Gatting jnr becomes Sussex pro

Joe Gatting spent three seasons at Brighton before turning his back on football

Joe Gatting, the nephew of former England captain Mike, has been awarded a two-year contract at Sussex.

Gatting junior, a former Brighton and Hove Albion footballer like his father Steve, has graduated from Sussex’s Academy Plus scheme.

The 21-year-old has been rewarded for a hard-working winter, culminating in an impressive century against Surrey in last month’s Pro ARCH Trophy in Abu Dhabi.

“This is a great opportunity for me. It was the right time to call it a day with football and concentrate fully on cricket,” he said.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the winter training with the first team squad and was pleased with my performance in Abu Dhabi. I am looking forward to what promises to be a very exciting season.”

Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson added: “Joe has worked with the squad this winter and earned the right to travel with the first team squad to Abu Dhabi.

“He continued to look at total ease within the environment and capped it all off by playing the innings of the tournament, of any team, against Surrey in scoring 110.

“We are all excited by the prospect of watching his career develop at Hove.”