Beckfoot School crowned National Table Cricket Champions
In an exciting celebration of inclusivity, we recently held our National Table Cricket Finals at Lord’s with Yorkshire’s Beckfoot School being crowned national champions.
The national final saw its first ever Roses clash, as it was contested by Sandfield Park school (Lancashire) and Beckfoot school (Yorkshire). It was an exciting match which saw fantastic teamwork from both sides, but it was the school from Yorkshire who won their first ever national title!
The Bradford school were one of 12 sides competing for the title in the Nursery Pavilion at the iconic Home of Cricket and their triumph ensured they took the final step in improving on last year's runners-up finish and teaching assistant Viv Macdonald reckons the success will live long in the memory.
“It’s been fantastic," she said. "We arrived late so the players started playing in a little bit of a haphazard manner so we thought we wouldn’t do it, but we did it, we smashed it, the students love it, and we are euphoric.
“This is the cream on the top, last year we came a very close second. This is our fourth time here so it’s fourth time lucky!
“A few of these students get a little bit shy in front of an audience and in front of their peers at assembly. This has given them a lot of confidence and it’ll take them on through life.
“Table cricket’s taught them how to perform as a team, be a team leader, share and it’s just wonderful how it’s given them confidence to be out in public.”
Watching on at Lord’s were an array of stars, including TV personality and comedian Matt Lucas as well as England cricketers Jack Leach, Anya Shrubsole, Jonny Gale and Alfie Pyle (Sussex Super 1s Coach who is also a former Super 1s participant). The involvement of professional cricketers and seeing them embrace table cricket on an equal footing, demonstrated to the participants that they too can achieve greatness within the sport.
Leach said: “It’s a pleasure to come down and see everyone enjoying the game. It’s a great game, I had a little go and it’s quite difficult. I enjoyed seeing how competitive everyone is. It’s the national finals, it’s great for kids to be able to come here to the home of cricket to play.
“It’s everyone’s dream as a kid to play at Lord’s and for them to be able to do that is very special. We want the game to be accessible to everyone. The great work that Lord’s Taverners and the ECB have done to fund this and make it accessible is really special. Everyone deserves that chance, and it is great to see them making the most of it.”
The national final brought together 12 teams from across the country to compete for the sought after national title. Aimed at providing opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in cricket and benefit from the associated personal development opportunities, National Table Cricket Finals Day showcased the work we do in empowering young people facing the challenges of inequality.
The day was a celebration of months of hard work and dedication by the participating teams. Each individual encapsulated the meaning of table cricket, showing determination, and passion for the game. Displaying fantastic teamwork, adaptability and resilience throughout the competition, each participant left the competition as a winner.
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