main sports hall, dedicated to cricket," says Hopkins.

"After half-term we’ll get six boys and six girls from Years 5 to 8 in there every Friday evening, to get them started before Christmas. We’ll get the spine of the teams worked out for next season.

"We used to go to the Sussex indoor school, but it’s much easier being able to do it on-site, cutting out the travel time."

^{Brighton College prep is hoping to build on memorable moments from 2023}

Then, as cricket season approaches, participation for the lower levels and lower years really kicks in – including a 'cricket carousel' for Reception to Year 3 - when matches start - based on short, engaging drills to get the youngsters started.

"During the season, the pupils dash out of the dining hall to net at lunchtimes, and they try to stretch it out into their next period!" says Hopkins.

In summer, juggling all the teams across years and genders is "a bit like air traffic control" says Hopkins, especially with the college's home pitch being re-laid ready for the 2025 season.

"It will be an unbelievable facility," he says.

The school are lucky to have their Jubilee Ground on the edge of the Sussex Downs, plus access to good public facilities off school grounds.

Brighton College is the school that produced Clare Connor, Sarah Taylor and several more of England’s best-ever women players.

"We're always trying to raise the profile our girls' cricket and balance the profile of boys and girls' cricket, while not wanting to compromise pitches on the boys’ side of things," says Hopkins.