Sussex will open the gates of The 1st Central County Ground to over 600 people on Thursday as they celebrate a decade of their Discoverability Day.
One of the biggest disability sports events in the south-east, the event involves people from Sussex-based schools, community groups, care homes and charities who enjoy a brilliant day of cricket-based activities on the outfield at Hove.
The event is led and organised by coaches from the Sussex Cricket Foundation, the charitable arm of Sussex Cricket, who provide a series of fun-based challenges involving batting. bowling, catching and throwing.
Sussex’s professionals and players from their visually impaired and disabled squads join in as well as volunteers from local businesses and the event is also supported by student sports leaders from local secondary schools, providing them with experience of volunteering at a large community event.
In the last decade more than 5,000 people have taken part and as well as Sussex cricket, teams from Brighton and Hove Albion’s community arm, Sussex Bears Wheelchair Basketball Club and Brighton Table Tennis club run adapted activities for the participants.
It’s one of the flagship events of the season at Sussex and comes at the start of a busy few days with the county staging its first disability county match on Sunday against Surrey at The 1st Central County Ground.
Gary Wallis-Tayler, Sussex’s Community Cricket Director, is proud to stage an event which goes from strength to strength and is the most important in the foundation’s calendar.
“Disability Cricket in Sussex is a key part of our strategy and making our ground available to the wider community is extremely important so that our disability players and participants continue to feel a part of Sussex Cricket,” he said.
“This year we have 600 participants which is more than ever before and the participants come from all over the county, making it feel like a real community event.”
Sussex’s D40 squad take on Surrey on Sunday and already 200 tickets have been sold for the first match between two disabled teams to be staged at a first-class ground, starting at 1pm.
The teams will enjoy the same facilities as the professionals.
“This is a historic occasion, and we are turning it into a proper matchday for the players,” said Wallis-Tayler.
“As a county we want to ensure that our disability teams continue to feel part of Sussex Cricket and have the same opportunities that our professional and pathway players have.
“Under Aroop Tanna, our disability cricket manager, we now provide opportunities for around 1,000 people with physical and, or, learning difficulties in the county.
“The programme aims to help this part of our community get physically active and reap the socially inclusive benefits that are unique to cricket – a brilliant game where different ages, abilities, genders, and backgrounds can come together to make friends and have fun.”
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