Martin Speight hails 'amazing' facilities ahead of new Repton School challenge

Former Sussex and Durham man makes move after 13 successful years at Sedbergh

When Martin Speight says he has been working in schools cricket for "quite a long time," he could not be accused of overstatement. 

Speight will join Repton School this coming January after 13 successful years at Sedbergh, and it is easy to see his new employer describes their new technical director as the 'preeminent school cricket coach in the UK'.

Speight has coached a host of young talented players, with Harry Brook perhaps the most notable of the current crop, and the former Sussex and Durham professional is extremely clear on what it takes to develop an elite cricketing programme.

^{Participation is the first prong of Martin Speight's approach}

"There are three prongs," he says. "One, you've got to have participation; you want as many young people playing – boys and girls. You start with a massively wide base and try to enthuse as many young people as possible."

"Then you've got to drive the sport forward and produce outstanding young players who love the game. You’ve got to have a coaching programme all year round that gives young players the opportunity to develop and be the best they can be – and Repton have amazing facilities that they’ve upgraded to do that.

"The third string is competitive pathways. You’ve got to throw them out there and let them play and find a way of achieving success. By the time we get to the top end and the first-team boys and girls, we hope we’ve challenged them with enough competitive games. They’ve got to learn to lose. We want to be reaching national finals days, just not at all costs."

^{Speight hopes to breed a thriving team culture at Repton}

If it is true that success breeds success, Speight's ambitions for Repton will be aided by a summer in which the under-18s girls' team reached the national finals. 

Ella Porter's century against Uppingham School was the highlight of the campaign, making her the first girl to sit on Repton’s honours board. And having hosted the England women's team for their pre-Ashes training, it is little wonder that girls' cricket is enjoying a moment here – particularly impressive considering the programme is only five years old.

Running 11 teams over 100-plus fixtures a season, Speight will work closely with former England and Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Chris Read, who is set to continue in his role as head of cricket. And while blessed with professional-level facilities and close links to Derbyshire CCC, it is the team culture about which he speaks most effusively.

"It's not just about the individuals being really good. It's about how that group gel and the style of cricket they play through all the ups and downs so that the team that walks onto the pitch nine times out of 10 performs better than the individual skill sets," says Speight.

"It’s having that group of kids that supports each other, that plays for each other, plays for the badge and play in a manner that allows each of them to perform at best of their abilities – and showcase what we’re all about."