How’s that?: Youngsters from local disability cricket team picked to volunteer at World Cup

Seven young players from a disability cricket team in Hackney have been picked to volunteer at the 2019 World Cup – which kicked off on 30 May with a victory for tournament hosts England.

George Anderson, Onye Nwanka, Adam Hollingsworth, Sebastian Odiakasigbue, Terrance Frank, Richard Barnes and Joe Spencer will be in attendance at Lord’s on 25 June when England face old foes Australia.

The seven are part of cricket charity Lord’s Taverners’ Super 1s programme in Hackney, getting together every week at Clissold Leisure Centre.

Super 1s gives young people aged 12 to 25 with disabilities the chance to regularly play cricket, compete against their peers and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Along with helping out spectators during the England versus Australia game, Hackney’s ‘Cricketeers’ will be on hand at the World Cup Fanzone in Trafalgar Square on 12 July – two days before the final.

Lord’s Taverners disability cricket project manager Mark Bond said: “It will be a fantastic experience for them, to be engaging with people and playing a part in making the World Cup a success, as well as developing their confidence, leadership and communication skills, which are all key life skills.

“We’re really proud of the guys, and I’m sure they’ll do a fantastic job!”

The players starred for Hackney in last year’s Lord’s Taverners Super 1s London tournament, with the team making it all the way to the final before losing out to Hillingdon.

The charity says the Super 1s programme, which started in four London boroughs in 2013 and now has branches all over the capital and across the country, was designed to provide a path into cricket for youngsters with disabilities, offering them a chance to realise their potential both on and off the field.

Hackney Super 1s coach Gary Horsman said the programme is “more than just playing cricket”, adding: “Super 1s is about personal development. With our group, through this, they meet and socialise outside of our networks.

“Super 1s does that as that’s what it’s about. Yes, it’s a cricket programme, but most people realise it’s about personal development. It’s really important.”

The Hackney team starred in last year’s Lord’s Taverners Super 1s London tournament, making it all the way to the final before losing out to Hillingdon.

For more information, head to lordstaverners.org/super1s