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Homegrown Notts cricketer Paul Franks admits Trent Bridge will always have a special place in his heart.
Nottinghamshire will always have a special place in the heart of Paul Franks. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)Nottinghamshire will always have a special place in the heart of Paul Franks. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Nottinghamshire will always have a special place in the heart of Paul Franks. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

Franks, now assistant head coach, came through the ranks at Nottinghamshire before making a name for himself at first team level.

And, even now, he still fondly remembers the first time he set foot in the iconic Test venue.

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“Yes, it’s changed a lot since I first came here, but Trent Bridge will always be special to me,” he revealed during an interview with the club’s website..

“I remember the first time I came here, as a lucky guest of a member of staff, getting taken around the Executive Suite, the old scoreboard… all sorts of places which were ‘invite only’.

“I was playing age-group cricket for Notts at the time, and it really lit my interest.

"There was a county game against Derbyshire on, with the likes of Tim Robinson, Paul Johnson and Chris Cairns playing. It was a fantastic way to be introduced to the place.

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“It all seemed so daunting in a way, but I remember going home thinking ‘crikey, wouldn’t it be great to do that one day’

“Playing at Trent Bridge my home was a dream at that stage. I just getting a handle on life, and was desperate to do well with my cricket and see where it took me, but I couldn’t have imagined that I’d still be here so far down the track and be able to call it home.

“It has been a very different place to be this year. Still a great place, because ultimately we’re doing the thing we love.

"When the fans are packed in here, you really feel the place lift.”

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And maintaining that homegrown pride in the team with a healthy dose of local lads remains a key target for the Farnsfield star.

“I’m certainly very proud to still be associated with the club,” he added.

“I think it’s vastly important to keep that core of homegrown players. It’s something I’ve been desperate to try and get moving.

“Whenever the pillars of the team are local – and whenever they go on to achieve international honours – that’s a great achievement for us as a club.

“We want as many of those lads in our dressing room as we can; lads that the people of Nottingham can connect with, be proud of, and see out there giving their pound of flesh for the club every day.”