Mersey Rose Recreationals CC
Nominee Profile
Location: Liverpool
We are proudly inclusive cricket club based in Liverpool and one of only four LGBTQ+ cricket clubs in the UK. Our entire purpose is to provide inclusive cricket.
At the end of the 2023 season Mersey Rose Recreationals was created with the view of establishing a cricket club that was welcoming for the local LGBTQ+ community. But we were also enthusiastic about becoming a movement for inclusion in other areas, such as disability, age, ethnicity, social background and neurodiversity. It was clear to us that the "traditional" models for sports clubs are excluding a lot of people.
As a club we believe the most important thing is building a community. In a community, playing ability matters less than a sense of belonging and the opportunity to come as you are and enjoy yourself. We want to make sure everyone who wants to play does play, that no-one feels under pressure and that everyone feels welcomed and supported. Many of our members have been to other clubs where the first thing we're asked about is our bowling style or batting ability - they're more interested in what you can do for their club than what they can do for you. Too much focus on ability can be intimidating and offputting for players new to the game, and it's not going to happen here.
As a club, we're champions of authentic friendly cricket - but we also want to play a role in rethinking it and changing the narrative around it. We want to help create a friendly "scene" that is vibrant, supportive, inclusive, creative and forward-thinking. It is also mixed-gender, ensuring trans people can take part irrespective of ECB rules around league cricket.
​Mersey Rose Recreationals will not be winning any leagues, clubs or national championships. But hopefully we will win friends and become known for our inclusive values and ethos.
We are a club that is proud to be different, proud to be pioneering and proud to be unashamedly inclusive.
At the end of the 2023 season Mersey Rose Recreationals was created with the view of establishing a cricket club that was welcoming for the local LGBTQ+ community. But we were also enthusiastic about becoming a movement for inclusion in other areas, such as disability, age, ethnicity, social background and neurodiversity. It was clear to us that the "traditional" models for sports clubs are excluding a lot of people.
As a club we believe the most important thing is building a community. In a community, playing ability matters less than a sense of belonging and the opportunity to come as you are and enjoy yourself. We want to make sure everyone who wants to play does play, that no-one feels under pressure and that everyone feels welcomed and supported. Many of our members have been to other clubs where the first thing we're asked about is our bowling style or batting ability - they're more interested in what you can do for their club than what they can do for you. Too much focus on ability can be intimidating and offputting for players new to the game, and it's not going to happen here.
As a club, we're champions of authentic friendly cricket - but we also want to play a role in rethinking it and changing the narrative around it. We want to help create a friendly "scene" that is vibrant, supportive, inclusive, creative and forward-thinking. It is also mixed-gender, ensuring trans people can take part irrespective of ECB rules around league cricket.
​Mersey Rose Recreationals will not be winning any leagues, clubs or national championships. But hopefully we will win friends and become known for our inclusive values and ethos.
We are a club that is proud to be different, proud to be pioneering and proud to be unashamedly inclusive.