DUBLIN – The Hills Cricket Club’s Febin Manoj has become the first player within the Cricket Ireland talent development pathway to take up a placement with Square One Academy at the University of Brighton.
Manoj, 19, who formerly played with Carlow Cricket Club and YMCA Cricket Club has been part of Leinster and Cricket Ireland’s talent pathway for several years and was part of the Irish squad at the 2026 ICC Men’s Under 19 World Cup. He has taken up the placement and will study Physiotherapy through the university alongside being part of the Square One programme.
The programme is a partnership between Cricket Ireland and Square One Academy (at the University of Brighton) that will provide emerging Irish cricketers an opportunity to combine higher education with an holistic training programme in a world-class high performance.
A talented right arm off-spinning all-rounder, Manoj was speaking from Brighton after recently arriving in England to start his placement:
“I’m delighted with the opportunity as it is the best of both world’s – to train in state-of-the-art cricket and high performance facilities as well as being able to bring forward my academic career as a physiotherapist is ideal.
“My thanks to Cricket Ireland and Square One Academy for the opportunity. I’ve been fortunate to have a number of great coaches in recent years – Pete Johnston, Jeremy Bray and Kevin Heuvel, and now I am in a position to work on my cricket through the off-season in this fantastic indoor facility.
“After the world cup experience earlier this year, I just want to unlock my full potential and push my cricket as far as I can go. I am hoping that Square One Academy can help me achieve this.”
Manoj said he’s been playing cricket for as long as he can remember after his father encouraged him into the sport at an early age. He also enjoys badminton and padel, but cricket remains his number one passion:
“I used to love watching Ravi Ashwin go about his business, as he would apply minor changes to his game to create big chances. Also, AB de Villiers was another favourite of mine with the way he could change a game no matter the circumstances. I would watch them play and then head out in the backyard with my dad to smash tennis balls around for fun.
“Cricket runs in our family too – my younger sister has also joined The Hills. There’s never any pressure put on us to succeed – cricket is just an enjoyable sport and we’ve been brought up to be the best we can be, but to never forget to enjoy what we are doing – even on those days when things don’t go your way.”
Pete Johnston, Cricket Ireland’s High Performance Coach & Emerging Player Development Lead, said:
“It’s very pleasing to see the first Cricket Ireland Pathway player head over to Brighton to be part of this new initiative. The opportunity to combine a world-class cricket and high-performance experience with top-level education all on campus is very exciting. One of the huge benefits is that Febin will have everything he needs from a study, sport and sport science perspective all within walking distance of his residence.
We anticipate this partnership will become a regular feature with capacity for three male and three female pathway players to join. The University provides a vast range of Sport Science and Coaching/Managment related courses at undergraduate and post graduate levels.
“Through his two year cycle with the U19’s, Febin’s work ethic and professional mindset have shone through, always prioritising his training and study while putting in the hours of work required. He has shown that it is very possible to strike a healthy balance of academia and high-performance sport and that there can always be enough hours in the day when you have focus and are organised.
“We would like to thank Square One Academy and University of Brighton for their partnership in this programme and look forward to watching Febin’s development over coming months.”
Rob Ferley, co-founder of Square One, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Febin as the first Cricket Ireland pathway player to join Square One Academy. He brings real talent, a strong work ethic and a clear ambition to develop, and we’re excited to support him as he pursues both his cricket and his physiotherapy studies.
“Our aim is to give players the coaching, facilities and wider support to make the most of their potential, while building an education and a future beyond the game. Febin is a brilliant example of what this partnership can offer, and we look forward to seeing how he progresses.”
Image: Dr. Jim Wallace (Brighton University), Pete Johnston (Cricket Ireland), Rob Ferley (SquareOne)
BACKGROUND ON THE PROGRAMME
- In mid-2026, Cricket Ireland agreed a partnership with Square One Academy at the University of Brighton to provide emerging Irish cricketers an opportunity to combine higher education with a training programme in a world-class high performance cricket environment.
- Square One Academy brings together expert coaching and outstanding facilities, including one of the largest and most technologically advanced indoor centres in the world, along with an integrated athlete support programme, allowing players to maximise both their academic and sporting ambitions. The programme includes regular coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, sports science, psychology and nutrition, all delivered within a purpose-built environment at the University of Brighton’s Falmer campus.
- The collaboration also opens up opportunities for future collaboration in coach development, overseas camps and knowledge sharing between the two organisations. Another element of the partnership will see Square One Academy and Cricket Ireland aim to create meaningful fixtures in the male and female emerging space.
