BACK in the summer of 2010, a cricket-mad 15-year-old, Hannah Thompson from Middlezoy, spent a week in the office at the County Ground in Taunton on work experience.

Recently, Thompson was back, but this time in her official capacity as the media officer with Kia Super League side Loughborough Lightning.

She grew up playing cricket for Middlezoy and has appeared on numerous occasions for the men’s team in the Somerset Cricket League.

After attending Middlezoy Primary, Thompson went on to Huish Episcopi where she got 6A* and 7As in her GCSEs, before moving on to Richard Huish College in Taunton.

In 2014 she went off to Loughborough University, where she got a First class English and Sports Science degree.

She is currently undertaking another masters this year, in research skills, and in September 2019 will begin working for a PhD examining the visibility of women's sport, drawing upon cricket and social media.

Thompson said: “It’s really strange to be back here working with the Loughborough Lightning and not Somerset.

"I've just started an internship with Loughborough Sport and part of the role entails being a media officer for Lightning.

"It's literally my dream job.”

On the cricketing front, Thompson has continued to play, and has represented MCC on several occasions, including being part of a touring team to China.

She added: “It’s been great to come back to Taunton and catch up with everybody who was here when I first did my work experience eight years ago.

"I loved my time here; in fact I returned for four summers to help in the commercial office with ticketing, memberships and match days.

“Working at the County Ground inspired and gave me the confidence to go to Loughborough University and work in sport, and I am very grateful to everyone involved for their help and support.”