Nathan called-up to national set-up

Nathan Secombe plays for the Atherton Under-14s and continues to excel for Eckersley Fold Road side despite being deaf.

But the Fred Longworth School pupil

Proud mum Adele Secombe said: "He has been there since he was seven or eight and last year someone mentioned about Lancashire having a disabled team and he started to play for them.

"Then one of the national coaches was watching him in action in a Lancashire match at Stretford and wanted to talk to us.

"At the time Nathan was only 13 and the England coaches only take them on when they are 14 but they were willing to make an exception for him.

"He went down to Edgbaston and they took him on board and he has been put on the development programme.

"He also is in the regional North side training at Old Trafford every month and for the past couple of months.

"It is a great experience for him."

Despite his joy at representing his county and even the prospect of international call-ups, it has been a change of routine.

"He has come all the way through at Atherton and does not see himself as deaf and just part of the team," added Adele.

"But he is the youngest player in the team and also working with players of different physical and learning difficulties.

"He is just adjusting to it and it is a great opportunity especially because he loves cricket.

"Technically he has improved so much as last season he took eight and that has improved to 30 for the Under-14s then 20 for u15s and then nine at u17s level.

"He has also played for the second team and also took a wicket as well as four for the England disabled side.

"We hope that he can continue to develop.

"It is a challenge for him at Atherton and it gives him the chance of not being classed as different.

"They are a great club for making it inclusive and some of the national coaches wished more teams were like them."

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