New Cricket Professionals at Eastbourne College
Matilda Callaghan joins the College as Director of Cricket, while former Sussex County Cricket Club player Nick Wilton joins the team as a new cricket professional.
As a player for Essex County Cricket Club’s Women’s team and having previously played for England U16s, Matilda has an impressive cricket CV. In 2021 she became the first woman to play in the Surrey Men’s Premier League, while her performances for Essex Women last summer meant she was awarded their 2022 Player of the Year.
Matilda said: “I’m looking forward to a summer full of fixtures and I’m excited to see how far we can take Eastbourne College cricket.
“We want to develop a passion for the sport, so I’m keen to continue the school’s tradition of coming up with creative ways to make all coaching sessions fun.
“I hope to achieve a cricket programme that all pupils enjoy and that those wanting to reach the next level in their cricketing careers can gain the knowledge and skills to do so.”
Matilda will be leading on developing the cricket offering at Eastbourne College and will be involved in its wider sports programme too.
She is joined by a new cricket professional, Nick Wilton, who played for Sussex County Cricket Club as a wicket keeper and batsman before moving into a fifteen-year career with the 160-year-old cricket company Gray Nicolls, where he worked with international cricketers.
Nick is currently also a coach at Kent County Cricket Club and works as a consultant for West Indies Cricket. He brings a wealth of experience in coaching different age groups.
Nick said: “I believe sport teaches you so many important lessons outside of actually playing the game with success. If we can create an environment that allows pupils to have fun, gain confidence and understand they won’t always be successful but can always enjoy teammates’ success, I’ll be happy.
“For some, College Field will be the setting for their introduction to this addictive game; for others, it will provide lifelong memories of proudly representing the College.
“For a few it will be a platform for an exciting future in the professional game. All are equally as important.”
We were delighted to be recently named in The Cricketer’s Schools Guide 2023 for the seventh year running.
The college has helped launch several current professional cricketing careers over the years, including Sussex County Cricket Club players Jamie Atkins, Oliver Carter, Tom Hinley, and in his formative years, Daniel Ibrahim.
Kent County Cricket Club players who attended the College include Harry Finch and Tawanda Muyeye, who arrived at the College as an asylum seeker from Zimbabwe in 2018 and has since achieved great success, including the prestigious Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year award 2020. Old Eastbournian Brad Evans, also from Zimbabwe, recently competed in the ICC World T20 World Cup for Zimbabwe as well as one day internationals against Australia.
Read more about the cricket provision at Eastbourne College here.
