THE INAUGURAL PEOPLE OF COLOUR LACROSSE MATCH SAW HUGE SUCCESS, RAISING MONEY IN THE PROCESS

On August 10th 2024, Springwest Academy saw a number of lacrosse players from every discipline of the sport take part in a women’s rules match to raise money for two players from the England Women’s Box World Championship team, Davina Emetulu and Annabelle Akintoye. What’s different about this match? All players and officials were people of colour (POC).

This important event organised by player and coach, Qasim Alli, brought together a community of like-minded individuals hoping to create an inclusive place for under-represented lacrosse players to feel safe and seen. Although predominantly for POC, the event also invited non-POC to attend in either a spectator capacity or to take part in the “mini-games” before the main match. Feedback from the day has been overwhelmingly positive and has also helped Davina and Annabelle on their journey to make history in Utica, New York this September.

Annabelle, also a women's rules player in the SEWLA league, has since been named as the England Women's Box team captain for the upcoming tournament. An already historic event has now been made even more so as Annabelle becomes the first Black Woman to captain any England lacrosse squad across all disciplines.

We hope to continue to see POC represented in such a way and are excited at what the future holds for this POC lacrosse event.