THE Devon Lions programme enters its ninth season in 2018, offering a stepping-stone from age-group cricket to Minor Counties cricket and possibly beyond.

The Devon Lions operates on similar lines to academies run by the professional counties, targeting players aged 17 and upwards. Over-age players or late developers are also included in the Lions programme.

Winter coaching leads to a programme of games in the summer against First Class county academy or 2^nd XIs and Development XIs from other Minor Counties.

Players are exposed to longer forms of cricket such as two-day games, to prepare them for the rigors of three-day Minor Counties cricket, which is vastly different to the 50-over matches played on Saturday afternoons.

Coaching and development is run by programme director Tim Western, a level-three ECB coach. Western opened the batting for Torquay CC for more than a decade.

Joel Murphy and David Tall, both vastly experienced Devon League cricketers with representative experience, are part of the coaching team.

Each member of group has considerable cricketing experience in people and performance management.

From the outset, it was hoped the Lions would play a significant role in producing talented players for future Devon sides, as well as assisting the development of exceptionally gifted cricketers who aspire to enter the professional game.

Numerous players have gone on to represent Devon in Minor Counties competitions. Recent Lions Jamie Stephens Toby Codd, Jack Popham, Reid Mawdsley and Dan Pyle all played in the Minor County side last season.

First Class counties have been quick to recognise the work done by the Lions and have taken a number of players to the next level. James Burke (Surrey and Somerset), Ryan Stevenson (Hants) and Sam Wyatt-Haines (Somerset) have all had spells with professional counties.

Neighbouring Minor Counties have also seen the success of the Lions programme and have started their own development schemes. Dorset has the Leopards and for 2018 Cornwall will be running a Choughs squad.

The Lions programme started in 2010 under the umbrella of the David Shepherd Cricket Foundation, which was set up in memory of the former Test match umpire and Devon player and president.

In 2014 the David Shepherd Cricket Foundation merged with the Devon Cricket Youth Foundation to form the David Shepherd Cricket Trust, whose broadly based objective is to support and promote youth cricket in Devon.

The Devon Lions has now become a joint venture run by Devon CCC and the Devon Cricket Youth Association with funding assistance from the David Shepherd Cricket Trust.