An Enfield youth sport coach is gearing up for the England Vs Australia over 70s cricket tour.
Keith Alexander, 71, has competed in sport all his life from playing international football for India to emigrating to Enfield in 1975 and representing England over 60s as a cricketer.
He moved more and more into cricket after football started to affect his knees and, after being selected as one of England’s best over 70s, he has now been given the opportunity to realise a lifetime ambition and represent his country internationally.
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However, the England and Wales Cricket Board does not fund the over 70s, meaning family, friends, and the clubs he has volunteered with have been raising money to help him self-fund the tour.
The father to two and grandfather to six said: “When I turned 70 last year, I was selected for the England squad after four trial matches, my daughter is determined I won’t miss out, so she started a GoFundMe.
“My cricket club has already given £1,000 and is hoping to raise more.”
Mr Alexander, who mentor’s young cricketers in Enfield and has been chairman of the Edmonton Rangers youth football club for 23 years, explained what he sees as an unfairness in the system.
He said: “Most of the team are guys like me. We do the voluntary youth coaching that supplies the players for English side, but they don’t acknowledge it.”
The coach had previously played against the Australian over 60s in 2012 but never represented England internationally.
The England over 70s tour of Australia will take place from January to February (2023) and include three one-day internationals and eight representative matches.
As well as England, Mr Alexander played cricket for Crouch End and has since been playing regularly for Middlesex County Seniors as an over 50 and over 60.
Outside of sport he had previously ran a pub, worked in insurance, and then worked for the probation service.
Finally, in 2019 he retired and now has dedicated his whole life to others whilst also looking after his wife who has had Alzheimer’s.
Link to GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-dad-fulfil-his-dream
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