After the massive success of Bristol’s teams at the National Tapeball competition, the sport continues to grow in the city.
Hosted in Manchester by the ECB, a men’s and women’s team competed for the prize. Since this event in September, the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation has run two taster events. Aimed at being an introduction to tapeball, the sessions have been inclusive to newcomers and experienced players alike.
Fun and energetic sessions for men and women have been taking place at City Academy Sports Centre in the east of the city. More than 35 people from diverse backgrounds have engaged in cricket.
In December 2025, 26 men engaged in a fast-paced tape ball tournament, including teams from a local Mosque, a volleyball team, a nomadic cricket team, and UWE Pakistani Society.
The event looked to engage local communities in tape ball cricket, in addition to highlighting our Street Hub located at City Academy Sports Centre. One participant said, “I first played tapeball cricket growing up in Dubai. The session took me back to the good old days.”
In January 2026, the GCF delivered its first women’s tape ball taster session. 10 women from a range of backgrounds participated in this session, filled with fun tape ball cricket drills and games. The women particularly enjoyed the enthusiastic coaching and meeting new people.
What is coming in 2026?
Looking forward to 2026, our next women’s tape ball session is at Avanti Gardens on Sunday, 8th February from 9-11am. Female coaches will be running the session in a female-only environment.
We also have our Men’s Ramadan Cup, hosted at Redland Green School on Thursday, 19th February, to celebrate the upcoming religious event with local communities. This event is free to enter. So sign up your team now!
As we develop tape ball activity in Bristol, we aim to engage both men and women from local communities in East and Central Bristol.
For men, 2026 will include tournament days, specific to local groups, and dual-outcome sessions engaging with those groups to highlight barriers and issues men may face.
Our women’s tape ball activity will continue with a range of tape ball taster sessions and tournament days. Overall, we aim to grow and develop community-based teams for both men and women across the city. Long-term, the aim is to create a league structure that is community-led and community-driven.
If you would like to discuss tape ball activity further, engage in our consultation sessions to develop the pathway for tape ball cricket, or sign up for any upcoming sessions, please contact Jen Muckle.