These regular events are a chance for local schools to spend a day at the cricket at the ground in Bristol or at the Cheltenham Festival. It is a celebration of the sport and an informal way to introduce students to first-class cricket.
11 schools from the Bristol area brought their kids for Day 1 of the County Championship between Gloucestershire and Kent. The day was about more than the action on the field, as they were also treated to batting, bowling, and fielding coaching, a museum tour, and a Q&A with Marchant de Lange and Ahmed Syed of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
For most of the children, it was their first opportunity to watch live cricket, and for many, their first time picking up a bat and ball. We hope this opportunity will create some cricket fans or provide lifelong memories for the students and their teachers.
Trish Partridge, a teacher at one of the schools who attended, had this to say about the event;
The children thoroughly enjoyed the day from the museum (we thought the questions on the cricket balls were a great way for children to learn more about the game and people associated with GCCC) through the coaching and the bowling to the player questions and answers. They loved getting signatures from the players and got more and more involved in the sport throughout the day. Their group photograph is a lasting reminder of a happy day. All adults interacting with the children were great and totally at their level. Thanks to all involved.
It was a fantastic day and brilliant to see so many smiling faces. Thank you to the coaches, Marchant and Ahmed, for their time.
Check out the gallery below!
