PCA PRESS RELEASE
Practical training helps players build their skills off the field and look to the future
To see more articles, click here
The Northamptonshire squad actively took part in an engaging pre-season networking session to build their confidence in off-field environments.
Sixteen players completed the session at the County Ground, including T20 World Cup winner, David Willey, and last year’s leading County Championship run-scorer, Saif Zaib.
Part of the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme, the session was devised after players showed an interest in networking training during conversations with their Personal Development Manager, Laura Piekarski.
This led to discussions between the club and the PCA about how players could further benefit from meeting their sponsors and other commercial partners, after which Northants collaborated with Piekarski to organise the session.
The interactive workshop emphasised the importance of being confident and curious when speaking to sponsors, CEOs and people outside of cricket and was led by founder of Presenting Virtually, Rob Geraghty.
PCA VIDEO
Northants Networking Session 2026
Find out what the session involved and how the players benefitted the most.
A practical session between the players was followed by a Q&A with Northants head coach and former Australian national team coach, Darren Lehmann, and former Northampton Saints rugby player, Stephen Myler.
Players were then given an opportunity to speak to members of staff from Northamptonshire CCC, enabling them to put newly learned skills into practice and get to know their off-field colleagues.
Alongside advice on introductions and ending conversations, the session also covered virtual networking, reinforcing the importance of LinkedIn and making players conscious of on-screen framing and other skills for video calling.
Players spoke to each other throughout the day too, sharing their own varied experiences of networking from their playing careers so far.
Excerpts from the session were recorded and will be used in the PCA’s new-look online Learning Platform to create a networking module that all members will be able to complete virtually.
Northamptonshire head coach, Darren Lehmann, said: “Thank you to the PCA and everyone involved for running a seminar for the players to actually improve their skills in networking.
“For some, they stay in the game for a long period of time, others finish their playing careers early, so when you get any opportunity to meet people and network and look ahead of the game, it’s very important to take those steps straight away.
“We’ve got to get out there and experience things – some things you won’t like and that’s fine – but experience things so you can know what you do like and what’s important to you.”
Former England all-rounder and Steelbacks T20 captain, David Willey, said: “The session was really good. The challenge is that when you’re younger, you’re so consumed by the game that sometimes you can neglect these networking workshops, so for guys to learn some techniques and be comfortable with it, this is certainly going to help with that.
“It was definitely something that I always shied away from, going into sponsors and talking to them, so I think it’s been really beneficial.
“It’s a huge part of being a professional sportsperson: to meet people, connect with sponsors and give them a little bit back, but also explore opportunities that may present themselves later in life.”
Northamptonshire PCA Rep, Rob Keogh, said: “I’ve been at the club now for 15/16 years, so I’ve met some really good people, and I’ve been lucky enough to do some work experience with a few different sponsors.
“Ultimately, the sponsors want to support the club and support the players, so there’s always a mutual benefit there as well.
“If cricket ends tomorrow, I know there’s potentially a role to fall on, so there’s always benefits from meeting people, speaking to them and finding out what they do.”
Northamptonshire batter, Arush Buchake, said: “At the end of the day, it’s just normal people having a conversation, it’s really nothing to be scared of.
“The nature of the game is you don’t know when your last day of cricket’s going to be, so it doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, this is something that you need to be doing.
“These are skills you’re going to need your whole life, just trying to make people feel valued when you’re talking to them.”
To find out more information about the PDWP, click here.
