End of an era as Darren heads Down Under

September 7, 2026

THE phrase ‘There’s no I in Team’ could have been coined with Darren Ironside in mind.

The 31-year-old has been a mainstay of the Suffolk Men’s 1st XI cricket team across all three formats in recent years.

The all-rounder, who has blossomed into a fine No.3 bat, reliable off-spin bowler and excellent fielder, has always been the ultimate team player.

After spending five of the last six winters in Australia – only not travelling Down Under in 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic – Ironside won’t be returning to Suffolk for the start of next season.

His loss will be as keenly felt at Mildenhall CC as it will with Suffolk as Ironside puts down his roots in Adelaide, where girlfriend Mali lives.

He has spent his winters there playing First Grade in the South Australia Cricket Association for Tea Tree Gully, where former Suffolk professional Joe Gatting is head coach.

Not many sportsmen or women get to experience a near-perfect ending to their career or a particular chapter of it, but Ironside did with Suffolk.

After his battling 55 off 156 balls so nearly saw Suffolk to victory over Buckinghamshire at Chesham CC, the visitors losing by just 16 runs, Ironside signed off in style.

He scored a second-innings century (122 off 193) against Cambridgeshire at Copdock in his final home match as Suffolk closed out a 35-run win.

He then ended 100 not out off 143 in his final innings versus Staffordshire at Stafford CC, Suffolk falling just three wickets shy of the victory that would have confirmed them as NCCA Cluberly Championship Eastern Division One champions.

The reaction of his team-mates said it all about his popularity among his peers – and underlined how much he will be missed by Suffolk next season, both on and off the pitch.

Darren Ironside celebrates scoring his century versus Essex Eagles in the Showcase match
at Woolpit CC. Main photograph: Darren Ironside pictured at Chesham CC this season

That was his seventh century for Suffolk – five in the Championship, one in the NCCA Trophy and the other versus Essex Eagles in a Showcase match at Woolpit CC.

He has played 98 innings across 81 matches for Suffolk, scoring 3,170 runs at an average of 37.73. Never one to sell his wicket cheaply, he has always put the team first.

Ironside, who was born and brought up in South Essex, takes up the story: “I didn’t know too much about Minor Counties (now National Counties) cricket at the time.

“I was at Leeds University with Ben Parker, who played for Suffolk, and he put me in touch with the then coach Andy Northcote.

“I was initially picked more as a bowler than a batter, sometimes batting as low as No.9, but I didn’t warrant selection as a bowler as I wasn’t consistent enough. I didn’t bowl as I would have liked to or how I can bowl.”

After making his debut versus Hertfordshire at North Mymms in a 50-over MCCA Trophy match in 2017, Ironside was pushed up the batting order for the final match of the season.

He responded with a match-winning 125 not out in Suffolk’s second innings away to Bedfordshire at Flitwick CC.

“It was quite pleasing, especially to chase down the target, and to feel like I had contributed to a Suffolk win.

“That innings gave me a lot of confidence that I was good enough to play at this level,” he said.

Ironside, who trialled with Essex 2nd XI from 2018-20, joined Mildenhall CC in 2021.

He was also at university with Jack Potticary, who played for the club at that time, and knew Mildenhall’s Ben Shepperson through playing with him for Suffolk.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there. They are a good bunch of lads who make every Saturday enjoyable and I could not wish for a better club to play for,” he stated.

Ironside suffered torn ankle ligaments warming-up playing football before a Mildenhall match and missed 14 weeks of the 2023 season, including all four of Suffolk’s Championship matches.

And last season he suffered a self-inflicted broken hand in Suffolk’s opening three-day match of the season which they lost to Buckinghamshire, and missed the remaining red-ball campaign.

Aside from those two injuries, Ironside has been virtually ever-present in the Suffolk side, enjoying a purple patch of form in the 2022 season.

Darren Ironside batting versus Shropshire at Sudbury CC in theNCCA Trophy

An undefeated 53 off 42 in the Showcase match versus Kent Spitfires at Woolpit CC was the catalyst for a terrific run of scores.

“I had not scored many runs for either Mildenhall or Suffolk, but that innings gave me a lot of confidence going forward and I had a pretty good year,” he recalled.

After Suffolk conceded 423 runs in Staffordshire’s first innings at Checkley CC, Ironside led the fightback with a splendid 146.

He then took two key wickets in the hosts’ second innings before adding 81 second time around with the bat.

He followed that with scores of 152 and 76 against Bedfordshire, again at Flitwick CC, as Suffolk won back-to-back away games to avoid relegation.

“Winning as a team are the best days, especially if you can contribute to that as well.

“I feel I have had some pretty special memories playing for Suffolk, including a few where I have contributed and we have won the game.

“In that match away to Staffordshire, we conceded 423 and were behind in the game, so to fight back and win in the way we did, made the performance even more special.

“That was certainly one of the best wins I have had in my time as a Suffolk player,” recalled Ironside, who went on an MCC tour to Zimbabwe along with Suffolk team-mate Matt Wareing last October.

As he heads off for a new chapter in his life, Ironside said: “I have loved every minute of every game playing for Suffolk.

“We have had lots of ups and downs, but the one thing I would change is missing the number of games I have through injury.”

There is a possibility that we may not have seen the last of him in a Suffolk shirt. He is planning to come back to England next summer for 4-8 weeks to play for Mildenhall.

“I would love to play again for Suffolk – it has been one of the most enjoyable parts of my cricket career and I would love that to continue,” he said.

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