Gloucestershire to set-up first South West deaf team
22 January 2015
The Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) is forming the first ever team in the South West for players that are deaf or have a hearing impairment.
Based in Bristol, the aim is to attract players from all over the region to play against sides from across the country.
GCB projects and programmes manager, Chris Munden said: "Cricket is for everybody and as a Board we are always striving to provide opportunities for more people to play the game. This is the first time anything like this has been done in the South West and we hope it will prove to be just as successful as our other inclusive teams - the Gloucesteshire Growlers (blind cricket) - and the disability team that was formed last year."
Although there has been an England deaf team for some time, it wasn't until last year that the first county v county game was played when Surrey took on Lancashire.
The first training sessions for the new South West team will take place on February 8 and 22 and March 8 from 1pm till 4pm at Bradley Stoke Community School (Sports hall), Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, BS32 9BS.
The sessions are free to attend and they will led by Pete Lamb, a qualified cricket coach who has recently been on a sign language course to aid communication.
Chris said: "We are keen for players of all ages and abilities to come down and get involved. It should be the start of something really exciting."
Players who attend the sessions will have the chance to take part in a national eight-a-side indoor competition in Derby on March 21.
If you are interested in being involved, either playing or supporting please email chris.munden@glosccc.co.uk for more information.
