Walking Cricket is a fast-growing sport with teams UK-wide. Yorkshire County Cricket Club is key to its development regionally and initially sponsored Rotherham’s now-29-strong, u3a group.
2025, saw Rotherham u3a (Ru3a) invited to play in a competition at Headingley in early September. Unfortunately, personal commitments led to the group being unable to field a full team. The organisers suggested that Ru3a’s available players could join other teams. Consequently, three Ru3a cricketers arrived at Headingley in good time to mingle with 12 teams and over 100 participants.
The ground looked magnificent, with four mini pitches marked out around its extensive area. Meeting and greeting over, Rotherham’s trio were allocated to other teams. The first played with the eventual winners. As well as performing admirably, he had a magic off-field moment whilst resting in the upper tier of an uncovered stand, when a ball hurtled towards him, and he caught it (just like you see on TV).
During the final game of the day, the second Ru3a cricketer played in the winning team, taking a wicket and hitting two sixes at this amazing ground.
On an adjacent pitch, the third Ru3a player and partner batted well. Runs flowed. Her ‘adoptive’ Sheffield team reached the tournament final (and she has the medal to prove it!).
Thanking Sheffield, Wakefield and Barnsley for accommodating them, (one team member even forfeiting a game), they left Headingley tired, happy and astonished that 100 players aged up to 80+ had taken part in such a splendid and fulfilling day.
Onwards and upwards: there’s an invitation to field a side in Vienna in 2026.
Visit http://rotherham.u3asite.uk for more details, follow them on Facebook or contact 07503 225864.