HAMPSHIRE legend Bobby Parks has stepped down as the county’s Academy director.
The former Hampshire wicketkeeper, whose 700 dismissals from 1980-92 is still a county record, will continue on the coaching staff as Wicket-keeping coach, writes Simon Walter.
But he has been succeeded as academy director by Charlie Freeston, who will also continue as Hampshire’s Second XI coach.
Parks said: “I just feel the timing is right after eight exciting years of working with Hampshire’s elite players - four in charge of the Hampshire Academy and another four years with the Emerging Players Programme - and a knackered left knee.
“The recent project to bring all representative cricket in Hampshire under the Hampshire Cricket banner has been massively important to me and leaves us in a great position to control the future development of young players coming through our system.
“I started that at the beginning of the year and it was completed on October 1 so the timing is right.
“But I won’t be going anywhere. [Hampshire director of cricket] Giles White has offered me a couple of new projects, one of which is to produce a similar pathway for girls’ cricket in the county.”
The son of former Sussex and England gloveman Jim Parks, Alresford-based Bobby became an accountant when his playing days ended in 1992.
He returned to the county on a freelance basis a decade later, initially to coach the U10 to U19 glovemen, before expanding his role to work with Nic Pothas.
Parks has since helped bring through the likes of Michael Bates and Lewis McManus who, along with Adam Wheater, he will continue to coach.
“I’m really happy to continue as the keeping specialist as it’s the love of my life,” he said. “I’m going to be looking at all the keepers coming through the system. I fully intend to continue making life difficult for Giles by providing a healthy stream of talented ‘keepers!”
The last year has been one of the most memorable for Parks, with Brad Taylor, Mason Crane and Joe Weatherley all making good progress.
“To see those three come through, play for England U19s and be awarded development contracts, has been very rewarding,” he said.
“The last twelve months, in particular, have been a time to savour, our boys u17s having won the National Two-Day Championship.
“There’s another crop of talented cricketers coming through the system.”
The former Hampshire wicketkeeper, whose 700 dismissals from 1980-92 is still a county record, will continue on the coaching staff as Wicket-keeping coach, writes Simon Walter.
But he has been succeeded as academy director by Charlie Freeston, who will also continue as Hampshire’s Second XI coach.
Parks said: “I just feel the timing is right after eight exciting years of working with Hampshire’s elite players - four in charge of the Hampshire Academy and another four years with the Emerging Players Programme - and a knackered left knee.
“The recent project to bring all representative cricket in Hampshire under the Hampshire Cricket banner has been massively important to me and leaves us in a great position to control the future development of young players coming through our system.
“I started that at the beginning of the year and it was completed on October 1 so the timing is right.
“But I won’t be going anywhere. [Hampshire director of cricket] Giles White has offered me a couple of new projects, one of which is to produce a similar pathway for girls’ cricket in the county.”
The son of former Sussex and England gloveman Jim Parks, Alresford-based Bobby became an accountant when his playing days ended in 1992.
He returned to the county on a freelance basis a decade later, initially to coach the U10 to U19 glovemen, before expanding his role to work with Nic Pothas.
Parks has since helped bring through the likes of Michael Bates and Lewis McManus who, along with Adam Wheater, he will continue to coach.
“I’m really happy to continue as the keeping specialist as it’s the love of my life,” he said. “I’m going to be looking at all the keepers coming through the system. I fully intend to continue making life difficult for Giles by providing a healthy stream of talented ‘keepers!”
The last year has been one of the most memorable for Parks, with Brad Taylor, Mason Crane and Joe Weatherley all making good progress.
“To see those three come through, play for England U19s and be awarded development contracts, has been very rewarding,” he said.
“The last twelve months, in particular, have been a time to savour, our boys u17s having won the National Two-Day Championship.
“There’s another crop of talented cricketers coming through the system.”
