Youth Section
The first recorded game involving a Cogenhoe youth team was played on June 24th 1959, when Cogenhoe youth totalled 93-5 and then bowled out Finedon for 89 to win by four runs. The Cogenhoe side that day was Alan Bettles, V Smith, D Crane, N Dunn, Mick McNamee, Pat Andrews, R Gayton, J York, M Axford, S Turner and Nicky Potter.
Fast forward to 14th May 1970 for an under 18's game at home to Earls Barton as Cogenhoe, thanks to P Johnson 43 and 19 not out from Fred Ingate, posted 89-5 in their 20 overs. Cogenhoe then restricted the visitors to 76-7 to win by 13 runs. That under 18's side contained names more familiar to us today P Johnson, Neil Woolston, Derek Wright, D Miles, Fred Ingate, A Stuart, Tot Manning, Richard Hockaday, Phil Welch, M Stanton and Steve Cottle. May 23rd saw a more exciting game as R Hextall top scored with 25 not out, as Cogenhoe posted 91-9. In reply Plessey were 90-9 when Tot Manning, who was only 12, clean bowled Plesseys last man to give Cogenhoe a win by one run.
Cogenhoe has always struggled to field youth sides due mainly to the lack of numbers. Back in the mid seventies a different version of the game allowed Cogenhoe to compete with other clubs as only sides of eight were required. The format of the game was that batsmen would go in to bat in pairs and face 5 overs per pair. If you got out then you remained at the crease but 5 runs were deducted from the team score. If the pairing did not get dismissed then the team scored a bonus of 5 runs. The team score was calculated by dividing the number of runs scored by the number of wickets lost to give you an average per wicket score.
June 6th 1974 saw a trip to Podington where the scorebook has Cogenhoe's under 13's down as the Cogenhoe Colts. The eight colts of Cogenhoe were Adrian Waldron, Syd Mason, Barrie Woolston, Roy Quennell, Adam Wright, Martin Monaghan, Phil Whiteman and Steve Morley. Victory by an average of 8 to 6.7 was achieved with Phil Whiteman top scoring and Syd taking 3-6 from his two overs. Earls Barton at home saw Cogenhoe amass 85 runs with the last pair of Phil 22 and Roy 11 boosting that total to give Cogenhoe an average of 8.5. Earls Barton were then restricted to an average of 6.7. June 25th saw the final group game at home to Horton in a winner takes all decider. Cogenhoe's 52 for the loss of 8 wickets, giving them an average of 6.5. Horton's last pair came in with just one wicket down but despite some superb bowling by Barrie Woolston and a blinding catch by Roy Quennell, Horton survived to go through to the next stage of the competition.
The 1975 side was made up of Richard Lane, Barrie Woolston, Syd Mason, Jo Welch, Phil Whiteman and Roy Quennell and saw victories over Boughton B and Horton B, before Boughton's A team containing a certain Reg Cox and Horton's A team both gained revenge for their B teams defeats. This competition was over a reduced format of 9 overs per side. The youth sides of the late seventies and early eighties produced the likes of Dave Foley, Jason Roberts and Andy Tipler and like those of the seventies was run by Cliff Lloyd whose dedication and enthusiasm to youth cricket at that time should not be overlooked. The lack of numbers has always hampered Cogenhoe`s youth ambitions. Whilst bigger clubs in the Town and bigger villages can attract a larger number of youngsters due to their geographical location and catchment areas, Cogenhoe has always struggled. During the late nineties the clubs membership numbers were falling and the committee took the decision to start a youth section again in an effort to secure the club's future. It was one of the best decisions made by the club and recent years has led to players such as Ryan and Liam Knight, Tom Smyth, Jack Quennell and Frankie Perkin going on to represent the club at a senior level. In 2001 Cogenhoe under 13's won the F G Watts under 13's league, playing that same format used some 27 years earlier. The star of that side was Charlie Swallow who has since gone on to play at County level for his age group as well as starring for Old Northamptonians. Also in that side were Liam Knight, Jack Quennell and two other village youngsters David Hill and Mark Stanley. Today Cogenhoe run an under 12's side which despite a lack of wins has a great spirit about it and one which the parents are keen to see progress. The 2006 young player of the year, Elliott Patterson, has gone on to play for Horton and the County at his age level and we all at Cogenhoe wish him well. Today's under 11's are tomorrows first teamers and who knows the likes of Tom Lee-Brown, Ashley Davies, Lewis Moran, Adam Berry, Brendan and Alex Leslie, Umang Dave, Chris Towler and Jack O'Hagan might well be the stars of the club when we celebrate 150 years of cricket at Cogenhoe in 2032.
I have already mentioned the part Cliff Lloyd played in the seventies concerning youth cricket and today the coaches of our youth set up are just as dedicated, enthusiastic and committed to teaching youngsters about cricket. Jason Roberts has been the head coach at Cogenhoe for the past several years during which time the role of the coach has changed. The times we now find ourselves living in mean that all cricket clubs must have a Child Welfare Officer whose job it is to ensure that any youngster playing cricket at Cogenhoe does so in a safe environment. It adds more pressure to the person charged with that task and youngsters welfare is something we, at Cogenhoe, take very seriously and in Jason we have someone who is one of the best coaches and Child Welfare Officers in the county. The club has produced its own Child Protection Policy which not only covers our under 11's but any youngster under 16 that plays for the club. Jason's time and commitment to the youngsters not just of Cogenhoe but also the District, is worthy of our utmost admiration as it takes a great deal of his time coaching, attending games and meetings.
Jason's wife Bridget and daughter Chloe, whilst used to Jason not being there during the summer, must also take a lot of the credit for allowing him the time to carry out his love of coaching.
Another person who has played a prominent role in the youth section has been Dave Patrick who not only was instrumental in that 2001 success but also helped to bring on the youngsters as they progressed through the second team. Dave would often be skippering a side half of which were under 15s, but he still gave them a game which was vital to their cricketing education.
A grade one coach, Dave continues to help out on Friday's practice nights and Sunday's match days. The club has always supported youth cricket and has paid for Dan Harris, Roly Patterson and Pete Arthur to take and pass their level one assistant coaches course over the past couple of years and we hope that they can continue to help produce cricketers for the club that will ensure the clubs future.
The commitment of Jason, Dave, Dan, Roly and Pete to youth cricket is something we should all admire; it takes up an awful lot of your spare time and even more in the way of dedication. We are very lucky at Cogenhoe to have people of that quality at our club.
If you want your son or daughter to learn about cricket and enjoy playing the game then a small friendly club such as Cogenhoe can offer a great environment to do just that. Please do not hesitate to contact us either via email or just by attending our youth practice nights which take place every Friday evenings from 6.30 pm at Compton Park in Cogenhoe.
Full details of our club's Child Protection Policy can also be found on our policies page
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