Greenfield Cricket Club has appointed a new Head of Junior Development to mentor its junior teams.

Paul Connolly has been the chair of Oldham Cricket Development group for eight years and a member for 20 years.

He has worked extensively with the District and Inter-League programmes and is the current coach of the GMCL under 13s side. 

A qualified MSc Sports Psychologist, he has worked in the Premier League and First-Class County Cricket and with clients from golf, athletics, netball, bodybuilding and football.

He will work with the club on Saturday mornings at the club’s open invitation sessions and oversee the junior training sessions and development with the club’s current group of coaches which will remain the same while they run their individual teams.

Mr Connolly, from Greenfield, said: “I believe passionately in the opportunity mentoring can achieve in developing an individual. 

“Throughout my 20 years in business and over the last 20 years in sport I believe my mentoring skills are transferable to any organisation, whether dealing with individuals in a team environment or purely one-to-one situations.

"I am motivated by my belief every individual is important. 

"My style is to identify individual strengths and to nurture them by effective development on stressing a positive approach. 

“This enables individuals towards self-development and, with sustained support, the individual is provided security, confidence, and calm to produce consistent quality-focused work.

“I am delighted to be joining GCC and I am really looking forward to working with you all.”