Suffolk One School makes memories for life after competing at Lord's
The school set off at 6am to get to Lord's and head of subject for support of learning Claire Jones revealed how excitement has been sweeping through the pupils in the lead-up to the showpiece occasion.
'They've been excited for this all week,' she said. 'It's all they've been talking about.
'It's our second time here and there's a few nerves from some of the students who are here for the first time, but they're really enjoying it and it's a great atmosphere.'
Table cricket is a fully inclusive, adapted version of the game aimed at young people living with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities played on a table tennis table.
Teams of six compete to avoid fielders and hit specific scoring zones while the ball is bowled using a ramp. The Lord's Taverners runs its national competition each year, with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the country taking part.
Jones, who has been at the school for 15 years, also expressed the importance of having inclusive events such as the National Table Cricket Finals Day for students to aim for.
'Events like this are absolutely huge for students to aspire towards and look forward to,' she continued.
'Having these opportunities are extremely important for these students to be part of a team and represent their college.
'It also gives them a chance to develop that camaraderie and friendship amongst one another that you get as part of team sports.
'These young people have limited opportunities to experience that, so it's great that the Lord's Taverners have put this on for them.'
For the first time in the competition's history, National Finals Day took place as part of Disability Cricket Day, the biggest ever one-off showcase of disability cricket hosted by the MCC, ECB and Lord's Taverners which saw all formats of disability cricket on display from grassroots to elite level.
The day was brought to a close by the first ever international disability cricket fixture on the main ground at Lord's, the third of a seven-match Vitality IT20 Mixed disability series between England and India.
'I saw table cricket for the first time a few years ago now and coming to the final here at Lord's today, you are struck immediately by the competitiveness, the keenness and the camaraderie,' said Lord's Taverners President and former England batter David Gower.
'Everyone's spirits are high and it's fantastic to see people getting everything they want from the game, who, as we know, wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity. Events like this are hugely important.
'The players are all so good, and they are all having immense fun. The atmosphere is just vibrant, and I love being a figurehead for Tavs, especially on days like today.'
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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