By Luke Sellers

GLOUCESTERSHIRE has launched its first ever hard ball disability cricket team.

The brand new side will take to the field for the first time against Essex on May 17 following an intensive pre-season training programme.

The team – who train at Gloucester City Winget CC – has been formed through a partnership between the Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) and community interest company So Fab Sports.

GCB projects and programmes manager Chris Munden said: “The formation of our first disability hard ball team is a hugely exciting development. Our aim is to make cricket accessible for everyone, regardless of age or ability and I am delighted that we now have somewhere for people with a disability to play competitively.”

Gloucestershire already has a visually impaired cricket club – The Gloucestershire Growlers – a soft ball team which started last season and are in the process of setting up a deaf team.

The GCB had been looking to set up a hardball team for some time but accessing players had proved difficult until Chris met with Chris Rawlins from So Fab Sports.

Chris and his son Dale, 18, started a successful football team at Abbeymead Rovers for players with learning difficulties and disabilities six years ago and since then it has grown to the point that they now have around 100 players.

Chris also runs So Fab Sports which seeks to develop the skills and confidence of young adults with physical and learning difficulties through sport. It also offers employment opportunities in sport-related jobs through their Sports Trader charity sports shop in the Oxebode, Gloucester.

Chris Rawlins said: “Our belief is that sport should never be an inaccessible luxury and that everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We have had huge success with our football teams and it is fantastic to be able to provide an opportunity for our lads to play another sport during the summer.

“Cricket is quintessentially English and encompasses everything from city life to the village green – a very broad social spectrum. It also still retains that respect for the opposition that may have been lost in some other sports.

“For guys who are looking for role models and haven’t had access to many things in their life it is great for them to be taught to do things properly without being treated as special or told what they can’t do.”

The squad trained at The Crypt School during the winter and have now started practicing outdoors in preparation for the league season. Sessions have been led by GCB community coach Masoor Khan with support from Dale Rawlins and other coaches from So Fab.

Gloucestershire will compete in an ECB league, facing Essex, Hampshire, Surrey (twice), Kent and Middlesex during the summer.

The team will be training at Gloucester City Winget every Tuesday night from 4.30pm-5.30pm, to get involved or for more information, contact chris.munden@glosccc.co.uk.