Fairfax Academy are determined to rise to the occasion as they prepare to travel to Lord’s for the 2024 National Table Cricket Finals Day.
The Lord’s Taverners national table cricket competition sees young people with disabilities representing schools from across the country, setting their sights on a rare opportunity to play at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Table cricket is an adapted version of the traditional game, played on a table tennis table, and is much more accessible to young people living with severe physical or learning disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, who have limited opportunities to participate in sport.
As our Table Cricket National Final approaches, let's look back on the inspirational journey of Joal & Humzah.
— Lord's Taverners (@LordsTaverners) June 20, 2024
Table Cricket is more than just a game, it's a powerful catalyst for fostering a sense of belonging, creating friendships & developing teamwork & social skills. pic.twitter.com/AkNvyZxIb9
Making the trip from Sutton Coldfield on Thursday 27 June, Fairfax teaching assistant and PE specialist Tracey Taylor is hoping her side can overcome the nerves after things didn’t go to plan for them on finals day last year.
“I think we’re nervous as a team,” she said. “We went last year and sort of missed out, so we're hoping that we can go a little bit better this year.
“We'll have a training session before we go. I think they all know their roles and are ready to go. They'll be fine.”
While it won’t be the first trip to Home of Cricket for some of the more tenured table cricketers, Taylor insists that the experience could never get old.
“It's fabulous,” she added. “For a couple of them, this is probably the third time they’ve been, but I've been at the school 17 years and this is only the fourth time we've made it.
“It really is special, it's a fabulous place. There's always some sort of celebrities and the kids are made to really feel special there as well. It's lovely, it’s really great.”
Much of the Lord’s Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.
And Taylor emphasised the importance of making cricket accessible to everyone regardless of ability, citing the sport’s social benefits and competitive elements as vital for young people.
“Here at Fairfax, we have table cricket, also boccia and curling, and we can have anyone playing it whether they have a disability or not,” she said. “We try to mix them both together.
“With the competitive element, sometimes we get invited to some things that aren't necessarily competitive.
“The kids love the competition that any of the other students in school would love, so it's vital that they get that competitive edge to it as well.
“I know two of our boys take part in wheelchair football as well outside of school and that gives them a whole new element of social groups.
“They can come in and say they've taken part in things and they get recognition.”
The Lord’s Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org
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