Latest news with #GloucestershireCricket
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
David ‘Syd' Lawrence dead at 61: First British-born black cricketer to represent England dies after MND battle
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ENGLAND cricket legend David "Syd" Lawrence has died aged 61 following a battle with motor neurone disease. The ex-Gloucestershire star was the first British-born black cricketer to play for England. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 David 'Syd' Lawrence has died aged 61 Credit: PA 3 Lawrence was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year Credit: Getty The former fast bowler left an amazing legacy on the sport and was recently awarded an MBE in the King's birthday honours list. Lawrence, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, was incredibly proud to be honoured. He said last week: "It is not something I ever thought would sit after my name. "I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone." Following Lawrence's sad passing, a family statement said: "'Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed." The ECB have paid tribute to Lawrence, calling him a "pioneering" player who left an "indelible mark" on the sport in this country. ECB chair Richard Thompson said: "David 'Syd' Lawrence was a true trailblazer of English cricket and a man of immense courage, character, and compassion. "His impact on the game extended far beyond the boundary ropes. As a fast bowler, he thrilled crowds with his pace and passion. As a leader and advocate, he broke barriers and inspired change, becoming a powerful voice for inclusion and representation in our sport. 3 England stars including Ben Stokes paid tribute to Lawrence Credit: Sky Sports "Even in the face of his illness, David showed extraordinary strength and dignity, continuing to uplift others with his resilience and spirit. He leaves behind a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who love cricket. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and the entire cricketing community at this time." Lawrence played five test matches for England, only for his international career to be brutally cut short by a serious knee injury in 1992. He left an incredible mark on Gloucestershire, playing 280 matches for them over a 16-year span. Lawrence later returned to the club as president in 2022. Paying tribute to their legendary former fast bowler and executive, Gloucestershire wrote: "Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. "Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time." England star paid tribute to Lawrence ahead of today's match-up with India at Headingley. Stars including Ben Stokes took part in a minute's applause in honour of the cricket icon.
Powys County Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
‘Syd' Lawrence: England trailblazer who rocked and rumbled for Gloucestershire
David 'Syd' Lawrence was presented with a number of challenges both on and off the cricket field but he met each of them with magnanimity and resilience. Racially abused by a team-mate as a teenager, Lawrence had the last laugh by, in his own words, 'rocking and rumbling' for Gloucestershire and becoming the first British-born black man to play for England before being cut down in his prime. Lawrence refused to feel sorry for himself and that much was evident when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, raising money and spreading awareness of the condition which robbed him of his voice and ability to walk before his death, aged 61. Affectionately known as Syd after the British bandleader, Lawrence was born on January 28, 1964, in Gloucester to Jamaican parents, inheriting his love for cricket from his father. He was only 17 when he opened the bowling for Gloucestershire alongside a famous Jamaican in Courtney Walsh although memories of his debut season are soured by a banana being left outside the door of his hotel room by an unnamed peer. 'I just sat in that room thinking: 'I'm a cricketer, what makes me different?'' Lawrence reflected to the Guardian years later. 'Why would somebody want to do that, just because of the colour of my skin?' While he received an unreserved apology from Gloucestershire in 2021, Lawrence initially had to shrug off the incident for fear of being perceived as difficult and he instead channelled any frustration by becoming one of the speediest, if occasionally wayward, operators on the county circuit. A strapping fast bowler, he took 625 wickets in 280 games for Gloucestershire but is just as remembered for his England outings, starting against Sri Lanka in 1988, where he claimed three dismissals. Lawrence waited another three years for his next appearance, claiming 14 wickets in three Tests in 1991, the highlight being a five-for against the West Indies to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. He also made his lone ODI appearance in the same summer but Lawrence's career was halted in its tracks the following year as he badly fractured his left kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 following 18 wickets in five Tests but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. He was back in the public eye after detailing his racism experiences in his playing days, before in April 2022 he became Gloucestershire's first black president. Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time. — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) June 22, 2025 Following his MND diagnosis and with Lawrence already confined to a custom-made wheelchair, he was presented with the T20 Blast trophy by James Bracey last September in emotionally charged scenes after Gloucestershire ended a nine-year wait for silverware. Lawrence dictated his own recently-released autobiography, while he received an MBE earlier this month in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket. 'It is an incredibly proud moment,' he said. 'It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence is survived by wife Gaynor and son Buster, an ex-professional rugby union player.
North Wales Chronicle
5 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Syd' Lawrence: England trailblazer who rocked and rumbled for Gloucestershire
Racially abused by a team-mate as a teenager, Lawrence had the last laugh by, in his own words, 'rocking and rumbling' for Gloucestershire and becoming the first British-born black man to play for England before being cut down in his prime. Lawrence refused to feel sorry for himself and that much was evident when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, raising money and spreading awareness of the condition which robbed him of his voice and ability to walk before his death, aged 61. Affectionately known as Syd after the British bandleader, Lawrence was born on January 28, 1964, in Gloucester to Jamaican parents, inheriting his love for cricket from his father. He was only 17 when he opened the bowling for Gloucestershire alongside a famous Jamaican in Courtney Walsh although memories of his debut season are soured by a banana being left outside the door of his hotel room by an unnamed peer. 'I just sat in that room thinking: 'I'm a cricketer, what makes me different?'' Lawrence reflected to the Guardian years later. 'Why would somebody want to do that, just because of the colour of my skin?' While he received an unreserved apology from Gloucestershire in 2021, Lawrence initially had to shrug off the incident for fear of being perceived as difficult and he instead channelled any frustration by becoming one of the speediest, if occasionally wayward, operators on the county circuit. A strapping fast bowler, he took 625 wickets in 280 games for Gloucestershire but is just as remembered for his England outings, starting against Sri Lanka in 1988, where he claimed three dismissals. Lawrence waited another three years for his next appearance, claiming 14 wickets in three Tests in 1991, the highlight being a five-for against the West Indies to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. He also made his lone ODI appearance in the same summer but Lawrence's career was halted in its tracks the following year as he badly fractured his left kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 following 18 wickets in five Tests but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. He was back in the public eye after detailing his racism experiences in his playing days, before in April 2022 he became Gloucestershire's first black president. Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time. — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) June 22, 2025 Following his MND diagnosis and with Lawrence already confined to a custom-made wheelchair, he was presented with the T20 Blast trophy by James Bracey last September in emotionally charged scenes after Gloucestershire ended a nine-year wait for silverware. Lawrence dictated his own recently-released autobiography, while he received an MBE earlier this month in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket. 'It is an incredibly proud moment,' he said. 'It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence is survived by wife Gaynor and son Buster, an ex-professional rugby union player.
Glasgow Times
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
‘Syd' Lawrence: England trailblazer who rocked and rumbled for Gloucestershire
Racially abused by a team-mate as a teenager, Lawrence had the last laugh by, in his own words, 'rocking and rumbling' for Gloucestershire and becoming the first British-born black man to play for England before being cut down in his prime. Lawrence refused to feel sorry for himself and that much was evident when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, raising money and spreading awareness of the condition which robbed him of his voice and ability to walk before his death, aged 61. Lawrence, second right, and Courtney Walsh, right, formed a fearsome new-ball partnership for Gloucestershire (PA) Affectionately known as Syd after the British bandleader, Lawrence was born on January 28, 1964, in Gloucester to Jamaican parents, inheriting his love for cricket from his father. He was only 17 when he opened the bowling for Gloucestershire alongside a famous Jamaican in Courtney Walsh although memories of his debut season are soured by a banana being left outside the door of his hotel room by an unnamed peer. 'I just sat in that room thinking: 'I'm a cricketer, what makes me different?'' Lawrence reflected to the Guardian years later. 'Why would somebody want to do that, just because of the colour of my skin?' While he received an unreserved apology from Gloucestershire in 2021, Lawrence initially had to shrug off the incident for fear of being perceived as difficult and he instead channelled any frustration by becoming one of the speediest, if occasionally wayward, operators on the county circuit. A strapping fast bowler, he took 625 wickets in 280 games for Gloucestershire but is just as remembered for his England outings, starting against Sri Lanka in 1988, where he claimed three dismissals. Lawrence collides with Sri Lanka's Ranjith Madurusinghe while celebrating a wicket (PA) Lawrence waited another three years for his next appearance, claiming 14 wickets in three Tests in 1991, the highlight being a five-for against the West Indies to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. He also made his lone ODI appearance in the same summer but Lawrence's career was halted in its tracks the following year as he badly fractured his left kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 following 18 wickets in five Tests but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. He was back in the public eye after detailing his racism experiences in his playing days, before in April 2022 he became Gloucestershire's first black president. Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time. — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) June 22, 2025 Following his MND diagnosis and with Lawrence already confined to a custom-made wheelchair, he was presented with the T20 Blast trophy by James Bracey last September in emotionally charged scenes after Gloucestershire ended a nine-year wait for silverware. Lawrence dictated his own recently-released autobiography, while he received an MBE earlier this month in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket. 'It is an incredibly proud moment,' he said. 'It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence is survived by wife Gaynor and son Buster, an ex-professional rugby union player.
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
‘Syd' Lawrence: England trailblazer who rocked and rumbled for Gloucestershire
Racially abused by a team-mate as a teenager, Lawrence had the last laugh by, in his own words, 'rocking and rumbling' for Gloucestershire and becoming the first British-born black man to play for England before being cut down in his prime. Lawrence refused to feel sorry for himself and that much was evident when he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year, raising money and spreading awareness of the condition which robbed him of his voice and ability to walk before his death, aged 61. Affectionately known as Syd after the British bandleader, Lawrence was born on January 28, 1964, in Gloucester to Jamaican parents, inheriting his love for cricket from his father. He was only 17 when he opened the bowling for Gloucestershire alongside a famous Jamaican in Courtney Walsh although memories of his debut season are soured by a banana being left outside the door of his hotel room by an unnamed peer. 'I just sat in that room thinking: 'I'm a cricketer, what makes me different?'' Lawrence reflected to the Guardian years later. 'Why would somebody want to do that, just because of the colour of my skin?' While he received an unreserved apology from Gloucestershire in 2021, Lawrence initially had to shrug off the incident for fear of being perceived as difficult and he instead channelled any frustration by becoming one of the speediest, if occasionally wayward, operators on the county circuit. A strapping fast bowler, he took 625 wickets in 280 games for Gloucestershire but is just as remembered for his England outings, starting against Sri Lanka in 1988, where he claimed three dismissals. Lawrence waited another three years for his next appearance, claiming 14 wickets in three Tests in 1991, the highlight being a five-for against the West Indies to help England seal a series-levelling win at the Oval, with Desmond Haynes and Viv Richards among his haul. He also made his lone ODI appearance in the same summer but Lawrence's career was halted in its tracks the following year as he badly fractured his left kneecap after falling awkwardly when running into bowl on the final day of a Test against New Zealand in Wellington. His England days were immediately over aged 28 following 18 wickets in five Tests but he made a brief county comeback in 1997, playing four first-class games for Gloucestershire before hanging up his boots – 16 years after he first played professionally. Lawrence became a competitive bodybuilder following his retirement and he was also a nightclub owner in Bristol. He was back in the public eye after detailing his racism experiences in his playing days, before in April 2022 he became Gloucestershire's first black president. Gloucestershire Cricket is devastated to learn of the passing of former player and Club President, David 'Syd' Lawrence MBE, aged 61. Everyone at Gloucestershire Cricket would like to send their best wishes to David's family during this terribly sad time. — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) June 22, 2025 Following his MND diagnosis and with Lawrence already confined to a custom-made wheelchair, he was presented with the T20 Blast trophy by James Bracey last September in emotionally charged scenes after Gloucestershire ended a nine-year wait for silverware. Lawrence dictated his own recently-released autobiography, while he received an MBE earlier this month in the King's Birthday Honours for his outstanding services to cricket. 'It is an incredibly proud moment,' he said. 'It is not something that I ever thought would sit after my name, but I am absolutely delighted that it will do so for however long I am here and will be a part of my legacy when I am gone.' Lawrence is survived by wife Gaynor and son Buster, an ex-professional rugby union player.
