The 2024 season is just around the corner and with it comes the first of many exciting announcements. Maghera Cricket Club has secured the services of Benji Cathcart as a player-coach. Benji is an ECB level-2 coach with over a decade of experience. He has had playing and coaching stints at Muckamore Cricket Club, Ards Cricket Club and Loughborough Cricket Club. Benji will coach senior men's cricket and will also be part of our 1st team in the season to come.
Here's Benji talking about his passion for cricket, coaching and his new role at Maghera Cricket Club
"Cricket has been my first sport, I have always had a passion for the development and growth of the game. If I was to describe myself as a player it would be gritty, as a coach I use a player centred approach focusing on players strengths and maximising their individual ability. Previously I have played for Muckamore Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club starting there at 7 playing through all the age groups and started to play senior cricket from the age of 12, there I coached all age groups, the ladies teams and seniors. From there I had gone to Loughborough university where I played for a local team Loughborough Carillon Cricket Club, I have also had a role at Ards Cricket Club as Head Coach for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. For Cricket I have my level 2 ECB coaching certificate and have completed my Degree in Applied Sport Science. I have enjoyed watching Maghera from when the club first started to the impressive position they currently find themselves in, speaking to a few members I feel that I can bring more cricket experience and structure to training to help the team unlock their full potential."
Club chairman Mark Semple also spoke about Benji signing with MCC:
"I am thrilled to welcome Benji Cathcart as our new Coach for the incoming year. Benji is well known to Maghera Cricket Club and comes with a wealth of experience and coaching qualifications. His role will be to build up the technical skills of the Club’s player base to ensure its competitiveness as we seek to build on the momentum of the past few years. With the Club now putting out two teams at the weekend, and in 2024 endeavouring to enter its youth team into a competitive structure; the challenge for the incoming coach is an exciting one. We feel securing Benji’s services is a very important step in the continued progress of the Club and to increase the enjoyment of the sport as our players across the Club improve their game."
We warmly welcome Benji to the club and players will get a chance to meet him soon with pre-season beginning shortly. More pre-season information and club announcements to come very soon.
Written by Simon Alleyne