Editing Graham Thorpe (section)

==Early life==
Graham Thorpe was born in [[Farnham]] on 1 August 1969, the third of three boys to Geoff and Toni Thorpe. Graham's brothers are Ian, four years older, and Alan, two years older.{{sfn|Thorpe|2005|p=62}} Geoff Thorpe worked as a draughtsman and then as an engineering surveyor.{{sfn|Thorpe|2005|p=63}}

Thorpe first played men's cricket for village team [[Wrecclesham]] aged 13, moving on to play alongside his brothers at Farnham in the [[Surrey Championship]].<ref name="coty">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154871.html |chapter=Cricketer of the Year |access-date=13 November 2023 |year=1998 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack}}</ref> The whole family had a long association with the club, Ian and Alan would go on to be captain while Geoff served as chairman and Toni acted as scorer.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=Jonathan |title=Toni Thorpe |url=https://www.farnhamcc.co.uk/news/toni-thorpe-2722494.html |website=Farnham CC |access-date=21 March 2024 |date=21 August 2022}}</ref>

Thorpe was also a promising footballer: he represented England Schools at under-18 level as a midfielder and had a trial at Brentford.<ref name="coty"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Thorpe hits football for six |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/cricket/features/newsid_2063000/2063323.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=10 July 2002 |access-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> He was educated as [[Weydon School]] and [[Farnham College]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Graham joins the Famous sons |url=https://www.farnhamherald.com/news/graham-joins-the-famous-sons-156079 |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=Farnham Herald |date=28 April 2002}}</ref> but did not complete his A-Levels and was unsure what he would do for a career until offered a two-year contract by Surrey.{{sfn|Thorpe|2005|p=65}}