DURHAM County cricketing stalwart Neil “Killer” Killeen today (Wednesday, September 17) helped launch a new academy aimed at nurturing young talent in the sport.

The former cricketer was at the official unveiling of Hetton School Cricket Academy in Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside – an area with a proud cricketing tradition.

Mr Killeen, who began playing at Annfield Plain Cricket Club and has played for Durham County Cricket Club and Marylebone Cricket Club, gave young players individual coaching at the launch.

Junior teams at the Hetton Lyons Cricket Club and Eppleton Cricket Club compete in the Durham Cricket League with many progressing to books of Durham County Cricket club.

Players and coaches at Hetton School prides themselves on their sporting achievements, with the school's under 12 and under 15 teams becoming county champions in the past few weeks.

Many of the ex-students have progressed to represent Durham and England at a range of levels up to first-class representation, including Ryan Pringle, Graeme Welch and Ben Whitehead.

The school has worked in partnership with the Durham Cricket Board, Hetton Lyons Cricket Club and Eppleton Cricket Club to launch the Cricket Academy.

They have recruited young boy and girl cricketers across four year groups, who will be apprentices.

The school has also built a personalised curriculum around the coaching needs of the young cricketers.

Cricket Academy leader David Hardman is helped by qualified Durham Cricket Board coaches.