Stephen Pope

In 2003 he played in 5 first-class matches for the county, who gained promotion that year to Division 1. Pope was released by Gloucestershire in 2003 after they decided they wanted a wicketkeeper who could bat in the top 8. After his release he trained with Old Patesians RFC as he considered a return to rugby. He signed a one-year contract for Surrey in 2006 playing in 1 List A match. Since retiring from cricket Pope has qualified as a PE teacher and moved to Australia. He regularly coaches cricket and also publishes guidance on cricket through the company CrickiTeacher.

Pope signed for Gloucestershire CC aged 16 and was identified as a potential successor for Jack Russell who he eventually trained and played with in the same team. He is a right-handed batsman and a wicket-keeper who has played List A cricket since 1999 and played Twenty20 cricket during the 2003 season, helping Gloucestershire to the semi-finals. He was the Denis Compton Award winner in 2002. Pope played for England at the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand and youth Test Match series against West Indies and India.

Stephen Pope (born 25 January 1983 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire) attended Cheltenham Bournside School & Sixth Form Centre, a comprehensive school. He represented England Schoolboys at both cricket and rugby as wicket keeper and scrum half. He was in the same rugby age group as Clive Stuart-Smith and they regularly battled for the number 9 shirt at English schoolboy level. Pope was known for his acceleration, box kicking and aggressive style of play on the rugby pitch.