Graces Cricket Club are no strangers to making history and are preparing to break a new barrier when they take the field in the first meeting between two LGBTQ+ cricket clubs anywhere in the world.
Founded in 1996, Graces were the only LGBTQ+ cricket club until the Birmingham Unicorns were established last year and the pair are set to meet each other in a one-off friendly match supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The club has already received the attention of the national media, back in 2000, when they were criticised by a member of WG Grace's family for using his name to promote their club.
"It was very interesting to see the Grace family reacting negatively to us using their name," Chris Sherwood, who manages the club media told the PA news agency.
"Genuinely speaking it made me feel like I've got a space here, I've got a place where I can be myself and it gave me the confidence to be myself.
"I'm a proud gay man now. I came out to my family because of them, because they gave me all the confidence that you can be yourself and proud.
"It's actually the best cricket club I've ever played for, I've been playing cricket since I was aged five.
"Graces not only made me a better player, looking up to my senior players, but made me a better person as well."
