Futures Month: Chris Rushworth

Describing his path from being released aged 19 to building a coaching business as a Durham icon, the former seamer spoke to the PCA in the midst of launching Rushworth Elite Cricket.

It very nearly didn’t happen for Chris Rushworth.

Before taking his 894 professional wickets, he was released aged 19 after five years in the Durham academy.

The seamer drifted away from cricket, playing locally while working both as a door-to-door salesperson and in a call centre selling car insurance.

“At the time, I actually didn’t feel too phased or fussed that I was released from the academy.

“But, eventually, not being in the academy and that professional set-up hit home, and I realised that cricket was in the veins, in the blood.

“For me, it was during that time I realised my passion for cricket was stronger than I imagined.”

What followed was a long, twisting road back for the Durham man, travelling up and down the country, piling into trials of 20 to 30 players, scrapping to be noticed in packed sports halls.

“A couple of years out of the game made me realise that I needed to work harder on certain aspects of my game, I was desperate to try and find a way back in.

“You don’t really have that sort of contact time with anyone when you’re trialling, so it’s hard to form a relationship or meaningful conversation when you’re in a room with 20 or 30 people all trying to do exactly the same thing.”

Eventually, his former academy coach Geoff Cook, then Durham Head Coach, offered him a way back in.

A successful trial period became a contract, and a contract became 598 First-Class wickets for Durham, more than anyone else in the county’s history. He later moved to Edgbaston and represented Warwickshire both as a player and a bowling coach.

A PCA Men’s Player of the Year award and Overall Domestic MVP also came in 2015 after 83 wickets in Division One of the County Championship. After the seamer was made to work so hard to force his way into the professional game, however, he was understandably content with living in the moment.

“I didn’t think about a future beyond cricket at all. I think because I got into the game a little bit later, I was so focused and engrossed in loving playing cricket, I didn’t give a thought to anything afterwards until I was sort of 32 or 33.

“I had different ideas and thoughts which didn’t last very long. I went down financial advisor paths, PT paths.”

Now though, just under a year since he officially retired from the game, the 40-year-old is launching his own business: Rushworth Elite Cricket (REC).

“Coaching was never really at the forefront until the last few years at Warwickshire, where I was very fortunate and got offered a few coaching roles while I was injured and still playing.

“The coaching role at Warwickshire was a fantastic job and I absolutely loved it.”

Rushworth has now moved on from Warwickshire after a period of travelling between his Sunderland home and Birmingham where he held the role as the Bears player-coach. It’s not just in the professional game where REC is seeking to make its impact though. Rather, the start-up is looking to get all cricket booming in the North-East.

“What we’re trying to achieve is to provide a facility and nets for players, clubs, coaches, and everyone involved in cricket, whether you’re new or you’ve played for years. We just want to try and get cricket thriving in the area.

“After spending a few weeks back here, realising and speaking to a few close friends and local clubs, we realised we don’t have a great amount of decent cricket facilities for hire over the winter.

“From what was an idea speaking to a few people in a venue, all of a sudden, a few months down the line, here we are just about to get up and running.”

REC already offers coaching across the North-East, with its flagship facility opening at the end of November. Taking just 11 months to transition from Warwickshire player to entrepreneur, it is understandable that Rushworth is having to learn on the job.

“From joining Durham academy at 14 – bar that two-year gap where I was in and out of different jobs, then got back into cricket – cricket was everything.

“I didn’t go to university or college after school, so any form of business-related things is all very new to me.

“The cricket side of it and the coaching, I’m comfortable with – that’s my area. It’s everything that comes with it – setting up a business, admin, keeping financial records, all this sort of stuff – is completely new.

“At times, I feel like my head’s about to explode with information and what I’ve got to think of next. But it’s a challenge that I’m absolutely loving, and I’m excited to see where it goes in the next few years.”

While it seems a long time ago that the 40-year-old was travelling the country in search of a chance in the professional game, it’s clear to him what he has learned from that time in his life.

“I found out the importance of being able to pick up a phone or send a message or email to someone I’ve met or been introduced to in years gone by, just having conversations with people in the business world and asking for advice, help, how certain things can be done, what they think I can do better, or how things would work.

“One thing one person tells you might help you years down the line. Thankfully, I’ve met some good people and stayed friends with a lot of those contacts.”

Rushworth is now preparing to open REC’s coaching facility in Houghton Sports Complex, just under five miles from Durham Cricket HQ. Clubs will be able to book the nets by the hour, as well as specialist coaching, either in a group or in a one-to-one setting.

“The nets are getting installed at the end of November. Once the nets are in, it’s all go from there, and hopefully we can get as many people through the door as possible.

“We’re putting on free sessions for kids, taster sessions for beginners, girls-only courses and women’s festivals are up and running at the moment.

“We’re trying to create a hub where everyone in the community can get involved in cricket, from individual coaching to group coaching, or clubs hiring the venue.”

Rushworth’s path to becoming Durham’s all-time leading wicket-taker was not a simple one. Now, as he faces a new challenge, he feels far more prepared having navigated the challenges of his incredible playing career.

Find out more about Rushworth Elite Cricket here.

Futures Month encompasses the two flagship events with the PCA Futures Conference in association with GEDU and the PCA Futures Awards. Click here to find out more. 

Learn more about the PCA Futures Awards by clicking here.