Blaze her trail

From Speed to Stardom

Blaze Her Trail is ACE’s free fast-bowling programme for girls aged 15–21, with a focus on those from African and Caribbean heritage. Based in Birmingham, it offers expert coaching, full kit, and a pathway into club, county, and elite cricket.

Led by Chelsea Alagoa, the programme welcomes athletes from all sports who have the speed, strength, and drive to succeed. Whether you’re new to cricket or ready to level up, this is your chance to blaze a trail—and inspire others to follow.

The programme

The African Caribbean Engagement Programme (ACE Programme) is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering project aimed at empowering female athletes of African and Caribbean heritage to excel in the world of cricket.

This initiative seeks to identify, recruit and develop female athletic talent from African and Caribbean backgrounds, with the ultimate goal of producing professional cricketers who can bowl exceptionally fast (75mph +) with the potential to represent Team GB at the Olympics 2028.

What to expect

The project, based in Birmingham, invites girls aged 15 to 21 to register and participate in talent identification sessions. These sessions will provide a platform for athletes to showcase their speed, power, and agility, traits essential for fast bowling in cricket. After the trial process, we will select 12 athletes to take part in our 3-year programme, completely free of charge.

The programme will split into blocks and will be delivered during term time by our coaching team, led by Chelsea Alagoa, who herself is a product of talent transition, having come to cricket via athletics and bobsleigh. All kit will be provided by the ACE Programme and we will endeavour to ensure that all athletes find a new home in the game of cricket, whether that is at club, county, regional or international level. We will continually review progress at regular intervals and athletes have the option to opt out at any point during the process.

Registration process

In addition to registration, ACE will collaborate with local secondary schools, sixth forms, colleges and universities to conduct talent identification sessions, welcoming interested schools to sign up by emailing academy@aceprogramme.com. While the project is targeting females from African Caribbean backgrounds, we welcome female applicants and trialists from all backgrounds who meet the fitness and athletic criteria.
 

Registration is currently closed

Registration is currently closed to new players. If you are interested in these sessions, please email info@aceprogramme.com. This can be done at any time, whether registration is open or not, and a member of staff assist you as soon as possible.