Calum Haggett who is well known locally having played up through the Somerset age groups and joined the Academy before departing for Kent CCC in 2013 has returned to his roots and is now back working as a coach with the EPP and Academy cricketers.
“It’s been good to be back here at the Centre of Excellence where I started my cricketing journey 24 years ago as a 10 year old. I’m enjoying being in Somerset with my family and close friends and working in a cricketing environment.”
Calum went on: “I remember coming to my first trial and that was the start of the cricketing journey that I went on and I have loved every minute of it.”
The tall right arm fast medium bowler and left hand better came through the Somerset Academy at the same time as Jos Buttler, Lewis Gregory, Anya Shrubsole and Jack Leach.
“There were some really good cricketers in that group and some of them have gone on to do some amazing things in cricket and its great to see.”
Calum played for Kent between 2013 and 2020 and four year ago moved back to live locally and played cricket for Devon as well as for Shapwick and Polden, but now he is focussing his attention on coaching the next generation.
“As much as I loved playing for Kent It would have been nice to have played here fpr Somerset, but it wasn’t meant to be and there were some good players coming through who were better than me.”
One game that he did play for Kent in at Taunton was in the T20 match at the end of May 2015 when Chris Gayle blasted his unbeaten 151 off 62 balls which included 15 sixes.
“It was an amazing game to play in. Sam Northeast got a ton for us , but nobody speaks about that because Chris Gayle just went out and blasted it everywhere. All I will say about that is that I had Chris Gayle dropped on 40 at cow corner . It was one of the most amazing games ever to be a part of and just to be involved with it in someway was brilliant. Its a game that will live long in the memory.
“It was the most amazing innings I have ever seen in person- and it felt like pretty much every ball that we bowled went for a four or six at the time. He was one of the best T20 bats in the world and it showed, he was something special.”
Reflecting on his own playing career Calum said: “ I was a pretty average county cricketer and I had one or two seasons when things went alright for me . Was it what I wanted when I set out, maybe not but I can hopefully help these lads I’m coaching along the way and they will be better than I was.
“It was the best life I could have wished for and I loved every minute of it. There were some hard days but they were worthwhile and I wouldn’t have wanted it to end. If I had the chance to do it all again I definitely would and hope that I might do it even better this time.”
However now Calum is concentrating on his role as Boys Academy Regional and Performance Coach, which he started in November 2024.
“Hopefully I can bring some of the joy that I have had from my career to the young cricketers who are coming through.
“I just want to be able to share the enjoyment that I had from playing and help them on their own journey and who knows we may well have some superstars of tomorrow coming through.”
