Pupils from Alexandra Park School in Haringey had an unforgettable day last week as they participated in the Lord's Taverners National Table Cricket Finals at Lord's Cricket Ground. The school's team was one of 11 competing in the Nursery Pavilion for the national champion title.
PE teacher and inclusion lead for sport Brendan Amooty, 55, expressed immense pride in his students for reaching the showpiece event for the first time after advancing through qualifying rounds. "It's an absolute privilege to be here at Lord's," he said. "We were crowned Middlesex champions three months ago, then won the Thames Valley and London regional competition at Stoke Mandeville. The children have been so excited for the last month knowing they were going to the final."
This marked the first time in the school's history that a team had made it to Lord's. "Learning to play table cricket has been fabulous for the students, but it's so much more than that," Amooty added. "It's about developing social skills and the huge amount of self-esteem they've gained through becoming county and then regional champions."
What is Table Cricket?
Table cricket is a fully inclusive and adapted version of the game designed for young people with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities. Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones. The ball is bowled using a ramp and played on a table tennis table.
This format provides an incredible opportunity for participants to make new friends and develop life skills such as confidence, independence, leadership, and teamwork in competitive environments.
Student Experience
Student Finn Bartholomew, 17, was delighted to play on the big stage and had the time of his life. "The main memories from the day for me have been hanging out with everyone from school. They're fun to be around and just being together as a team has been really fun," he said.
Support from Lord's Taverners
Lord's Taverners president and former England captain David Gower attended the Home of Cricket and praised the event. "The opportunity the students get to play a version of the game here at Lord's is fantastic. It's brilliant to see the spirit in which the games have been played. The Lord's Taverners do such great work and I'm proud to be a part of it," Gower said.
Much of the Lord's Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by Postcode Lottery players and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.
Lord's Taverners provides free, inclusive, and impactful cricket programmes across the UK, empowering young people living with disabilities or facing socio-economic disadvantage to overcome inequality and unlock their potential. For more information, visit www.lordstaverners.org.
