JUNIOR CRICKET

FOREST School pupil William Armstrong-Fox recently played a key role in this year’s MCC U13 National Cricket Club Championship by helping his North Middlesex side to lift the huge trophy.

A record 1,800 clubs from throughout Britain took part in the competition which the Crouch End club won by beating Sheringham in the final played at Oakham School, Rutland.

Seven other regional finalists from all over Britain competed in the National Final.

North Middlesex were unbeaten in all their matches and in the climax of the competition, against Sheringham, they suffered a batting collapse in the middle of their innings only to be rescued by a great knock by Armstrong-Fox of 31 (retired).

The Woodford Green lad's score enabled his team to post a total of 123-6. Sheringham were restricted to 84-8.

The prestigious trophy - in honour of former England player Ken Barrington - was presented to North Middlesex by his widow Ann Barrington, before it was whisked away back to the safety of the vaults at Lords cricket ground.

Armstrong-Fox is coached at Ilford Cricket School, founded by the local cricketing legend Joe Hussain, the late father of former England captain Nasser Hussain.

Now he and his team mates have been invited to Downing Street next month to meet the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.