PUPILS from Sandfield Park School had a day to remember last week as they travelled to London to take part in the Lord's Taverners National Table Cricket Finals and met England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes writes Alec McQuarrie.

The Liverpool-based school's side were one of ten to compete at Lord's Cricket Ground, for the right to call themselves national champions.

The Lord’s Taverners exists to positively impact 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 to develop the knowledge, skills, capabilities and confidence required to overcome the challenges of inequality, raise their aspirations and reach their potential.

PE teacher Sue Barry, 62, spoke of how excited her students were to be reaching the finals for the first time. 

She said: "We have never reached the national level. This is the first time we have made it past regionals, so I think that excitement of winning the regionals and playing at this level has been great. 

"They have been so looking forward to it, and we have gotten better as we have gone along, so I think it is teaching them lots of things about confidence and how to deal with disappointment. 

"It is a learning curve here today, and we are so happy to be here and to be at the home of cricket in Lords Cricket Ground is incredible." 

Over 100 schools and 1,000 young people with disabilities took part in the county and regional qualifiers to book their place for Finals Day of the competition, now into its 22nd year, which is made possible thanks to the support of Ford, players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and the England & Wales Cricket Board.

An adapted form of cricket played on table tennis table, table cricket takes all the aspects of mainstream cricket, providing a more inclusive and accessible form which allows young people with a wide range of disabilities to participate, meet new friends and have fun.

The game not only promotes teamwork and sportsmanship in an enjoyable environment, it also improves life skills such as self-confidence, independence and social integration.

And Barry was keen to emphasise how proud she was of her students. 

She added: "We are so proud of everyone for reaching this point. 

"You can't get paid for that feeling of pride in them and their achievements. 

"Playing in a high-level competition is an amazing experience that some people may never have. 

"So we're really proud of them today, really proud of their achievement, and just watching them grow and learn how to handle things in a game is great. They're massive learning curves."

Watching on at Lord's was England wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, as well as Sussex and Southern Vipers captain Georgia Adams. 

And Foakes was delighted to see the sport bringing so many people together.

"I think, especially after what's been going on with COVID-19, this is just a great opportunity to get together,” said Foakes, speaking at the Lord’s Taverners National Table Cricket Finals where he watched nearly 70 young people with disabilities from 10 schools across the country represent their schools compete for the title of the National Table Cricket Champion 2022.

"I think some of these guys were probably hit the hardest in that isolation and in that lockdown period. 

"So, I just think it's great, everyone being able to get out and enjoy it and enjoying that team aspect of sport that cricket provides. 

"It's been fantastic to see it, and I think it looks like it's going from strength to strength. 

"It's just been awesome."

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