Gloucestershire’s blind cricketers – better known as Gloucestershire Growlers – have been crowned South and West Regional League champions.

Set up just six years ago by Marc Gulwell, they won the title in impressive style and are now targeting further glory this season in a T20 tournament.

Gulwell, a pace bowler, is delighted by the Growlers’ title success.

“When I went about setting up the Gloucestershire Growlers six years ago I often dreamed of lifting the league trophy,” he said. “I never actually believed it would happen.

“Back then during the embryonic stages it was never likely. It was difficult enough finding a team of seven.

“However, after several years of competing and countless hours of tireless effort from all involved, I am proud to say, we did it.

“After an unbelievable season where we played six and effectively won six games, we were confirmed as league champions for the very first time.

“This season we played against teams from Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, London, Hampshire and Dorset. We won four games and had two ‘winning draws’ in the other two.

“As founder, I am extremely proud of the efforts of all involved, not just today but over all of the years we have been playing.”

While the team have enjoyed great success on the field, there has been huge sadness off the pitch.

“Sadly this season we have not only lost our club captain Terry Richards,” said Gulwell, “but we also lost one of our new recruits Andy Dales who have both joined the pavilion in the sky.

“Despite this overwhelming sadness, we are very proud to dedicate the league win to them both.”

The season is far from over for the Growlers despite their league title win.

“We now move on to our T20 semi-final against Dorset this Sunday to be played at Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club from 1pm,” said Gulwell. “Do come along and join the ever growing world of blind cricket.”

Blind cricket is played with a size three football which has ball bearings inside so that the players can hear the ball.

The stumps are bigger and there are no bails and the ball must bounce twice when bowled to lesser sighted batsmen.

Other than that, says Marc, the laws are pretty much the same as cricket played the world over.