5 August
Aurora Eccles cricketers have field day in national finals
Young cricketers from Aurora Eccles School have been bowled over by their success in a national cricket tournament held at Leicestershire County Cricket Club recently.
The inaugural Lord’s Taverners National Softball Cricket Final saw eight teams from SEND and ALN (Additional Learning Needs) schools compete. All the finalists had taken part in county and regional qualifying events.
Eccles came third overall after winning all their matches except against the eventual winners – Clare Mount Specialist Sports College in the Wirral – which they lost by just one run.
Eccles Head of Outdoor Education and Expressive Arts Rich Crowdy paid tribute to Oli, Levi, Charlie, Kai, Owen, Noah, Cody, Matthew, Molly and Jason - from years 8, 9 and 10 - describing their achievement as “fantastic”.
He said: “Only one of our team had played cricket outside school yet we’re the third best SEND school for cricket in the country, that’s amazing. It shows just how much natural ability they all possess.”
The team was fortunate to have a secret weapon in the shape of Eccles Higher Level Teaching Assistant Jade Hoyte who is Norfolk Ladies’ vice captain and a coach. She runs lunchtime classes for Key Stage 3 Cricket at the school.
Rich said: “Having someone as good as Jade behind our team really motivated our young players. She’s very much an inspirational figure and the pupils really wanted to do well for her. Her knowledge of the game was a real advantage.”
“I honestly can't put into words how proud I am of this group."
"Their teamwork, determination, sportsmanship and resilience throughout the competition have been outstanding and they have represented the school brilliantly.”
Rich thanked Teaching Assistants Michele Vinall and Charlotte Phelan for their support on the day and said that, for him, one of the highlights of the day was hearing the comments of the team in the minibus on the way home.
“They were all saying that next year they were going to win the competition,” he said. “They recognised how close they had got and were determined that this was not the end of the story. That was really great to hear.”
