2019 Futures Week gets underway

The PCA Futures Week, formerly the PCA Transition Week, returns for the third year in a row ahead of a two-day conference put on by the players’ association at the St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent.

The Football Association’s flagship training facility will play host to a number of current, recently retired and former professional cricketers, giving them the opportunity to explore their options for a second career via activities and presentations at the conference.

This year, the PCA took the decision to rebrand from ‘Transition Conference’ to ‘Futures Conference’ in order to highlight that the event is designed for players of all ages, whether young, in the latter stages of their careers, or retired.

The average career in professional cricket comes to an end at the age of just 26 and, as a result, helping professionals prepare for life after cricket remains the cornerstone of the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme (PDWP). Since 2012, the PCA has helped 238 of its members to transition into a second career.

As soon as any player in England and Wales signs their first professional contract, they become PCA members for life and therefore gain access to the services of the PCA’s six-strong team of Personal Development Managers (PDMs).

The PDMs play a key role in organising and running the Futures Conference. The two-day event joins other PCA initiatives such as Rookie Camp and the Futures Awards in helping players throughout their entire journey, from start to finish.

Guest speakers at this year’s conference will include 2010-11 Ashes winner Chris Tremlett and ex-England Women star Lydia Greenway.

Greenway, 34, was one of six recipients of the PCA’s Scholarship Awards this year. She will be giving insight into pursuing a career in coaching, something she knows all about as she was recently named Head Coach of Oval Invincibles for the upcoming women’s Hundred competition.

“Throughout my playing career I was always keen to make sure I was getting other qualifications,” Greenway said.

“Of course your focus is still on the performance side of things but I think it’s important that you do have back-up.”

Former Essex, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire batsman Will Jefferson will be presenting a ‘Practical Action during Transition’ seminar at the Futures Conference. Having been forced to retire in 2012, Jefferson founded Performance Catalyst, an organisation that aims to equip individuals with the tools they need to succeed in both business and life.

“I took advantage of the courses that the PCA had on offer during the latter stages of my playing career, attending a number of them to help develop my skill set further and clarify my thinking,” Jefferson reflects.

“The PCA offers players excellent support, as well as a number of great opportunities. They are essential to the futures of professionals nationwide.”

Ian Thomas, the PCA’s Director of Development and Welfare, has welcomed the return of Futures Week for a third successive year.

“I’m delighted that our Personal Development and Welfare team will continue to share their expertise with PCA members at this year’s Futures Conference. The event is designed for professionals of all ages, and we firmly believe that the new name is reflective of that fact,” Thomas said.

“The average career in professional cricket comes to an end at the age of just 26, and it is therefore vital that the PCA continues to help players prepare for the future that lies ahead.

“A number of PCA members who have previously benefited from the services of our Personal Development and Welfare team, as well as from seminars given at the Futures Conference itself, will be in attendance, and that can only help us in achieving the goals that we have set out.”

For more information on the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme, click here.

Keep up-to-date with the week’s activities by following the #PCAFuturesWeek hashtag on all of the PCA’s social media accounts.