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WACD -Welsh Association for Cricketers with a Disability
Aims/Mission Statement
The WACD exists to provide the opportunity for people in Wales, with either intellectual impairment or physical impairment to play cricket at either friendly or competitive level.
Brief History
The organisation was formed in 2000 by CBW Director Mark Frost, and active volunteers in Welsh Disability Cricket at the time, namely Paul Cartwright, Ian Martin and Lyndon Samuel. A committee was formed and it was agreed that WACD would represent the CBW in the ECB National Disabilities County Championship.
Originally there were two disability cricket co-ordinators in Wales – appointed by Mark Frost – one in North Wales and one in South Wales. Over the years occupants of these positions have changed several times. In 2005 we added an additional co-ordinator in Mid Wales.
In previous years it has been the case that anybody with a disability, in Wales, that wished to play cricket automatically found themselves in the Welsh Squad. Over the last two years, due to club development and increased participation this situation has changed.
We now have a club structure and are recognised by ECB’s Disability Cricket Consultant Roger Fuggle, as being one of the leading, most proactive disability cricket organisations in the country.
There are four disability cricket clubs in Wales. These are Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Flintshire (Buckley) and Cardiff (St Fagans). In addition to this there is disability cricket development activity going on in Monmouth, Vale of Glamorgan, Conwy, Ceredigion, Wrexham and Swansea as a result of WACD working in partnership with Disability Sport Cymru Development Officers.
Affiliations
WACD are affiliated to the following Governing bodies
FDSW
British Association for Cricketers with a Disability
Welsh Cricket Association
Our Successes
National County Championship
Winners 2002 Vs Isle of Wight at Headingley
Runners Up 2000 & 2001 V Lancashire at Trent Bridge; 2003 V Lancashire at Headingley
2004 – Clubs established at Cardiff, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon
2005 – Club established in Flintshire
Each club has received Community Chest funding via local authorities and Cardiff and Flintshire have each received a Lords Taverners Kit Bag
In 2004 four WACD players were involved in the first ever England Squad for players with a Physical and Learning Disability. A fixture Vs a Rest of the World XI was staged at the Hampshire Rosebowl but got rained off after only a few overs. The squad hold bi-annual training camps at the National Academy at Loughborough.
In 2005 Ian Crumplin of Gresford became the first Welsh Disabled Player to represent England overseas when he was selected for the England squad to play in a Tri Nation Tournament in Cape Town. In addition to this Ian Martin was invited to be Team Manager for the tour.
We finished top of our group in 2005 and qualified for the semi-final of the National County Championship.
Contact Information
Kevin Griffiths, 20 Equitable Street Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 4HD
(01706) 639290(H); 07707 847975 (M)
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