Futures Month: Darren Bicknell

Former Surrey and Nottinghamshire batter Darren Bicknell describes his journey navigating life after elite sport, from working winter shifts in brewery cellars to leading a youth charity and launching a fundraising cookbook, in an exclusive interview with the PCA for Futures Month.

Attending the PCA Futures Conference as a mentor, Darren Bicknell was struck by the spectrum of players gathering to contemplate their professional futures. International stars such as Jack Leach and Tammy Beaumont sat alongside county stalwarts, energetic youngsters and players who had only recently stepped away from the professional game.

For Bicknell, watching the event take place was a poignant reminder of how far personal development support has evolved since his playing days, which spanned 20 seasons from 1987 to 2006.

“It’s a great event and it was lovely to see so many faces here. The PCA has progressed year-on-year from when I was playing, and these structured days simply weren’t available to us back then. Sitting back has actually been quite nice, I haven’t been under pressure to provide all the answers. It’s been great to see what other people are thinking and a lot of what the presenters shared actually made me think about how I go about my daily life,” Bicknell observed.

That reflective space is precisely what PCA Futures Month aims to achieve. Yet while today’s players benefit from tailored workshops, industry networking and Personal Development Managers, Bicknell’s own path into post-cricket employment was rather different.

Unlike modern professional cricketers, who operate under year-round contracts, Bicknell played during an era defined by six-month employment terms. When the English summer ended each September, players were expected to enter the workforce until pre-season training resumed in the spring.

Far from viewing this off-season scramble as a burden, Bicknell treated it as an annual rehearsal for life after sport. For 12 years during his active playing career, he worked throughout the winter months as an account manager for Scottish Courage brewery. He also spent a year working in the public relations department at Nottingham Forest Football Club.

That seasonal cycle forced him to confront the transition between cricketer and real-world employment on a yearly basis.

“It’s a strange thing for us as cricketers. I grew up in an environment where we were only employed on short term contracts, so I went through that transition every single winter. You face the challenge of going from one day being a cricketer, where people are looking after you, doing everything for you, and managing your schedule, to the very next day walking into a pub or bar as a brewery account manager where the bar owner quite frankly couldn’t care less who you were,” Bicknell explained.

Stepping out of the dressing room atmosphere and into working life proved to be a grounding experience that stripped away athletic ego and built practical business skills.

“It was a real leveller to go from playing professional cricket back into the real world, because I did it every year, it demystified the process. My message to modern players is: don’t be afraid of it but try to be as prepared as you possibly can.”

When Bicknell retired from cricket, following 558 professional games and 56 centuries, that annual exposure to commercial life paid immediate dividends. Rather than experiencing the sudden identity crisis that often catches newly retired players off guard, he transitioned smoothly into executive leadership. For the past 17 years, Bicknell has served as Chief Executive of the Belvoir Education & Sports Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to introducing young children and children with special educational needs to physical activity and the countryside.

His passion for the charity’s mission is rooted in his own childhood growing up alongside his brother, former England and Surrey bowler Martin Bicknell.

“I’m well aware of what cricket gave me as a lifestyle and a career, getting outside, staying active, and staying healthy. When Martin and I were growing up, our parents used to kick us out of the house at eight o’clock in the morning after breakfast and say: ‘don’t come home until it’s dark.’ We’d grab our packed lunches, a bottle of squash, head down to the local cricket club, and play all day. That gave us tremendous skills, but more importantly, it gave us the freedom to try things and explore,” Bicknell said.

Recognising that modern children face different societal challenges and fewer outdoor opportunities, Bicknell has focused the trust on breaking down barriers to participation. Today, the charity reaches approximately 5,500 children every year through its countryside and sports projects.

“For us as a charity, it’s about putting real opportunities in front of children. If you throw everything at young people, I’m convinced that some of it will stick. If half of those 5,500 kids come away seeing sport and being outdoors in the countryside as a great option for their lives, then that’s a real privilege for us.”

While leading the trust has provided Bicknell with long-term professional fulfilment, his newest post-cricket adventure emerged unexpectedly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After initial lockdown restrictions temporarily halted the trust’s outdoor school programmes, Bicknell found himself with unaccustomed spare time. Having painted every stationary surface around his house, he grew restless while his wife Claire ran her online business.

“I said to Claire I was bored in lockdown and she gave me that classic look partners give you and said: ‘well, you could always cook, couldn’t you?’ In other words: I think you should cook because I’m tired of doing it.”

Despite having no formal culinary training, Bicknell embraced the kitchen, putting music on in the background and experimenting with recipes. Claire began photographing his dishes and sharing them across social media.

The result is ‘Denzil’s Dining’, a unique culinary and nostalgic book celebrating county cricket culture. Bicknell curated signature regional recipes from all 18 counties, ranging from Lancashire hotpot to Somerset cider cake and Worcestershire beef steaks. He then enlisted 30 iconic cricket figures to contribute their personal favourite recipes.

The list includes David Gower’s beef Wellington, Jonathan Agnew’s goat curry, Devon Malcolm’s mother’s coconut rum cake, and Graeme Swann’s guide to the ultimate bacon sandwich. Accompanying each recipe are Bicknell’s original, unfiltered after-dinner stories detailing his experiences playing at every county ground, alongside affectionate anecdotes from his battles against greats like West Indian legend Courtney Walsh.

“Never in my mind did I think I’d write a book,” Bicknell admitted. “Every single word is mine. I wrote every page, though my wife was the driving energy who kept giving me a push. We officially launched the book at Trent Bridge to a fantastic turnout and sold loads of copies. Every single penny raised from sales is going straight back into the Belvoir Education & Sports Trust. I’m incredibly proud of it.”

Reflecting on his journey from opening the batting at Lord’s and Trent Bridge to running a charity and writing a book, Bicknell offers clear advice to current players contemplating their eventual departure from the game.

He warns against waiting until retirement, urging players to use events like PCA Futures Conference to explore genuine personal interests before contracts expire.

“The most important thing is to give yourself the opportunity to do something you truly enjoy. Avoid that panic moment of thinking: ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do, so I have to take the first job that comes up,’ as you might end up hating it. If you can be proactive and prepare earlier, you give yourself a real chance.”

For Bicknell, the ultimate measure of a successful career transition isn’t defined by job titles or commercial status, but by a simple daily mindset.

“I’ve always been taught that if you can wake up every morning and you’re looking forward to your day, you’re in a good place,” Bicknell concluded. “If players can find their niche, something they genuinely look forward to doing every single day, they’ll make that transition smoothly and thrive in life after cricket.”

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. 

All proceeds from Denzil’s Dining will support the Belvoir Education and Sports Trust (BEST). You can buy the book via the link here.