Sussex reveal Academy partnership

Sussex all-rounder Ollie Rayner will be present at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy for a Street20 cricket match

Sussex have announced the formation of a partnership with the Brighton Aldridge Community Academy.

The club will help to promote cricket at the Academy, which opened in September and will move into new purpose-built facilities in Falmer in Spring 2011.

In addition to providing cricket for students, the Academy will also be the base for a new Falmer Cricket Club incorporating two existing teams; Moulsecoomb Wanderers CC and Preston Village CC.

Sussex players Ollie Rayner and Lewis Hatchett will attend Student Founders day at the Academy today when a Street20 community cricket match will take place.

Sussex chairman Jim May said: "This is an exciting development for cricket.

"Although participation levels have been growing rapidly there has been a lack of facilities for cricket in state schools and insufficient provision for clubs in East Brighton. The Brighton Aldridge Community Academy is treading a truly innovative path."

Keith Greenfield, the club’s cricket performance manager, added: "As a former pupil of Falmer High School (which the Academy will replace) nothing would bring me greater pleasure than to see a student from Brighton Aldrige Community Academy become a professional cricketer at Sussex. We are very keen to help the Academy develop cricket."

The partnership has also been welcomed by Rod Aldridge OBE, the chairman of the Aldridge Foundation and chair of governors at the Academy.

"The exciting new venture demonstrates our commitment to both increasing sports participation and to the local community," he said.

"Our aim is for the Academy to be right at the heart of the community improving the standards of education and providing the opportunities they have not had in the past. This exciting partnership with Sussex CCC will enable us to build relationships across the area and between the Academy and the local primary schools."

"We see it as an innovative way of developing our sports specialism and increasing participation in a competitive team sport. The formation of a new cricket club in the area will give a focal point to community participation and provide the opportunity for all to use the facilities at the new academy."