Lunchtime Talk: Passing the Bat-On – 60 Years and Counting of the Sheffield Caribbean Cricket Club

Join Des Smith to hear a pioneering community story in Sheffield’s sporting history: how a youth organisation that started in the 1960s ultimately evolved into the iconic Sheffield Caribbean Cricket Club. 

Sixty years ago, community leaders established the Crookesmoor Youth Club (also fondly known as “The Boghouse”) to create a space for young people from Sheffield’s West Indian community. As newcomers from the Caribbean, the group quickly bonded over their shared love of sports, particularly cricket, and enjoyed taking part in social activities. 

Hear about the challenges that members faced in joining existing sports clubs and how they decided to take matters into their own hands and establish their own club. You’ll find out how they honed their sporting skills and connected with other West Indian clubs in places like Manchester, Birmingham, and London. Des will also share the club’s ambitions for the future, including plans to build a new clubhouse and move to a community-owned model.  

This is a story of sport and community spirit, and of how a group of people created something of their own that continues to look to the future.

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