The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that Loughborough University Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) has been accorded 'First Class' status for the 2003 season. Loughborough joins Oxford, Cambridge and Durham UCCEs as the fourth university to gain 'First Class' recognition.

Loughborough has won all three of the major university cricket competitions in the last two seasons - the UCCE Championship, the UCCE One-Day Challenge and the BUSA Championship.

John Carr, ECB Director of Cricket Operations, said, "The Board's Cricket Advisory Committee made this recommendation to the Management Board in recognition of the outstanding progress made in such a short time at the Loughborough UCCE and the very good performance of the Team in 2001 and 2002. I congratulate all those involved with the UCCE at Loughborough on this well deserved upgrade in cricketing status!"

Dr Guy Jackson, Director of Cricket at Loughborough UCCE, said, "This recognition is very welcome and reward for the work that Head Coach Graham Dilley and several others at the University have invested. The experienced coaching team, the facilities boosted by the National Cricket Academy centre now under construction, and the advanced sports science and medicine support services at Loughborough make this an excellent base for cricket development. In many ways I believe this is a boost to the whole UCCE scheme, where the ECB, in partnership with leading Universities, are helping young players to develop their cricket whilst maintaining their education and gaining essential qualifications.

"The success of Loughborough players such as Monty Panesar, Steve Selwood and Rob White last year show that with the right support, young players can complete their education and compete within County Cricket."

© ECB