Scotiabank’s Post

Let me tell you a story. It’s personal. It’s about overcoming, and yes, it’s about cricket. 🏏 Born visually impaired, I was the kid who got told, “Leave your glasses by the rugby post.” Seriously. That was PE class advice in mainstream education, circa 1990-something. You can imagine how well that went. Despite being a huge sports fan growing up, I was more of a benchwarmer. Until cricket came into my life aged 19 and changed the game. Literally. At university, I discovered blind cricket. It's cricket, but not as you know it. The ball is larger and it rattles. It’s designed to be heard, not seen. This game? It’s about more than just winning. It's about belonging, pushing limits, and yes, smashing boundaries (both the cricket kind and the metaphorical ones). Fast forward to 2002. There I was at Lords, lifting the BBS Primary Club Trophy with South Wales Dragons. My peak? Absolutely. Then life happened. Family, work, the usual suspects. I hung up my cricket whites in 2005. But here’s the twist. Inspired by my son and at 44 I made a comeback last year. Now, I’m the captain of Staffordshire Wolves. Talk about a plot twist. This role has been a game-changer. New friends. New challenges. And a whole lot of cricket. 2024 is a big year for us. The Staffordshire Wolves are turning 10! That’s a decade of defying odds and hitting it out of the park. But we’re not just celebrating. We’re planning. Growing. Dreaming big. We need more than just applause to get us through the season. Equipment, transport, publicity—you name it, we need it. So, here’s the pitch (pun intended). Can you help? A share, a shout-out, or maybe even sponsorship. Every little bit helps. Right? Could you or your business form a solid partnership with us? Help drive us to a successful 10th anniversary season. Staffordshire Cricket Ltd British Blind Sport RNIB The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Beacon Vision Focus Birmingham Black Country Chamber of Commerce Swansea University Birmingham City University Express & Star #disability #inclusion #sport #cricket #disabilitysport #blindspot #blindness #visualimpairment

Last night was our "Champion's Club" event for Sport Central. I have been on the Board of SC for, I don't know, 8 years or so and sitting my likely last term. The event was a Q & A with Mattias Ekholm and his wife Ida Bjornstad. Dare I say Ida stole the show with passionate commentary about the power of sport in society. Her two asks: 1) we keep sport affordable and 2) we keep sport fun. I think about these two things often. I think about the "spiraling up" of youth sport; the camps, private coaching, etc... and how that impacts the desire to be involved of athletes who that is not in the cards for. I don't have a solution, but I think of "inclusivity" and of all the things that may make people feel excluded - whether it be the matching tracksuits for a few hundred bucks or the feeling you are being left behind because you cannot partake in the "extracurriculars" the rest of the team does. I also think about the bias to "high performance" as the goal of sport; I certainly have that. But much of the value of sport can be found at all levels. Organizations, teams and such need to find pathways to keep kids involved and bonus points if they don't feel like a failure to go on that diverging stream. Finally, to see Mattias and Ida, I am reminded how great having a true partner as, well, a partner is. If you want to be part of the mission: "“Building better people is the goal, sport is the vehicle." then see below! https://lnkd.in/gUPrbN2N

The beautiful game could become a pathway to prosperity for Pacific peoples, thanks to a series of New Zealand Football talanoa around the country, facilitated by NZ Football and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Read how targeted talanoa sessions for Pacific communities and the growth of the game of football, are encouraging more Pacific people into playing, coaching and governing the game, here: https://lnkd.in/gnkkWMYn

With the ever increasing focus on the social and community value of events and festivals, it’s interesting to see how comparable industries measure and report on these impacts. Scottish Rugby‘s Social Return on Investment report on grassroots rugby gives a clear £ value against Social and Health & Wellbeing (as well as economic impart).  A clear headline value figure and ROI that makes for an impactful announcement.  Off to look at the full report to see what evaluation methodologies and practices are transferable into the evaluation and reporting of events and festivals. https://lnkd.in/eMt945-a

‘Why the world finds American sports strange’ by ‘Tifo Sports’ perfectly explains why U.S. college football and college sports is so successful. Australia can learn some keys lessons when we think about emerging second division pathways, the important need to grow university sports, and the value of community connections among sports teams. I highly recommend watching it if you want to understand what Australia needs to harness more intelligently leading up to 2032 and beyond. Side note: Yes, student athletes need to be paid, protected, and supported more along their pathway - especially if they don’t make it to the full-time professional levels of sports. https://lnkd.in/gBDK4C-a #sports #collegefootball #sportbusiness #NFL #sportsfinance

Sport is life, life is sport

Sports Management Tip 2️⃣9️⃣/3️⃣6️⃣6️⃣ --- Want your club to become a social champion? ♻️ Invest in youth outreach programs such as local schools by providing free coaching opportunities 🏀 Host communing events or festivals during national initiatives or days of significance 🏫 #sportsmanagement #sportsbusiness #footballmanagement #clubmanagement #peopledevelopment #coachdevelopment

What's going on with England at the #Euros? 🏴 As the excitement of the tournament progresses, the narrative around #England's potential victory has shifted to questioning what's going wrong. As a long time fan I see this pattern repeating itself as it has for decades. Is it because - 1️⃣ World-class talent alone isn't enough. England is loaded with talent. Translating individual club success to the international stage is challenging. 2️⃣ Coaching and strategies. Should we expect #Southgate to get individual/team performances that world class coaches inspire from players like Foden, #Bellingham, Kane, Saka? 3️⃣ The fear of failure. Opting to play not to lose vs to win creates an ugly, passive game. Contrast this with the bold strategies seen in teams like Spain, Hungary , Switzerland. 4️⃣ Winning isn't good enough. England is expected to win with stylish performances. Is this fair? As the tournament unfolds, many including myself want to see more of what England is capable of. Will we? 🌟⚽ #Euros #England #Soccer #SportsAnalysis

Exciting Sponsorship Opportunity for Visionary Business Owners! Dear LinkedIn Community, We at Florida Minority Baseball Alliance are thrilled to extend a unique sponsorship opportunity to businesses that share our passion for empowering youth through baseball. Why Sponsor FMBA? By joining forces with FMBA, your business taps into a vast network of passionate individuals across the state. Your brand will not only gain exposure but will contribute to providing life-changing opportunities to aspiring youth in baseball. Opportunities Created Through Sponsorship: - Travel Team Support: Enable players to join travel teams and attend showcases, breaking down financial barriers. - Free Youth Baseball Camps: Spread the joy of baseball through free camps, reaching talented kids who may otherwise miss out. - Educational Workshops: Empower players and parents with access to educational workshops. - Resource Hubs: Establish resource hubs around the state, fostering community and accessibility. - Facility Improvements: Contribute to enhanced facilities, creating a positive environment for growth. - Equipment Assistance: Purchase equipment to provide to families in need, removing obstacles to participation. Let's build a legacy together! DM us for more information or to discuss how your business can be part of this transformative journey. 🚀🏆 #SponsorshipOpportunity #YouthEmpowerment #FMBA #CommunityImpact

There are different ways to be successful & there is a difference between winning & succeding. Nice story of a pro club’s evolution & identity.