02/09/2026
As the club moves to the final two weeks of the 2026 season. It is only right to acknowledge the amazing job Wayne Birks has done in the development of our youngest players. The massive commitment of time, personal sponsorship and leadership has been inspiring. Those who are regulars to Hornby Park will see evidence of the bright future at our club. The following is a very small snapshot of Wayne’s leadership, drive and tireless effort. Massive thanks, and to the support from Eco Life.
🏏From 9 Beginners to Playoff Victory: The Rise of Seaton Carew Lions Academy🏏
At the end of the 2023 season, Seaton Carew Cricket Club found itself at a transition point. With the current Under-11 squad entering their final year before moving up an age group, the club needed to attract new young players to ensure a sustainable future.
In September 2023, the club launched the Lions Academy. A 10 week autumn program aimed at encouraging children of all genders and abilities to give cricket a go.
When sessions went live at Mill House in October, just nine children attended the first session.
⭐ However, as the weeks progressed, word spread. By the end of the initial block, 12 new young players had joined. Building on that momentum, a post-Christmas indoor program pushed attendance to 14, giving the group enough preparation to play their first friendly hardball match by the end of the outdoor season.
Continued advertising ahead of the following winter saw registration grow to 18 players.
This allowed Seaton Carew to field its youngest Under-11 squad in the North Yorkshire & South Durham (NYSD) league for a full hardball season.
Fast forward to the 2026 season, and the growth has been substantial 📈
The academy now welcomes between 35 and 40 children to its Monday night training sessions. This surge in numbers enabled the club to field two Under-11 hardball teams this year:
🏏NYSD U11 Team: Finished an impressive second place in the league.
🏏DCL U11 Team: Won the League Play-Off Final in their very first season of hardball cricket.🏆
U9 Softball Team: Feature players as young as six who performed strongly at the Sedgefield softball festival.👶👶
Beyond the competitive achievements, the club is making steady progress toward a long-term goal of establishing a dedicated girls' section. Three girls now train regularly with the Monday group, laying a solid foundation for future growth.
Seaton Carew also maintains a close working relationship with the Durham Cricket Foundation, supporting both the Wicketz and All Stars Cricket Dynamos initiatives to help develop the sport across the wider region.
The player pathway is already showing results, with two academy members selected to represent the Durham Super 4s during the 2026 season, and several others preparing for representative trials ahead of 2027.
With the outdoor season now wrapped up, the squad moves back indoors for winter training on Monday evenings. Looking ahead to 2027, the club aims to field an Under-12 team, two Under-11 teams, and an Under-9 softball team making the transition into hardball marking a very promising path forward for youth cricket at Seaton Carew.
Nothing happens by accident, thanks Wayne and your team of parents who support our youngest players. 👏 🦁 🦁 🦁 🐟
