Eastbourne College AND St Andrew’s Prep INCLUDED IN THE CRICKETER SCHOOLS GUIDE 2025
We are thrilled to announce that for the tenth consecutive year, Eastbourne College and St Andrew’s Prep have been included in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2025 for top 100 senior schools and top 50 prep schools for Cricket in the UK.
Eastbourne College
2025 brought another outstanding summer of cricket at the College, with fixtures taking place almost daily across the school. With pre-season cricket taking place for both the boys’ and girls’ programmes in South Africa and Dubai, the teams were well prepared for the arrival of the summer season and led to a very successful season. The girls 1st XI hosted the MCC on College Field for the very first time and finished their festival unbeaten, while the boys 1st XI contested several thrilling cup matches and capped their campaign with a rare victory over the MCC.
From Year 9 through to Year 13, every pupil benefits from year-round cricket provision. Under the leadership of Director of Cricket, Matilda Callaghan, and a team of specialist coaches, the programme includes regular squad training, one-to-one and small group sessions, as well as tailored gym programmes and education on the psychological aspects of performance. This comprehensive offering ensures that all pupils can develop a genuine love for the game, with opportunities for participation at every level, while those aspiring to push their cricket further receive the dedicated support they need to excel.
St Andrew’s Prep
Cricket at St Andrew’s Prep is thriving, with boys and girls equally represented across a remarkable eight teams in each gender. This breadth of participation reflects the school’s commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to play, develop, and enjoy the game.
The programme is led by an experienced coaching duo: Matilda Callaghan, the first woman to play in the Surrey Men’s Premier League and Essex Women’s Player of the Year in 2022, and Mark Tomsett, who brings expertise from Sussex County Cricket Club and Young Cricketers. Both share energy, expertise and a passion for nurturing young talent. Training takes place daily in the Memorial Nets, complemented by regular sessions in the indoor nets in our beautiful sports hall and Eastbourne College pitches . With five home venues available, the school is well equipped to host a busy calendar of fixtures.
Every Wednesday, pupils take part in a full fixture list against local prep schools. The majority of matches are played with the hardball format, though softball fixtures are also included to ensure accessibility for all abilities. This balance allows players to progress at their own pace while still experiencing the competitive edge of match play. Our Junior boys and girls play weekly softball matches.
St Andrew’s Prep enters both boys’ and girls’ teams in the IAPS competitions at U11 and U13 levels. These tournaments provide an exciting platform for pupils to test themselves against some of the strongest prep school sides in the country, while also promoting camaraderie and sportsmanship.
The school also has a large number of boys and girls in the Sussex Pathway for cricket and with such a wide participation base, excellent facilities and dedicated coaching, cricket at St Andrew’s Prep is a vibrant part of school life. Whether training in the nets, competing at home or away, or representing the school at IAPS, pupils are encouraged to embrace the traditions of cricket while developing skills that will serve them both on and off the field.
