Police cricket club sets sights on ‘once in a lifetime’ world stage
4 June 2026
Players and officials at a police cricket club in West Mercia are preparing for a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to compete at the World Police and Fire Games in Australia.
Worcester Police Cricket Club has confirmed plans to take part in the games in Perth next year.
The games will be hosted by Western Australia Police, bringing together serving and former law enforcement and fire service personnel from across the world.
It is one of the largest multi-sport events in the world, attracting more competitors than the Commonwealth Games.
Despite featuring more than 60 sports, cricket has rarely been included in the biennial event since it was first held in 1983.
Australia
But with the next games being held in Australia, the sport has been included in the schedule.
And chair, retired Inspector Mark Chappell said Worcester Police Cricket Club are ready to compete against police sides from across the world.
“It’s quite an achievement for a small club like ours,” said Mark, who was in charge of local policing in Bromsgrove and Redditch.
“I’m currently laid up with a knee replacement, so while I’m rehabbing, I’ve been trying to get all the organisation in place.
“We started planning about six months ago, and it’s really brought the club together. It’s given everyone a real lift.
“The great thing is we have quite close links with Western Australia Police because we’ve toured there before and hosted them here, so we’ll be looking to develop those and links with others.”
T20 fixtures
Worcester Police Cricket Club was founded as far back as 1933 – though Mark admits that ‘no one can be sure of the exact date’ – when it began playing in the Worcester Evening League.
The club continues to play in the Evening League, and even holds its record for a first-wicket partnership, an incredible 214 runs in just 14 eight-ball overs in 1986.
It has a proud touring history that includes a memorable visit to Western Australia in 1989, when the team lifted the Cinders Cup.
More recently, the club travelled to Barbados in November 2024, and played a series of T20 fixtures, including a standout victory over the Barbados Police under floodlights, alongside a packed programme of cultural and community activities.
The team went to Barbados in 2024
To help fund the trip, the club is lining up a series of events.
They include a community six-a-side cricket day at Stourport Cricket Club on 16 August.
Bewdley Pines Golf Club will host a golf day on 16 October. And the club will also organise a sporting dinner with a guest speaker to be confirmed.
Mark, who is also an international-standard umpire having stood in men’s and women’s T20 games involving Spain, said: “These things don’t come around very often.
“For the club, this really is once in a lifetime opportunity.”
New players
He added: “It’s a difficult world for policing at the moment. This is a chance to bring us all together and show the best of policing and police sport.”
Mark said the club was always looking for players to get involved and encouraged male and female Federation members who wanted to play to get in touch.
He said: “We’re always looking for new players.
“We’ve attracted three or four new players who have been made aware of the club and we had a couple of ladies join us last year, which is important.”
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