21/05/2026
A Visit to Springfield Tigers Cricket Club 🏏
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Springfield Tigers Cricket Club — and what an unforgettable experience it was.
Springfield Tigers is far more than just a cricket club. It’s a welcoming and inclusive community that gives people with disabilities the chance to enjoy the game they love, build confidence, and be part of something special.
From the moment I arrived, I was made to feel at home. I was welcomed into the clubhouse with a cup of coffee by the chairman himself, Ken, before members gradually started to arrive. It didn’t take long to realise that this club is like one big family. Everyone — from the participants to the coaches — created an atmosphere full of warmth, encouragement, and positivity.
Once everyone was ready, we headed outside to begin the session. We started with throwing and catching drills, which quickly became competitive and entertaining. If you dropped the ball, you had to run a lap around the group — something that brought plenty of laughs and energy to the session. From there, we moved into target practice, aiming at the stumps, before finishing in the outdoor nets where everyone had the chance to practice both batting and bowling.
One of the most inspiring parts of the visit was speaking to coach Joe Freestone about his journey with the club.
Joe explained that he has been involved with Springfield Tigers since he was a boy. Living with Dyspraxia and severe ADHD, he found many challenges growing up. Although he loved cricket, he struggled to play with a hard ball because of concentration difficulties and was often labelled as “dangerous” to play.
Springfield Tigers changed everything for him.
The club gave Joe an opportunity, a place where he could belong, develop, and thrive. He never looked back. His dedication and talent eventually led to him being spotted by a scout and selected to play in the Disability Premier League— a competition featuring the best 64 disabled cricketers in the country, with matches even being broadcast.
Since achieving this incredible milestone, Joe has continued to give back to the club by coaching and mentoring the current Springfield Tigers team, while still playing men’s cricket himself. More importantly, he is inspiring others every day and proving that barriers are there to be broken.
My visit to Springfield Tigers showed me that cricket is about far more than runs and wickets. It’s about opportunity, inclusion, friendship, and believing in people. Springfield Tigers is changing lives — and it was truly a privilege to witness it firsthand
Springfield Tigers Cricket Club is a free and inclusive club that welcomes people of all ages with any form of disability. Sessions take place every Monday evening from 6pm–7pm at Springfield Cricket Club, providing a fun, supportive environment for everyone to enjoy the game of cricket.
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