Mat Pillans Signs for Harrogate CC

Harrogate Cricket Club are delighted to announce that Mat Pillans will be re-joining the club as a player/coach for the 2022 season. Mat joins Harrogate following a first class professional career in both South Africa, where he represented both Kwa Zulu Natal and the Dolphins, and the UK where he played professionally for Surrey, Leicestershire and Yorkshire.

A talented opening quick bowler and useful middle order bat, Mat has taken 131 First Class wickets at an average of 28, alongside 40 List A and 40 T20 scalps at 23 and 28 respectively.

He is the third significant signing for the club this Winter, following Ed Booth & Arjun Ramkumar. These additions will significantly strengthen our 1st team and continue to build on the strong foundations of the team under the leadership of Will Bates.

Mat will head up our senior coaching team this summer, leading our training sessions on both Tuesday and Thursday evenings for all our senior sides and is a significant coup for the Club.

As well as providing an overall structure and focus to our training, Mat will also help us to continue to develop our junior players, supporting them to fulfil their potential, as they progress through our senior teams.

Many of you will remember that Mat played a small number of games for the club last year. During that time he proved to be a positive influence on the team. Will Bates, first team captain, had the following to say about Mat: “Mat was fantastic last season. He is an exceptional cricketer. We are looking forward to his influence on and off the pitch. He will bring an added level of professionalism across the whole club. We cannot wait to get started working with Mat.”

Mat, a qualified coach, is also available to provide bespoke coaching options to all our members (junior and senior) on a private basis. These sessions can be arranged either on a one to one basis or in small group sessions. They can be booked through Mat’s website which will launch shortly in good time for the start of the season. Further details will follow in due course.

Mat had the following to say about his appointment:

“I am excited to be taking up the role as player and coach at Harrogate cricket club. I have had the privilege of playing as a professional cricketer and I have been blessed enough to work with and play alongside so many of the best players and coaches in the game. My time playing for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club has made me realise how important cricket is in the county and the huge amount of talent that exists.

“As a coach, I look forward to creating a fun learning environment for both our established senior players and young aspiring cricketers to support the development of their game both on and off the pitch and look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with them.

“I am also excited to be playing for the 1st XI, as I know this group of players can challenge for the top positions in the league and for Cup honours as well. More generally I am also really looking forward to contributing and being part of the wider Harrogate cricket club community and can’t wait to get started. If you see me around the club, please feel free to introduce yourself to me.”