Sandfield Park School are hoping to emerge as this year’s surprise package as they travel to Lord’s for the 2024 National Table Cricket Finals Day.

The Lord’s Taverners national table cricket competition sees young people with disabilities representing schools from across the country, setting their sights on what for some will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to play at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Table cricket is an adapted version of the traditional game, played on a table tennis table, and is much more accessible to young people living with severe physical or learning disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, who have limited opportunities to participate in sport.

While aware of her school’s underdog status, Sandfield Park teacher Sue Barry insists her team are raring to rise to the occasion, having missed out on Finals Day last year.

“They're really excited because it’s a whole road trip for us,” she said.

“We got through in 2022 and that was our first time ever and we were just over the moon, so we're very happy to be there again.

“We missed out last year, so we're very pleased. Last time we came seventh, we are just aiming to get higher than that. 

“It's quite difficult, because we are the only team that are all wheelchair users, so you're playing against people who are standing up and on their feet. It's not really a level playing field, but we’ll do our best.”

The chance to play at Lord’s guarantees to be a special one, going for glory on the grounds played on by any and all of the greatest cricketers to ever play the sport.

Having already experienced playing at a similarly stellar ground in Old Trafford, Barry says she can’t wait for her school to return to the biggest of stages.

“It's wonderful,” she added. “The whole atmosphere when we were there last time was just incredible.

“We play our regional finals at Old Trafford, which is obviously another great cricket ground, but Lord’s and the whole event was just so well run. 

“It’s a really good event. We were delighted to be part of it.”

Much of the Lord’s Taverners work in cricket for young people with disabilities is made possible thanks to funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by the Postcode Active Trust, in addition to support from the ECB and Sport England.

And Barry emphasised how vital it is that sport is accessible to all young people regardless of ability, ensuring that everyone is able to experience the joys of competition.

She said: “Particularly for our pupils, because they're all non-ambulant, as they get older it gets more and more difficult. So to be able to play a very competitive game, it’s fantastic.

“The games are really, really competitive, and then when you get down to London, it just goes up one notch more.

“You've got the tension and the atmosphere and the crowds - it allows them to be in a national final and it's a great opportunity.”

The Lord’s Taverners impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality. The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org