The Broken XI Cricket Club isn’t just a normal Lincolnshire team.
The side, who recently announced their first home game, was specifically created for people suffering with mental health issues, physical injuries or simply people wanting to be in a non-competitive team.
Co-founder Barry Howorth said: “It’s for people who wanted to continue sport but without any pressure. I played local American Football and after stopping, I still wanted to have a club to help my mental health.”
The club host training sessions throughout the year and since being created, have played ten games. Anyone is welcome to sessions, or if they don’t want to play, members could take up other roles within the club including a coach or statistician.
Barry and Tom Gadd founded the club in September 2023 after suggesting the idea in a public chat on Facebook. They then messaged privately saying “we might be onto something here” and the club has gone from strength to strength since.
As the Broken XI’s name suggests, Barry says the club is for “broken people”
He said: “This could include people coming off ACL [Anterior cruciate ligament] tears, people who can’t run, new to an area or just want a feeling of camaraderie that you get from a team.”
In November 2024, the club were awarded an NK Community Champion award for their Contribution to Health and Wellbeing.
The club currently have 27 members and people are welcome to turn up to whichever sessions and games they want. Some members only come to train because they want to get out of the house and do some exercise.
The first official home game is being held at the Fulbeck Sports Club on the 27th of April against Sleaford Knights.
Barry said: “The club’s partnership with Fulbeck Sports Club came about with help from the chairman of Sleaford Knights, who knew Fulbeck were considering closing their ground.”
When asked about his expectations for the game against Sleaford, Barry said: “It’s going to be weird, different, not sure what to expect and I’ll only appreciate it after it’s finished. Sleaford Knights were setup for similar reasons.”
Both teams only play friendlies so the match will be played in good spirits.
The first home game isn’t The Broken XI’s only match this year. So far, five more have been organised in Lincolnshire in 2025, with the club hoping to get two or three more sorted out.
Barry also explained: “We’ve got a tour match in Brittany, France in May which should be a laugh. The French team could be very good, if we get destroyed it gives us more time to enjoy the local cheese and wine!”
All the team’s matches will always be friendlies, and the point Barry wants to get across is “the scorecard doesn’t matter; any win is just a bonus.”
Barry wants members to think after the season “Are we broken?”
Hopefully the answer has changed from when they first joined.
