The Calthorpe outfit are keen to produce more talented cricketers from Crouch End and run teams from under-fives all the way up to under-17s

Islington Gazette: Crouch End CC coach Poojan Vyas (left) along with head of colts cricket Pratik Patel (centre) and colts manager Ricardo Kirton (right) along with several colts during Saturday's taster colts session (pic: Pratik Patel).Crouch End CC coach Poojan Vyas (left) along with head of colts cricket Pratik Patel (centre) and colts manager Ricardo Kirton (right) along with several colts during Saturday's taster colts session (pic: Pratik Patel). (Image: Archant)

Crouch End CC are keen to increase the number of colts in their youth section and believe first-team success last season will help attract more youngsters to the club.

Vice-captain Pratik Patel has recently been made head of colts cricket at the north London outfit.

He has experience of playing for Middlesex CCC’s academy and is looking to help create a new generation of cricketers from the Crouch End area.

With the Calthorpe club now in Middlesex County League Division Three for the first time, they are looking to not only stay there, but thrive with youth playing a big part.

Patel said: “In 2017 we got promoted to the Middlesex County League and that’s something we’ve never achieved before, so that was a first for the club.

“We’ve been around since 1874, so it is a big thing for the club to be promoted and I was offered the head of colts job and I’ve taken over from three ladies who run the colts section brilliantly.

“Suzie (Zuber), Lakshmi (Hewavisenti) and Tracy (Morrell) have built the colts section up to about 125 children and it’s my responsibility to try and take it on even further now.

“I want to try and promote youth cricket in Crouch End even more and we have lots of different camps on and practice sessions for juniors on Wednesdays and Fridays.”

The Crouch End opening batsman and bowler has plenty of ideas for ways to increase the colts section and with the club running groups from under-five all the way up to under-17s, there are various teams to join.

In terms of Patel’s history with the N8 outfit, he joined four years ago and enjoyed it so much he hasn’t said goodbye yet!

He added: “I joined as a pro cricketer and the season I got involved at Crouch End CC we were fighting relegation, but we survived. I actually really enjoyed playing at the club and the area is wonderful, so I decided to continue playing there full-time.”

After first-team success in 2017, Patel will now hope to enjoy the same with the colts this year. For more email crouchendcricket@gmail.com or call Pratik Pate; on 07861 533 553.