Free Foresters Academy

The club remains committed to playing 'friendly' cricket at the highest possible level. We are keen to find new challenging opponents and recruit top young players. With this in mind, in 2008 we launched the FF Academy, whose founding Hon Patron was the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins MBE.

In early July 2009, the FF ran a second Academy Festival - a round robin U25 competition between the FF Academy, Young Holland, Ireland U19 and Combined Services. Ireland won and FF were runners up.

The FF Academy also played in Home Minor Counties U25 competitions (against Oxon, Herts, Bucks and Beds) in a mixture of two-day, T20 and three-day fixtures, winning the trophies on a number of occasions including doing the double in 2012.

In recent years our fixture list has changed with regular matches against British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, as well as Club Cricket Conference U25s.

The FF Academy in 2013 - winners of the double

A glorious 2013 for the Academy. The double!

We are delighted that to date the Club has had over 150 young players represent the FF Academy. Not only have most gone on to become full members of the club but many of our fixtures are match managed by FF Academicians. This is excellent news as Match Managers are part of the essential fabric of the Club.

Academy v Army at RMA Sandhurst 2025

In 2026 we have a full programme of Academy fixtures. Members are encouraged to support these games.

• Wed 6th May v RAF Development at Vine Lane (T20)
• Tues 19th May v Repton School
• Thurs 11th June v RAF Development at Vine Lane
• Tues 7th July  Tonbridge School (2 day)
• Tues 18th August v Club Cricket Conference U25s at Potters Bar CC

Cole Seggery receiving Man of Match Award against RAF at Vine Lane 2025