Surrey’s Academic Cricket Scholars (SACS) programme has signed a partnership with Chase Cricket, a premier bat-making brand, who will support the scholars and programme coaches by providing them with training gear and equipment.
Launched in early 2023, the programme partners with state schools across Surrey and south London and offers young people access to high-quality cricket coaching as well as strength and conditioning training while completing their sixth-form academic studies. In its first year, the programme started out with three partner schools and is now set to be working with 12 schools from the 2025/26 academic year.
The new partnership will see Chase become SACS front-of-shirt sponsor, with their logo featuring on scholars’ training, travelling, and playing kits with every new starter receiving a Chase cricket ball.
Chase will offer scholars exclusive discounts on a wide range of cricket equipment alongside on-field performance-based awards. The new partners will also provide programme coaches with a kit bag, comprising training and catching bats among other items.
Besides the on-field support, the students will benefit from visiting Chase’s workshop in Hampshire and learning how bats are manufactured as well as from presentations and advice provided by Chase’s staff during the Careers in Cricket events.
The applications for the 2025/26 intake is open now and the Club will be holding online introductory presentations for prospective applicants and their parents/guardians this September, with trials following in October Half Term.
Judy Wallis, State School Sixth Form Cricket Programme Lead at Surrey Cricket, said: “This partnership is a coming together of two organisations that are committed to making cricket more accessible in state schools.
“We are excited to work with Chase, who will support our scholars by providing them with a more affordable option to get their cricket kit. They will also support our programme coaches and deliver employability workshops to the students.”
