CIRENCESTER CC is a hotbed of young cricketing talent — official.

Cirencester have provided eight players for the county’s winter youth squads, a feat matched by only three other clubs in the region – Cheltenham, Thornbury and Winterbourne.

In total, 43 affiliated clubs have provided players for the performance programme which started on January 5, and that's a record.

Other clubs with a large number of representatives include Downend and Frocester who both have six players in the squads, and Bristol YMCA, Charlton Kings and Dumbleton who all have five.

GCB chief executive Steve Silk said: “It is fantastic to see so many of our clubs producing elite players for our performance programme. "The wide range of clubs represented shows the quality of coaching and the strength of youth systems across the county."

As well as coming from every corner of the county, players also came from clubs playing at a wide range of levels. These ranged from Great Rissington, whose senior first team play in Division Four of the Gloucestershire County Cricket League, through to Frocester from Premier One of the West of England Premier League (WEPL).

Cheltenham and Cotswolds was the top-performing district with 44 players coming from their clubs. Stroud and South Glos clubs supplied 35 players.

Other clubs to produce multiple players include Bourton Vale and Poulton who have four in the winter squads.