More than 800 pupils play on the County Ground during schools' day
25 June 2014
More than 800 schoolchildren followed in the footsteps of Gloucestershire’s cricketing greats by playing on the Bristol County Ground.
Pupils from more than 20 schools showed off their catching skills during the lunch interval on day three of the County’s game against Glamorgan in the LV Championship on June 23.
The youngsters were given the opportunity as part of Gloucestershire Cricket’s first ever schools’ day.
The event – which is being repeated at the Cheltenham Festival on July 15 – included free entry to the match and a workbook filled with cricket-related tasks. Activities ranged from designing a new Gloucestershire mascot to working out which of the county’s current batsmen has the best average.
But it was the 20minute coaching session on the outfield that caused the most excitement (see pic below).
Led by coaches from the Gloucestershire Cricket Board and volunteers from the county’s youth teams, the pupils formed a circle around the entire playing area and took part in a range of close-catching challenges.
Gloucestershire Cricket Board clubs and programmes officer Lisa Pagett, who helped coordinate the day said: “To see all 840 pupils practicing their skills on the outfield, in front of the crowd was an amazing sight. The children seemed to really enjoy the whole day and created a great atmosphere while the game was going on.
“Hopefully it will be a day they remember for a long time and will inspire them to keep playing and watching cricket.”
During the day a number of the children met Gloucestershire players James Fuller and Gareth Roderick. They quizzed them on every aspect of what it is like to be a professional cricketer from how often they train to how much they earn!
Gloucestershire CCC marketing manager Emily Salvidge said: “The day was a great success and it looked like the children had a wonderful time. We hope it will encourage them to follow Gloucestershire Cricket and we hope we to see them down here again in the future.”
The day was also supported by the Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s education partners Mezze Restaurants and Chance to Shine as well as office solutions firm Itec who printed the workbooks for free.
