Bideford pinpoint player development as 3rd XI priority | North Devon League success catalyst for introduction of the team
By OLLIE SMITH
BIDEFORD’S introduction of a 3rd XI into the Tolchards Devon Cricket League has been labelled “nothing short of a success” by club captain Jack Ford.
For a number of years, the Westward Ho! side have operated two Saturday league sides, but 2026 saw them enter a 3rd XI for the first time. The 1st XI have been plying their trade in the county-wide divisions since the restructuring, and the 2nd XI have been floating around the E and F Divisions.
A successful North Devon League programme meant there was a desire for a third playing side, which is currently seventh in the H Division East. Keith Berry is the man charged with leading the team.
Despite some low scores, club captain Jack Ford is confident the 3rd XI will fulfil its purpose, “There’s slightly less of a focus at the moment on the results, but more of a focus on promoting youth and development of every cricketer that plays, as is very synonymous with the whole history of our club.”
Ford is a product of the youth system at Westward Ho! and hopes that more players will follow in his footsteps, “Our youth section has always been the pride of our club.”
“In recent years, we’ve produced a multitude of players that have played premier, A & B division cricket successfully, with some going on to higher honours.” Ford, alongside Ollie Hannam, has grown up at Bideford, and apart from a two-year sabbatical trying his hand at Premier Division cricket with Sandford, has only represented Bideford.
The higher honours Ford mentions were attributed to Hannam and himself, who have both represented the Devon Lions, and to Josh King, who went one step further by representing the senior side.
On the decision to enter a 3rd XI, Ford put it down to the contribution of the volunteers at the club, ““It was a very easy decision for us to enter a 3rd XI into the Devon League this season.”
“Currently, we’ve got a very strong crop of youngsters coming up through the ranks, and it points towards a promising future of the club. Our volunteer coaches are absolutely fantastic and do some brilliant work every Friday evening!”
Sunday cricket is a big deal at Bideford, and it’s something they take as seriously as the Saturday stuff. “We’ve had some silverware success in the recent past, such as North Devon League division 2, followed by the North Devon League division 1. Last season we won the North Devon T20 League which was a brilliant day for the club, as we hosted the finals day also.”
“Promotion isn’t the be-all and end-all of our club. We have a brilliant social atmosphere within the whole club, and the mood around the club off the pitch currently is as good as I’ve known it!”
