RALPHIE Albert, the grandson of snooker legend Jimmy white, has signed his first professional contract with Surrey, becoming the latest player to step up from the club’s academy.
Albert, who turns eighteen this week, made his professional debut in this summer’s Metro Bank One Day Cup and played in Surrey’s final Rothesay County Championship match of the season at Hampshire.
He hit 96 against Nottinghamshire Outlaws on his maiden professional innings and battled to a crucial 62 in the second innings of Surrey’s Championship victory over Hampshire.
Albert has been part of the Surrey Talent Pathway since under-9, playing in every age group along the way and joined the Academy in 2024.
Albert has been a regular in the England under-19s set-up over the past twelve months, playing ten ODIs and two Youth Test matches, impressing with 6/53 in the second Test match against India at Chelmsford. He will head to St Vincent with the Young Lions in November for an ODI series with the West Indies.
Albert plays his club cricket for Banstead in the Surrey Cricket Championship and will be balancing cricket around his final year at Epsom College.
“I’m thrilled to sign my first professional contract with the club,” Albert said. “Pulling on the Surrey shirt this summer was a proud day for my family and me.
“Being around the first team set-up was a brilliant experience and I’m excited to be around the group more often. I would like to thank the pathway and academy staff for their support.”
Albert said he doesn’t feel more pressure being the grandson of White, who has ten ranking titles and has been runner-up in six World Championship finals.
“I wouldn’t say there’s a need to prove myself,” Albert told BBC Sport. “It’s a great thing that he’s my grandad, an elite sportsman.
“I don’t see what is being said. There are articles talking about us but I’m not deep into the comparison or making a name for myself. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and see what happens.”
Surrey’s head of talent pathway Chris Taylor said: “We’re delighted that Ralphie has signed a professional contract at Surrey. He’s shown a good temperament as a genuine all-rounder.
“I have high hopes for Ralphie and am really excited to see his journey unfold at Surrey.”
