Wednesday, 11 May 2022 at 10:32

By Emma Downes @emma_downes2021

With the cricket season under way, one High Peak cricket club is looking to provide support off-field as well.

Hadfield St Andrew's Cricket Club is welcoming mental health outreach group Opening Up Cricket to its Newshaw Lane home on Thursday 19 May from 7:30pm.

Though the region’s cricketers and cricket fans are especially welcome, the session is open to everybody in the wider Glossopdale, High Peak and Tameside area.

Cameron Ball, Hadfield Club Captain, said: “All of us have at least one friend or family member who is having mental health difficulties, whether we know that or not.

“The hardest thing is opening up to somebody or recognising mental health difficulties in others. I hope that this talk and this community get-together will help somebody who might be suffering silently, or help others recognise that suffering in others.

“We play cricket, or any sport for that matter, for enjoyment, to win, for friendships, for exercise, for many reasons. What we are thankfully seeing more clearly now is that mental and physical wellbeing should always come first, whatever the stakes.

“I reached out to Opening Up Cricket and they have generously offered to give their time to speak at Hadfield Cricket Club, and I hope to see people there on Thursday 19th."

Opening Up Cricket was formed in 2014 to promote mental health in cricket and wider society, following the death of Sefton Park CC wicket keeper Alex Miller.

The organisation speaks at local cricket clubs about the experience of losing Alex in the hope that more conversations about suicide and mental health could prevent further tragedies.

Hadfield Cricket Club can be contacted via social media for anyone who would like to reserve an early seat for the event on Thursday 19 May.