25/06/2026
Monday 22nd June – Manchester & Greater Manchester VI Sports Day
What a fantastic day at this year’s Manchester & Greater Manchester VI Sports Day, held at Trafford Athletic Track, Longford Park, Stretford, Manchester. This annual event attracted record-breaking numbers, with over 100 participants attending and taking part in a wide range of sports throughout the day.
The Lancashire Lions were once again proud to be a regular feature of this fantastic event, delivering both Blind Cricket and Goalball. Our cricket sessions proved extremely popular, while our Goalball activities provided a clear pathway into further opportunities through Goalball UK sessions, with activities continuing throughout both the morning and afternoon.
A huge thank you goes to our coaches Ben Tanner, Saif Rehman, Nathan Jack, Shoaib Nazir, Sheraz Chohan and Heather Norton for their outstanding support and delivery of both Cricket and Goalball sessions. Their dedication helped make the day a huge success and continues to strengthen opportunities for visually impaired sport across Manchester and Greater Manchester.
The future looks incredibly promising for visually impaired sport in the region, with exciting pathways now developing for both Lancashire Lions Cricket and Goalball. We would also like to extend a special thank you and congratulations to Dan Stroker, who has organised this event for many years. The event continues to grow and improve year after year, and this year’s record attendance is a testament to all of his hard work and commitment.
Despite the hot weather, it was incredibly rewarding to see so many smiles on participants’ faces and hear the overwhelmingly positive feedback received throughout the day.
One quote that particularly stood out came from Finley McIntyre, aged 13, who has no sight. After taking part in the cricket session, Finley said:
“Hitting the ball while playing cricket has made me feel so proud and excited to get involved more because I don’t often get these opportunities. I’ve really enjoyed having this chance and I want to play more blind sports with the Lions.”
Hearing comments like this reminds us why these events are so important and why creating opportunities for young people to access sport matters so much.
The day also provided a fantastic opportunity to network with schools, organisations, and partners who share the same vision of increasing opportunities for visually impaired people through sport. By working together, we can continue to create more pathways and opportunities for participants of all ages and abilities.
We look forward to building on the success of this year’s event and opening our doors to young and emerging talent who may one day represent the Lancashire Lions. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see what comes next.
