Coleg Llandrillo Sports student selected to play cricket for the Disability Premier League
Coleg Llandrillo Level 3 Sports Coaching student and keen cricketer, Josh Brown, has been selected to play in the 2026 Disability Premier League (DPL).
Preparations for the competition have already begun, with Josh taking part in four weekends of training between January and March.
“It feels really good to be involved, and I’m proud to represent the Disability Premier League,” said Josh, who’s autistic.
“I’ve been involved for a few years now, so it’s really nice to be given this opportunity,” he added.
Organised by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the pioneering competition sees 60 outstanding players from across Wales and England selected to form four teams that will compete over three rounds to qualify for the final at the Hampshire professional cricket ground in September 2026.
The DPL teams are a mix of athletes with learning disabilities, physical disabilities or hearing impairments. The tournament is seen as a pathway to the England disability squad, making it the highest level of domestic disability cricket in the world!
“My next goal is the national team. That’s the next step for me, and it would be amazing to get there one day,” explained Josh.
Currently in his first year of a two-year Level 3 Sports Coaching course at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhos-on-Sea campus, 18-year-old Josh has enjoyed getting the chance to showcase cricket at the college. “It’s quite a niche sport among students,” he explained. “My tutors have been really supportive and have taken time out to help us, which is great to see. They show a real interest in what we do.”
Studying at the college has given Josh the confidence he needed to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cricketer.
“The course has really helped improve my confidence and social skills. That can be challenging for people with autism, and it’s helped me become more proactive,” he said.
“My advice to anyone with a disability thinking about getting involved in sport would be to just get stuck in and try whatever you’d like to do. Don’t be shy – people are very welcoming. If you give it a go, you can put yourself in a great position and find something you really enjoy.”
“Don’t be concerned that your disability will hold you back – it won’t.”
If you’d like to discover more about the sports courses at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and the career opportunities they can offer, visit: https://www.gllm.ac.uk/courses/sport-and-outdoor-education