Wiltshire Cricket announces partnership with Southern Academy of Sport!

Wiltshire Cricket is delighted to announce a new sponsorship agreement with the Southern Academy of Sport, which marks a significant milestone for the County Women’s Team and Girls Talent Pathway. This collaboration is set to enhance the development and performance of female cricketers from across the county, as Wiltshire embark on their maiden season in the new ECB County Women’s Competition.

Established in 2009, the Southern Academy of Sport is dedicated to helping athletes optimise their physical performance and reduce injury risk through world-class coaching and support. Southern Academy of Sport support a wide variety of athletes from recreational adults and youth, through to Olympians, Commonwealth Athletes and international athletes across 24 different sports.
Based in Chippenham, Southern Academy of Sport offer a comprehensive approach to athletic development, focusing on four key pillars; Movement, Mindset, Nutrition and Recovery. Their mission is to assist athletes in fulfilling their potential by delivering individualised programmes and coaching.

Through this new partnership, the Southern Academy of Sport will provide a fantastic array of services to the County Women’s Squad, Girls EPP and Girls Talent pathway, including;

• Pre & Post Programme Testing, utilising cutting-edge sports science techniques and technology.
• Weekly Coached Strength & Conditioning Sessions for Women’s & U18 Girls Squads
• Access to superb Southern Academy of Sport Facilities in Chippenham
• Athlete Education Programme, detailing topics of nutrition, sleep, recovery, training and more!
• Individualised Gym Programmes, tailored specifically to each athlete and delivered through personalised online apps.
• Wellness and Health Monitoring assessments to maintain optimal athlete health.
• Match-Day Physio provision during the summer to address athlete preparation, medical and recovery needs.
• Year-round squad training programme to continually develop and maintain peak performance levels.

The County Women, EPP and U18 Girls Squads have benefitted from a winter programme, delivered by Southern Academy of Sport. Wiltshire Women’s and U18 coach, Sam Dent spoke very highly of the provision: “Southern Academy of Sport have been brilliant to work with! The individual attention that they have given to each player has been excellent throughout the winter! This has really enhanced the County Women’s programme and we’ve seen some great progress from the squads! Thanks to Southern Academy, we’ve been able to offer one of the best S&C programmes for a County Women’s Team in the country! Each player has also gained confidence in this environment, helping to prepare them for future high-performance cricket and/or a healthy, active lifestyle! A huge thank you to Southern Academy, and in particular Liv & Joe, who have been outstanding! I look forward to working together more throughout the year!”

Joe Alford, Southern Academy Director, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We’re pleased to support Wiltshire Cricket as they step into this new competition structure. The team and players operate in a high-performance amateur environment, which brings unique challenges alongside study, work and other commitments. Our role is to provide high-quality support that fits around those demands — helping players stay healthy, reduce their risk of injury, and perform at their best. We've had a great off-season with the squad, and we’re looking forward to building on that through the season.”  

Looking ahead, the Women’s team has a busy schedule, with warm-up fixtures starting on 13^th April, and the new ECB Tier 3 league beginning on 20^th April. Within the first month of fixtures, Wiltshire Women may also come face to face with a fully professional team, The Blaze if cup results in Rounds 1 & 2 go in favour of Wiltshire!

Southern Academy of Sport will be with the Wiltshire Women throughout the summer, supporting with match-day physiotherapy provision and year-round squad training programmes to complement summer match-play.

The partnership embodies Wiltshire Cricket’s commitment to advance Women’s and Girls’ Cricket in the county, and rival the provision offered by Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties by providing access to top-tier training facilities and expertise.

Wiltshire County Women begin their 2025 campaign on Sunday 20^th April at Warminster CC, in a 50-over clash against Cheshire County Women. Entry to the ground is free and Wiltshire Cricket welcomes friends, families and supporters.