Dynamos Cricket in Firth Park: Summer Holiday Sessions

Across five Sunday mornings in the 2025 summer holidays, Cricket Arena delivered Dynamos Cricket in Firth Park, Sheffield for boys aged 8–11—bringing structured coaching, fun match play and big energy to the park. With kit provided and a welcoming community atmosphere, children built confidence, friendships and a real love for the game week by week. The programme was supported through ECB bursary funding via Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, alongside local partners Masjid Ghausia and Vision 313, helping more families access cricket close to home.

Dynamos Cricket in Firth Park — Session Snapshot

Location:

Firth Park (non-turf pitch), Sheffield

Schedule:

Aug–Sep 2025 (5 Sundays)

Time:

11:00am–12:30pm

Participants:

Local boys aged 8–11

Support:

YCF/ECB bursary + Masjid Ghausia + Vision 313

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Highlights

Park cricket that brought the community out

Delivered outdoors on the public grass/astro space in Firth Park, the sessions built a real Sunday-morning buzz. Attendance was strong throughout the programme, with volunteers and mosque teachers often supporting on the sidelines — helping create a safe, community-led feel alongside Masjid Ghausia and Vision 313.

Barrier-free: free places, kit and equipment provided

With ECB bursary support via Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, funded places removed cost barriers for families. Every child received a custom Dynamos t-shirt (with their name and favourite number), and Cricket Arena provided the equipment — so participants could arrive ready to play.

Confidence through match play and routine

The weekly Dynamos routine and match-style games helped children go from hesitant starters to more confident players. Through regular play, they developed teamwork, communication and game awareness in a supportive environment where encouragement mattered and everyone had a role.

On Sunday mornings in the 2025 summer holidays, Firth Park became a regular home for cricket.

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Across five Dynamos Cricket sessions, Cricket Arena worked in partnership with Masjid Ghausia and Vision 313 to deliver free, structured cricket for local boys aged 8–11 — many coming through community and madrasah networks in Firth Park and Page Hall.

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Because the sessions took place in a public park, the programme naturally drew attention and built a real community feel. Volunteers often helped out and mosque teachers dropped by to support from the sidelines. When weather affected plans, sessions were rescheduled where possible to keep the offer consistent for families.

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Cricket Arena led the coaching, organisation and safeguarding — managing sign-ups, liaising with parents and guardians, and working with Yorkshire Cricket Foundation to access ECB bursary support, helping funded spaces stay free to children.

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The format stayed simple and welcoming. Families didn’t need to bring equipment — Cricket Arena provided windballs, plastic bats and stumps — so boys could arrive ready to play with minimal barriers. Each player also received a custom Dynamos t-shirt (with their name and favourite number), plus Cricket Attax cards to keep the cricket excitement going beyond the park.

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Sessions ran on 10 Aug, 17 Aug, 31 Aug, 7 Sep and 14 Sep, on Sundays, from 11:00am–12:30pm. Matches were played on the flatter area of the park on astro, near the opposite side of the Firth Park Clock Tower, where the windball bounced well and the game flowed.

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The coaching team was led by Head Coach Zayn Wasim (ECB Core Coach), supported by Assistant Coach Abdul Hameed Shabir — helping children learn the game in a way that felt encouraging, familiar and fun.

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Award

Player

Team

Numbers

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Voices from the Park

“Providing cricket in the summer holidays is vital for 8–11-year-olds. It keeps them active, gives them structure, and helps build confidence and social skills while having fun outdoors. The turnout was really positive — kids of all abilities got involved together.”

— Zayn Wasim

Head Coach

“We’re proud to support these Dynamos sessions in Firth Park. We have built real trust with local families, and this programme gave children a positive, structured space to be active, make friends and grow in confidence right on their doorstep.”

— Taf Shabir

Manager, Vision 313

What’s Next in Firth Park

Next, we’d love to repeat the Dynamos sessions in Firth Park with Masjid Ghausia and Vision 313, and build a clearer pathway for boys who want to keep playing beyond the summer. That includes progression opportunities like our Junior Hundred (ages 12–15).

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If you’re a madrasah, school or community group in Sheffield or Rotherham and want to explore bringing Dynamos Cricket to your area, please get in touch via our contact page or explore our programmes.