Blue Sox at 20 - full manifesto launch

20 Years of Building British Baseball

Since 2006, the Leicester Blue Sox have been committed to building a sustainable, community based and player focused baseball club for the Midlands.

As we enter our 20th anniversary season in 2026, our mission remains the same:

To grow British baseball at every level — from first swings to the highest level of national competition.

Blue Sox Adult Team

Competing at the highest possible level

After a strong inaugural season in Triple-A, our first team enters 2026 with renewed ambition. With the BBF moving to its new league structure — NBL, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4 and Division 5 — our goal is clear:

To compete at the highest level available to us, with the ultimate goal of bringing Midlands representation to the National Baseball League.

We believe the NBL should be located across all regions of British baseball, with clubs representing London, the South West, the South East, Midlands, North and so on.

Our vision for a re-imagined NBL includes:

Best Facilities for all

Every region deserves access to high-quality baseball venues and have its own “Farnham Park”.

Competitive Balance

A more balanced league strengthens the sport. In the long term, regional or national drafts could support competitive balance.

Strong Youth Pipelines

NBL clubs should be genuine development hubs with youth programmes clearly aligned to the GB Baseball pathway.

2Sox Adult Team

An additional league team for adult players

With the number of adult team players at the Blue Sox growing year on year, 2026 sees the relaunch of the Leicester 2Sox,

who are expecting to compete in BBF Division 4, which broadly sits between the previous Double-A and Single-A standards.

This team will provide:

• Regular BBF league competition

• A structured step up from our adult development team

• A pathway towards higher-level baseball

• A key part of our long-term aim to field teams across all BBF divisions

  
  

Recruitment of coaches and players for the 2Sox is now underway!

Blue Sox Academy (Ages 13–17)

The bridge between youth baseball and the adult game

Launching in 2026, the Blue Sox Academy is the centrepiece of our player-development pathway.

It will provide structured training, competitive opportunities, and personalised development for players aged 13–17; the years where potential turns into performance.

The Academy brings together:

• Graduates from our Kids Club

• New young players discovering baseball for the first time

• Existing teenagers with experience of our adult teams

• U18s aiming for GB Baseball and national competition

Our vision is simple:

To become a leading hub for youth talent, preparing teenagers for the highest level of adult baseball possible.

The Academy squad will also form the backbone of a Midlands tournament team for the BBF Youth National Baseball Championships and other regional events.

Blue Sox Kids Club (Ages 5–13)

The foundation of everything we do

We have been successfully developing youth baseball in Leicester since 2012 and our flagship Quorn Blue Sox programme continues to thrive on:

• Tee-ball (ages 5–8): fun, fast, confidence-building

• Coach pitch (age 9–13): skills, teamwork, game awareness

• A welcoming and inclusive environment for young players

Expanding youth baseball across the Midlands

In 2026 we will strengthen regional collaboration through:

• Partnering with Broughton Astley Black Sox, a new South-Leicestershire kids baseball programme in the same age group.

• Closer regional links with the Birmingham Goats

• Opportunities for combined Midlands All-Star teams at the BBF Youth Championships

• Supporting the talent pathway through our existing links with GB Baseball, BBF Emerging Player Programme, London Archers, and our very own Blue Sox Academy

These partnerships ensure more games, more tournaments, and more opportunities for every young athlete.

Blue Sox Adult Development Team

A welcoming entry point for absolute beginners

Baseball must remain a sport that anyone can begin at any age. Our Adult Development Team ensures that newcomers have a clear pathway into the sport.

In 2026, we will continue to:

• Run weekly training for adult rookies

• Arrange friendly fixtures with other development programmes

• Enter regional development tournaments

• Maintain a fun, supportive environment for learning the game

This reflects our long-held belief:

Baseball thrives when everyone has a place on the field.

Leicester Blue Sox at 20

A sustainable club built for the long term

For two decades, Leicester Blue Sox has prioritised sustainability over short-term gains, and our values have never changed:

• Build for the long term

• Develop homegrown players

• Strengthen community participation

• Invest in facilities that help improve the sport

• Maintain partnerships that support the elite talent pathway

  
  

As we head into our 20th anniversary season, there is so much to look forward to.

We hope you will join us in making 2026 our biggest year yet!