TOP 100 SENIOR SCHOOLS
FETTES COLLEGE // FOREST SCHOOL
FOREST SCHOOL Snaresbrook, London E17 3PY
FETTES COLLEGE Carrington Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH4 1QX Established 1870 Number of pupils 500 Master in charge Bruce Russell Professional Peter Steindl (Scotland) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, 3rd XI, U15AB, U14AB Girls’ cricket A games option through the year. Fixtures for U15 and senior XIs were in place last summer Lockdown initiatives Online coaching videos, training/fitness schedules, cricket-specific homework How will cricket bounce back? Cricket was played in the autumn Number of, and notable, fixtures About 70 a year. All the top Scottish schools plus MCC Facilities 4 squares, new 4-lane outdoor nets, plus a 3-bay facility, 4 indoor nets and nets at each boarding house boys Club/county affiliation Key partnership with Cricket Scotland. The national team train at Fettes in winter months as their main facility. They use indoor nets plus some outdoor spaces as part of a partnership agreement signed off each year. This gives the school various benefits (tickets to games, access to coaching for some players) Best prospect Harry Armstrong, 14, batsman and leg-spinner is in the Scotland age groups Cricketers of note Richard 50 | thecricketer.com
Bowman (Lancashire), Ronald Hoare (Northamptonshire & Lancashire) Brief history Fettes cricket has historically lived in the shadow of rugby union, but has nonetheless produced some fine teams over the years. Malcolm Jardine, an Oxford Blue (and father of Douglas) and KG MacLeod, described by Wisden as Scotland’s greatest all-round athlete, were the school’s finest cricketers. A golden period came during the 1950s. Recent teams have flourished, led by Neil Millar and Scott Maclennan, both to become Oxford Blues, bolstered by the influence of the Edwards boys, Henry, William, both to represent Scotland at U19 World Cups, and now younger brother Robert Cultural cricketers Tony Blair played cricket while a pupil. Robert White, notable left-arm spinner and cricket lover, who went on to manage several bands, including Simple Minds What sets the school apart? Beautiful 1st XI ground and historic pavilion. Recent 1st XI record, 4 times holders of national T20 cup in last 6 years Finest moment on the field One of these recent finals where Fettes beat a key rival at their patch in a onesided final (2017). Initiating the girls’ programme Plans A match run by a former pupil helped a local charity aimed at underprivileged boys and girls, raising more than £4,000 Tours Sri Lanka hopefully, Easter 2021, if not, 2022
Established 1834 Number of pupils 1450 Master in charge Jack Perham Professional James Foster (Essex & England) Teams 1st XI, 2nd XI, U15AB, U14ABC, U13ABC, U12ABC Girls’ cricket For 5 years: two teams per age group and approaching a first senior team year in 2021. U13 and U15 girls are county champions. 8 girls representing county age groups Lockdown initiatives Remote cricket sessions across the ages and stages of development. With each age group having a squad session every week, along with a whole school optional session offered after school. Along with weekly challenges and theory tasks to enhance cricketing knowledge (field settings, run-rate) How will cricket bounce back? Played in autumn. Playing against local schools and creating triangular cup competitions to drive further incentive and engagement. This will also run for the girls Number of, and notable, fixtures About 140 across the summer term. MCC, Haileybury, St Albans and numerous touring sides from India and South Africa Facilities 6 indoor nets, 3 outdoor grass nets, 3 outdoor artificial nets and mobile nets for wicket practice. 4 grounds situated across two sites within close proximity Club/county affiliation Essex and Middlesex. Wanstead & Snaresbrook, Woodford, Loughton, South Loughton and Fives & Heronians CCs Best prospect Peter Miller (Year 10,
batsman and seamer, athletic fielder, with Essex) Cricketers of note James Foster, Nasser Hussain and Adam Wheater Brief history The school’s archives date cricket at Forest back to the 1860s. Hussain became the first Old Forester to play for Essex and England. Former Essex allrounder Stuart Turner looked after the cricket at Forest from 1987, until his retirement in 2010. Forest School now runs more teams than at any other time in its history Cultural cricketers Paapa Essiedu, who has played Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company, turned out for the school’s B teams What sets the school apart? Agegroup county cricket has been played at the school for a number of years, along with local academies that play against international touring sides Finest moment on the field Supporting the first girls’ T10 competition in East London in 2019. Along with winning three Essex Cup titles in the same day (U12 and U13 boys, U15 girls) Progress The successful inclusion of teams across all of the girls’ age groups and their success within the county cups. Along with reaching four out of five Essex Cup finals in the boys’ competition Plans Continuing to provide and support the growth of boys’ and girls’ cricket across East London, while catering for the rise in popularity with entries to winter indoor leagues and local fixtures for all to engage with Tours India 2020 and local Kent tours were disrupted, but plans developing for next summer, along with the successful exchange program with St Stithians College from South Africa