The 2023/24 South East Stars’ Emerging Player Programme (EPP) has taken in a record number of players with 11 Surrey players featuring in the cohort of 24 selected for the coming year.
Launched in 2022, the programme has grown from 18 players last year and this year’s intake sees 11 players taken from the Surrey CCC Pathway and 13 from Kent.
This year, in light of the programme’s continued development and with a larger squad to look after, the weekly training sessions will be predominantly conducted from two hubs this winter – The Spitfire Ground in Canterbury and Cranleigh School in Surrey.
The EPP offers opportunities for talented, young players to progress in the South East Stars Pathway. The programme supports the holistic development of the players as cricketers and athletes by providing them with structured coaching and high-quality training facilities as well as ensuring they also develop their personal skills.
Most recently, three Surrey players – Hannah Burridge, Daisy Feast, and Laxmi Johal – graduated from the programme to make the step up into the Stars Academy. In the summer of 2023, many players in the EPP received regular chances to show their skills on the pitch for the Stars Academy team, which features in Regional Academy Friendlies throughout the season.
Lucy Arman, Regional Talent Manager at the South East Stars, said: “I’m excited to lead and work with this year’s Emerging Player Programme. We have increased our numbers from 18 to 24 players this year, with exceptional talent from both Kent and Surrey pathways.
“After a positive and hard-working year, four EPP players have transitioned into this year’s Academy squad, which is a huge success and step into the future of the professional game.
“The EPP will train on a weekly basis and sessions will be structured to support the players’ individual development plans across both regional and county programmes. In the EPP, we will train in a positive and hard-working environment that will support players to be the best version of themselves.”
