Young Adults Tapeball Tournament Brings Cricket Community Together

The Chance to Shine Young Adults programme in Preston brought together tapeball players and recreational cricketers for a new fast-paced tournament at Fulwood & Broughton Cricket Club on Bank Holiday Monday.

Organised by Chance to Shine Street Coaches Zahoor Ahmed and Safvan Yusuf, the event showcased the growing popularity of Tapeball Cricket among young adults and provided an opportunity for players from different cricketing backgrounds to compete alongside one another.

Eight teams took part in the competition, with the tournament beginning with a group stage before progressing to semi-finals and a final. Matches were played in a rapid 20-ball format, creating an energetic and competitive atmosphere throughout the day.

The tournament welcomed regular Tapeball players alongside recreational hardball cricketers from clubs and communities across the North West. Players travelled from areas including Preston, Southport, Blackburn and Burnley, highlighting the ability of Tapeball Cricket to bring together young adults from different communities and cricketing environments.

The event also demonstrated a collaborative approach to officiating, with umpires drawn from both the Chance to Shine Street programme and recreational cricket clubs.

More than a competition, the tournament was designed to bring the community together and showcase how Tapeball Cricket can provide an accessible, exciting and fast-paced format for young adults. The inaugural event was funded through Chance to Shine’s Competition Programme, supporting the development of new competitive opportunities for young people and communities.

Following the success of the tournament, LCF is looking to build on the event and expand Tapeball Cricket across the region, with plans to develop more formalised indoor and outdoor competitions and leagues.

The long-term ambition is to create a sustainable Tapeball competition structure that gives more young adults the opportunity to play regularly, compete, develop their skills and stay connected to cricket and their local communities.

The tournament marks an exciting next step in the growth of Tapeball Cricket across the North West bringing together different playing backgrounds and demonstrating the potential of the format as an accessible vibrant way of playing our game.