Welcome to MP Sports Cricket Academy in Thame, Oxfordshire

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Professional cricket coaching Join us for Summer Cricket,Holidays courses , ECB level 3 coach Manoj Parmar From age 5 + to , 37 Years of PASSION & DEDICATION in Cricket Coaching. Enjoy, Learn & Achieve in High quality cricket coaching from a ECB Level 3 coach.
News Ticker
Professional cricket coaching Join us for Summer Cricket,Holidays courses , ECB level 3 coach Manoj Parmar From age 5 + to , 37 Years of PASSION & DEDICATION in Cricket Coaching. Enjoy, Learn & Achieve in High quality cricket coaching from a ECB Level 3 coach.
News Ticker
Professional cricket coaching Join us for Summer Cricket,Holidays courses , ECB level 3 coach Manoj Parmar From age 5 + to , 37 Years of PASSION & DEDICATION in Cricket Coaching. Enjoy, Learn & Achieve in High quality cricket coaching from a ECB Level 3 coach.

About us

Welcome to
MP Sports Cricket Academy

MP Cricket Academy established in 2009, is a friendly and welcoming cricket academy for all ages and genders. We provide cricket coaching, holiday cricket courses, one2one sessions, free events, and more. Our founder and Director, Manoj Parmar is an ex-first class cricketer from Saurashtra in India.  Mr Parmar’s main aim is to inspire future generations of young cricketers to achieve their maximum potential and to help children become more active.  For the past 36 years, he has worked tireless to offer a high-quality coaching and competition programme in and around Thame.  He is determined to introduce children to the world of sport and offers a vast array of sporting opportunities at the ground.

MP Sports Cricket Academy offers a comprehensive list of activities throughout the year including but not limited to; indoor cricket matches during the winter; soft and hard ball practice; international courses; and diving catch practice at the local pool. The ground currently boasts two full sized cricket grounds and has 6 brand new grass nets. Since its creation in 2009, the club has continued to grow, supporting 27 state schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and catering for children as young as five, up to adults. Clubs from across the county attend tournaments throughout the year and cricket teams/companies rent the ground for private matches and corporate events.
You can become a member of the academy to receive discounts on the majority of our events and all of our courses. With further discounts for net hire and One 2 One coaching.

MP Academy member benefits:
Free Professional for cricket equipment at MP sports shop
Discounts from all summer cricket courses
Discounts from Easter cricket courses
Discounts from Lords cricket tour
Discounts from One 2 One and Net Hire

All coaching will be led by ECB level 2 and 3 coaches. Our head coach, Manoj Parmar, played 11 years of First class cricket and has over 36 years of coaching & playing experience and is a Member of MCC and ECB Coaches Association.

We have the biggest Sports Showroom in all of Oxfordshire and offer a wide range of sports goods, as well as cricket we cater for swimming, rugby, hockey, football, running, tennis, gym, supplements, fitness equipment, netball, padel ball, racket ball, badminton, baseball, track & field, sports gifts, darts, recovery accessories & equipment, yoga and much more. We also stock  all sports clothing including but not limited to tracksuits, shorts, base layers, sports bras, skorts, skirts, jackets, sunglasses, bags and backpacks.

Terms and conditions apply, for more information please visit our terms and conditions page.

Please note Membership does not GUARANTEE any Member a place on any Coaching Lessons, Courses or Events and Special Activities but merely gives PRIORITY and is always subject to general availability where Events and Special Activities are concerned. Members are encouraged wherever possible to still book early”.

Coaching Venue: MP Cricket Academy Sports Ground, New Barn, Kingsey Rd, Thame, OX9 3JL, United Kingdom

This year is a little special at MP Cricket academy as it’s our 8th anniversary since obtaining the ground and this year we wanted to try something new. We have started this year by partnering with MP Sports Development Trust to allow children the age of 5-9 to play for free with us at Lord Williams Lower school indoor sports hall for our winter indoor cricket course. This has been a huge success as we got so many wonderful requests to be able to join and play. This wouldn’t be at all possible without all of your help and support, therefore this year we are planning to extend this to the main season. Any player between the ages of 5-9 can become a member and play for free this year. Age’s 10-15 and Adult players will still have to pay unfortunately.

Now you may be wondering why we are doing this, as many of you know our founder Manoj Parmar grew up in India and has faced many challenges across his life, and as such has always strived to allow more children to play sports and gain access to sports. We noticed that with the rise of costs in the UK it has become increasingly difficult to play sports and especially sports like cricket that can be very expensive to play. A lot of kids do not have the privilege or finances to play such an expensive game, which is why we have always given free equipment and the ability to play if you want to do it. By doing this we aim to get more children active in sport and to help improve their lifestyle.

Unfortunately this does mean older players will still have to pay to play, but the pricing for those older players will not increase this year and in addition we are trying to hone the older players skills which takes more time and dedication. I’m sure you can understand why we made these decisions and the direction we are trying to go.

The training program for the year is as following:

Monday 6 pm – 7:15 pm for U9s training (School year 1-4)

Wednesday 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm for 14+ to Adults training

Friday 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm for ages 10-14 training (School year 5-8)

All holiday courses will still have to be paid for by all participants.

The ground will be available for priority hiring for Members and include a discount for Members that would like to hire usage of the ground and its facilities. For more information please see our Ground Hire page.

The ground will also be available for hire for weddings, birthdays and other events. The ground has a fantastic Chiltern Hill view especially as you can see both the sunrise and sunset from the ground. 

During the summer, kids will now be able to play more sports outside to help improve their abilities, thanks to the ground.

Our priority is coaching for all children and providing quality training, facilities, opportunities and knowledge to all children and anyone that wants to learn. Regardless of ability, age or mentality.

All our money, effort and time are being used to fund our ground and create the best facilities possible for the children.

Due to our new website the registration process has now changed; to become a member of the academy you must first register online and send us the registration fee. After we have confirmed we have received this fee we will send you an approval email and then we will give you access to our website from which you can write in the Forum, see the gallery, add your own photos etc. (however, do be mindful as we will monitor inputs into the website and anything rude, controversial or unnecessary will be removed by our moderators) 

When you register, you must register with whomever is becoming the member, their details. If you have multiple children becoming members, each child must have their own login so that we can see exactly how many members have been registered to give everyone an equal opportunity.

OurLocation

General FAQs

Where is the ground?

The MP Sports Cricket Academy ground can be found at New Barn, Kingsey Rd, Thame OX9 3JL. 

By car from Kingsey Road, the entrance is across the road from the allotments.

On foot you can also use the Kingsey Road entrance.  There is clear signage to show the way.

MP Sports Cricket Academy was found and managed by Mr Manoj Parmar.  Mr Parmar’s aim is to inspire future generations of young cricketers to develop a love and enjoyment of the sport and to improve children’s fitness and mental health.

Mr Parmar is an ECB level three coach, an MCC member and a first class ex cricketer from India.  For the last 35 years he has worked hard to establish the academy and help children reach their full potential.

The ground facilities include:

  • 2 full cricket pitches
  • 6 grass nets
  • 2 artificial nets
  • Huge marquee
  • Water fountain
  • Ample off-street parking
  • Toilets

We do not offer trials for new students.  You can come and play cricket irrespective of your abilities or experience.

We have coaching for all ages from the ages of 5 upwards, including adults but we have teams for children:

Under 15

Under 13

Under 11

Under 9

also a Sunday Adult friendly team. 

Yes. You can book a session for however many days you require depedning on the course. One2Ones are on a individual basis. 

We do not offer gym facilities yet, but we are hoping to provide a gym in the future. For the time being there is a gym not far from the sport’s ground.  For more information please visit https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/south-oxfordshire/thame-leisure-centre for the Thame Leisure Centre Faciliites.

No, all personal kit can be purchased from MP Sports shop in Station Yard in Thame.

Unfortunately, there is no café on site yet, but the ground isn’t far from Thame town centre which boasts a large selection of tea, coffee shops and restaurants.

Parents are welcome to wait for their children or can leave them and come back.

Yes, all academy members must wear academy kit which can be purchased from the MP Sports shop, Station Yard in Thame.

Uniform can be purchased at MP Sports shop, Station Yard, Thame.

Please wear appropriate footwear for your cricket course.  No sandals or high heels.  Any sports shoes will be fine.

We have many courses on offer throughout the year and a packed schedule of events. Please see the ‘courses’ section of our website

An annual subscription and training fees for a child is £95

An annual subscription and training fees for an adult is £95

Members receive discounts on most of our events and get a 10% discount off all courses.

There is a further discount on net hire and one to one coaching.

Yes. We can offer one to one training. Please contact us for more information.

We provide international residential courses for children.  This includes children from England visiting India and children from across the world visiting us.  For more information on these courses please visit the ‘courses’ tab on the cricket academy website.

We can offer birthday parties both for children and adults.  Please contact us for more information.

We do offer both corporate events and weddings.  Please contact us for more information.

Manoj Parmar’s ‘Sports in the Street’ initiative began in 2016 and has since become an annual event.  Held in Thame High Street, visiting clubs hold live demonstrations and activities for people to try, providing them with all the information needed to join a new sports club.  Participating children receive free gifts and certificates, encouraging their interest in playing sports.

For information or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number/email below. Or feel free to visit the shop.

Tel: 01844212226

Email: mpsportsacademy@hotmail.co.uk

MP Cricket Academy and MP Sports Shop
C-4 Station Road
Thame
Oxon
OX9 3UH

Residential Course FAQs

During the summer we will be running courses for international students from Europe and around the world.  Information on courses and dates can be found under the ‘courses’ tab on the MP Sports Academy Website.  For further information please do contact us or please see the FAQs below.

Who will be running the courses?

Mr Manoj Parmar will be running the courses.  Mr Parmar is an ECB level three coach, an MCC member and a first-class ex cricketer from India.  For the last 35 years he has worked hard to establish the MP Cricket Academy and help children reach their full potential.

Courses will be held at the MP Cricket Academy Ground:

MP Cricket Academy Sports Ground

Kingsey Road
Thame
Oxon
OX9 3JL

There will also be opportunities for sightseeing at various locations across the UK.

Residential courses are available for children aged 11 and over.

We ask that all children under the age of 16 are accompanied by a parent or guardian. MP Sports Cricket Academy will organise sightseeing tours of the local area including, Oxford, London and Bicester Village.

We offer residential courses for individuals as well as teams or whole academies.  All courses are tailor made to your individual requirements.

We do not provide personal cricket kit but all coaching equipment, balls, stumps etc, will be provided.

We do not offer gym facilities yet, but we are hoping to provide a gym in the future. For the time being there is a gym not far from the sport’s ground.  For more information please visit the Invictus Gym Website  https://www.invictusfitnesscentre.co.uk/ or https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/south-oxfordshire/thame-leisure-centrefor the Thame Leisure Centre.

We can offer lunches and teas to residential students.  All should be pre-booked.

We do not provide flights, but we do provide transport for those attending the residential course.

Yes, we provide self-catering cottages or a hotel if required.

You will need a VISA for your residential course. 

Yes. We can provide an invitation letter to you or your family which can then be used to obtain your VISA.

No. We can provide you with verifying documents as proof of your stay.

All students on the residential course will receive a MP Sports Cricket Academy training top.

MP Academy Staff

  • Head Coach: Manoj Parmar – ECB Level 3
  • Assistant Coaches: Manan Parmar, Harsh Parmar – ECB level 2
  • Club Secretary: Hema Parmar – Email: mpsportsacadey@hotmail.co.uk – Mobile: 01844 212226 
  • Oxfordshire Child Welfare Officer: Stuart Murphy – Email: oxfordshirecricketwelfare@gmail.com
  • Ground Care Team: Manan Parmar, Paul Charry, David Reed, Harsh Parmar
  • Admin Team: Manan Parmar (Head), Joe Barnett, Manoj Parmar
  • Child Welfare Officer: Oliver Borgnis – Email: mpsportsacademy@hotmail.co.uk – Mobile: 07887870151
  • U7 Friendly Match Manager: Manoj Parmar – Mobile: 07796 987653
  • U9 Aylesbury League Managers: Manan Parmar, and Harsh Parmar – Mobile: 01844 212226
  • U11 Aylesbury League Manager: Manan Parmar, and Harsh Parmar – Mobile: 01844 212226
  • U11 OCB League Managers: Manan Parmar,  Harsh Parmar, and Manoj Parmar – Mobile: 01844 212226
  • U11 Oxford Development League Manager: Manoj Parmar – Mobile: 07796 987653
  • U13 Aylesbury League Manager: Manoj Parmar and Harsh Parmar – Mobile: 07796987653
  • U13 OCB  League Manager: Manoj Parmar – Mobile: 07796 987653
  • U15  OCB League and Aylesbury League Manager: Manoj Parmar – Mobile: 07796 987653

What MP Academy plans to do in the future

The Ground
The MP Cricket Academy Sports ground is located at New Barn Farm, Kingsey Road, across the road from the Kingsey road allotments, Thame, OX9 3JL. At the Academy there is a lot of excitement as the new site allowed us to be able to provide a lot more cricket for the young people of Thame and the surrounding area. This major step forward for us gaves an increase in the number of fixtures, thanks to the evening and weekend availability. With the health of young people being one of the biggest concerns over the past few years, this is a great situation for the community to be in as there are now so many more opportunities to be outside being active through sport. Coaching sessions can now be delivered at an even better standard thanks to the planned grass nets because they give the most realistic match conditions for both batsmen and bowlers. MP Cricket Academy has a clear vision for the ground and its provision of a permanent home for its activities, further embedding itself in the local area.
 

We aim to create better playing facilities for all children of all ages and abilities. Every year we are working on a new project to help improve the ground, last year we added another new building to the ground. Head coach Manoj Parmar said: “The most important part of this is for youth to get the chance to play every day, evenings and weekends. It’s a great opportunity and great news for the town.” Mr Parmar added: “I would like to pay special thanks to Thame Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Joe Middleton, Andy Brich and planner Jake Collinge for making all of this possible.”

Everything is in place for the 12-acre site on Kingsey Road and facilities will include two cricket pitches, six grass nets, a pavilion and car park, along with access from Towersey Road

For even faster improvement, we are waiting for an investor to help us out so that we can continue to provide the best facilities possible for the children. If you would like to learn more about invest opportunities with us, please email us at: mpsportsacademy@hotmail.co.uk 

New 1st team
We are also introducing a brand new 1st team in which we will be playing friendly matches for anyone interested to join and enjoy.
For more information please email us at mpsportsacademy@hotmail.co.uk
New Under 15
This year we hope to have more matches for the boys, including a brand new U15 team this year. We are planning to give the U15 boys friendly matches on non school days, wherein they can play longer matches of 30-35 overs. This is so that they can bat for longer, field for longer and bowl for longer, preparing them to play adult cricket.
Regardless of which club the children play for they can join in the U15 squad as they are only playing friendly matches this year. Which will allow the kids to play more matches and help improve their cricket.
We will be fixing games against various opponents including Private schools, Clubs and Academy’s. These matches will generally be on weekends because most grounds are unavailable for kids to play on weekends but ours is specifically designed for our boys to use.
This new U15 team will also be of great benefit to the local adult cricket clubs as we will be able to provide talented young cricketers to add to their teams. Furthermore if the U15 kids play against other U15 kids it will help boost their confidence before going on to play against adults which is a different level of cricket. 
This year there is potential for teams from abroad coming to play against our boys, therefore this new U15 team will have a fantastic opportunity to play some international cricket as well.