The brief was simple: give Sheffield’s young cricketers a Friday-night league of their own. The response was louder than we imagined. Across 12 weeks at Concord Sports Centre, six area-based teams played fast, friendly but fiercely competitive indoor windball—with a National Express Foundation grant making the difference on court and off it.
Participation & Access
More than 80 young people took part, playing every week through a 10-game league phase before the top four advanced to semi-finals. Match fees were kept to £3 per player, and the venue’s central location drew a broad mix—from north-east Sheffield neighbourhoods to Netheredge and Rotherham—building new friendships on balconies and benches as much as on the floor.
Why the Funding Mattered
The £1,000 grant helped cover kits, venue and equipment, keeping the programme affordable while boosting presentation. Every shirt carried the National Express Foundation logo—small detail, big impact: the lads looked the part, felt the part, and played with a stronger sense of belonging.
How It Played
Games were 12 overs (six-ball overs), with retire at 25 to share batting time. Concord’s space pushed strike-rates high; the league tracked an average first-innings of 114, and the rules remained faithful to cricket while tuned for indoors. Volunteers (commentators, umpires and coaches) — 15 in total — kept the engine humming.
The Story of the Season
Burngreave Tigers set the standard early and never let go, sweeping the league and finals to finish unbeaten. Tinsley Thunder pushed them hardest in the final, while Sharrow Stars (fresh from Junior Hundred success) and Longley Legends made the last four—Legends impressively so after assembling late.
Why It Matters
Fridays became a weekly focus—something to look forward to after school pressure. Players spoke about staying away from “bad energy” and finding mentors in the hall. It’s what we aim for: positive routines, role models, pride—and a ladder from community sessions into structured competition.
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