Stoolball gets official recognition

This ends six years of lobbying by a sport already on the national school curriculum but played mainly in the south east of England, including our local area.

National Stoolball Association chairman John Price said: "We are delighted with our new status, which is the result of six years of hard work and lobbying.

"Stoolball already appears in the National Curriculum, and we are hoping that our new found recognition will generate further uptake within schools, and the creation of many more clubs across the country."

Lisa O'Keefe, from Sport England, added: "It is a great achievement to be recognised as a sport, and we hope this development will raise the profile of stoolball - enabling its popularity to spread beyond the South East."

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]