Coach and players win Lord’s Taverners disability cricket awards
Tuesday 8th November 2016
A Kent coach and two players were recognised at the Lords’ Taverners Cricket Championship Awards at the Kia Oval on Tuesday.
Dom Taylor was named Coach of the Year, Sam Alderson was Most Improved Player and Katie Halford won the Spirit of Cricket Award.
Mr Taylor from Bromley said: “I was really at the evening to support Sam Alderson who won the Most Improved Player category and Katie Halford who won the Spirit of Cricket award for her love of the game and hard work.
“This award is recognition of not only my work, but also that done by everyone at Kent Cricket to support disability cricket in the county.
“Of course none of this would be possible without the continued participation and support of the amazing players, parents and carers who make coaching them an absolute pleasure.
“With the new developments of disability cricket in Kent, things can only go from strength to strength and I look forward to much more success in the future, for all our players.”
On receiving his award, Sam said: “I was shocked, it made my day! I only started playing cricket six months ago and it was pure luck that I found the club.
“I was looking in the local newspapers and saw an article about the club and what they were doing so thought I’d give it a go.
“I didn’t even think I could play cricket because of the chair and thought the limitations would be too much. But my coach Dom was really good with me when I first started and I took it from there.”
The LTDCC, run in partnership with the Berkeley Foundation – the charitable foundation established and supported by the Berkeley Group – is a year round cricket programme for disabled young people aged 14-25.
With additional support from the Wembley National Stadium Trust, Sport England and players of the People’s Postcode Lottery, the LTDCC provides access to coaching and competition in Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey.
The LTDCC has recently expanded to run across 23 London Boroughs with a view to running in all 32 boroughs in the next three years.