Simon Willis appointed Director of the newly formed Kent Cricket Academy
Kent County Cricket Club today announced the appointment of Simon Willis as Director of the newly formed Kent Cricket Academy
Kent CCC Media Release
15-Jan-2003
Kent County Cricket Club today announced the appointment of Simon Willis as Director of the newly formed Kent Cricket Academy. The 29 year old former Second XI Captain will combine his new role with that of Second XI Coach in establishing the Club's first Cricket Academy. Funding for the Academy, to which its first students will be nominated in September 2003, is partly funded to the tune of £50,000 by the ECB and Sport England.
On his appointment, Simon Willis said:
"I am delighted and honoured to have been chosen as the Cricket Academy's first Director and I am looking forward to making a real contribution towards the development of Kent's cricketers. Under the guidance of Ian Brayshaw, and with the help of Chris Stone, I am sure we can make the most of the talent available within the County in the years to come. We already have some outstanding talent and we look forward to working with the Kent Cricket Board in developing cricketers from school age through to first class County level."
Paul Millman, KCCC's Chief Executive said:
"The establishment of the Cricket Academy is great news for the County and signals a major step forward in the development of our youth strategy. In parallel to the work that Simon will be doing in the next few months, we are looking to enhance the facilities available to our young cricketers both at Canterbury and Beckenham. We have already improved the net facilities here at the St Lawrence Ground and will be looking to improve and extend our existing indoor school capacity. We will also be using Beckenham as a focus for development in West Kent."
Simon Willis made his debut for Kent in 1993. He is currently completing his level four coaching qualification and, in addition to Simon's appointment, the Club is in the process of recruiting a Cricket Administration Manager to support him in his new role.