Simon Stanford.

Simon Stanford is one of the new breed of talented young cricketers breaking through in Pembrokeshire cricket, earning himself a reputation as a very good off-spin bowler and batsman at Saundersfoot Cricket Club.

The 17-year-old forced his way into the club's first team last season and also represents the county, as he has done at every level since he was ten.

Ironically, he started up spin bowling just by chance.

"I was a medium pace bowler until at one coaching session all the players were challenged to try something new in the game. I tried my hand at off-spin and he found that I could give the ball quite a tweak - and I've been at it ever since!"

He clearly has developed well because since then he has taken his share of wickets, with two claimed when the county reached the final of the Welsh regions at under-15 level, even though they lost to north Wales at Glamorgan's ground in Sophia Gardens.

In that season he also claimed five for 25 against West Glamorgan, so it is small wonder that he is eagerly anticipating the new season.

Simon is also a good player of football and rugby during the winter. He played full back for a Saundersfoot Juniors side coached by Andrew Spencer in the round-ball game and also plays for both Greenhill School and Tenby Youth as a winger in rugby.

Simon has grabbed a few tries this season for both school and youth sides. He is soon off to play in the prestigious Rosslyn Park Sevens for the school and will be off to Ireland with the Tenby youth team. This will hopefully be followed next season with a trip to Florida with the young Seasiders in his final year as a youth player.

But cricket is still his favourite sport, perhaps only natural given his family's involvement.

"My dad Roger has been a wicket-keeper batsman with Saundersfoot for 25 years and has been steward of the Saundersfoot Sports Club for almost as long. We started playing in the back garden and mum (Barbara) has also been a great supporter as she travels to watch as many of our county matches as she possibly can."

Last season saw Simon make a great start in the Saundersfoot first XI as he opened the batting and scored 50 against Llanrhian at Llandigige Fawr, followed by a five-wicket haul which marked him as man of the match. He added 48 runs in the next match at home to Llangwm, and although he was eventually switched to the No 5 position he learned a great deal with the bat. His bowling is also growing in confidence and he picked up a 6 for 42 analysis as his best figures, plus a top score of 78 runs against Cresselly Youth in the Ormond Cup.

Simon has warmed up for the new season by playing indoor cricket for Saundersfoot alongside other youngsters like David Dunfee, Yannick Parker and Paul Brooks. He firmly believes this will have him already into shape as he attends the club nets during the build-up to the 2008 campaign.

He is a steady, modest and down to earth young man who will no doubt find success as a cricketing all-rounder for years to come.

3:16pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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