Fundraiser for youth cricket tour

Young cricketer bowled over by South Africa opportunity

A talented teenage cricket player has been offered an ‘amazing opportunity’ to tour South Africa with the Devon County team, and has launched a fundraising appeal to help pay for his trip.

Albert Buckley, who is 15 and a year 10 student at South Molton Community College, has been selected to be part of the Devon under-15s autumn tour to South Africa.

He is already the opening bowler for the Filleigh Cricket Club 1st XI, and is the only North Devon representative of the fourteen players selected for the tour. The right arm fast bowler told Molton Monthly, “I’m really excited about going to South Africa. The chance to challenge myself against the best cricketers is great, and it will also be fantastic to see the wildlife and how different the culture is.”

As part of the trip, they will play matches in the Kruger National Park, and in Cape Town at one of the city’s test match grounds.

It costs each player £3,000 to take part, and Albert is appealing to local businesses and people for support with the fees, “I’d be so grateful for any backing that anyone can give to help me with this amazing opportunity.”

Albert Buckley taking a wicket for the Devon County side

He hopes to follow in the footsteps of players like Craig and Jamie Overton from North Devon, who went on the tour as juniors and now play for England. You can donate to Albert’s appeal here: gofundme.com/f/ alberts-wickets-take-him-to-south-africa