Pupils from Wilson Stuart School enjoyed a day to remember when they travelled to London to take part in the Lord’s Taverners National Table Cricket Finals.

The Birmingham school’s side were one of 12 teams to compete in the Nursery Pavilion, at Lord’s Cricket Ground, last week for the right to call themselves national champions.

More than 300 schools and over 3,000 disabled young people took part during the regional heats of the competition, now into its 20th year, which is made possible thanks to the support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and Ford.

Wilson Stuart finished runners-up at the finals, as they came agonisingly close to defending the title they won last year, and head of PE Neil Dawson said the school has come a long way since it first started playing table cricket.

“We had an interesting introduction to it three years ago where we lost every match and came last and we learnt a lot from that experience,” he said.

“Then we came last year and won the whole event and the school went absolutely bonkers and since then it’s just been booming at the school and we have so much interest.

“It’s had a massive positive effect on the kids and they are just one big team. The togetherness and the communication they show is amazing.

“The experience means so much to them and working with all their different abilities to make that team work and as successful as they can.

“They have also learnt a lot tactically about how to solve problems and what they need to do if the opposition is doing well and how do they make it harder.

“It’s such a great experience and the team game is good for people, when you get involved in a team sport you find your level and your ability and it allows them to fulfil their potential.”

Played on a table tennis table with side panels and sliding fielders, a ball launcher, weighted plastic ball and wooden bat, table cricket enables young people with severe physical and learning difficulties the opportunity to play in a competitive game of cricket.

The game not only promotes team work and sportsmanship in an enjoyable environment, it also improves life skills such as self-confidence, independence and social integration.

Pupil Anthony Clayton, 19, said: “I enjoy table cricket because it’s not just a one-person game, many people can play and it’s good for other people to get involved.

“Playing table cricket has taken me to Lord’s and to Edgbaston and the finals have been amazing, it has been such a great experience for us all to be together as a team.

“My favourite thing about table cricket is fielding as you have to work together to get the batsman out and it is really fun. Playing table cricket has made me more confident in myself.”

Watching on as the school competed in the Nursery Pavilion was Radio 1 DJ, cricket lover and ambassador for the Lord’s Taverners Greg James, who was full of praise for the charity’s work.

“It’s brilliant and it gives young kids with learning difficulties and physical disabilities a chance to club together, both cricket fans and non-cricket fans, and have an amazing day,” he said.

“Everyone gets a go and it’s competitive, but it’s also fun and promotes teamwork. It gets everyone together and talking to each other, giving them a chance to meet new people.

“These kids are meeting other kids from all over the country, so they get to meet people outside their own community who also have a similar background to them which is fantastic.

“The whole point of the Lord’s Taverners is to give kids with disabilities chances and to do something like this, which is saying you are amazing and look what you can do.”

The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity whose aim is to give disadvantaged and disabled young people a sporting chance – go to www.lordstaverners.org to find out more.