Take Neil Bradshaw for an epic journey

Fast forward to the present day and he is the team manager of a winning England national cricket side. In his own words, it has been "such a journey."

The Oswestry-based father of two is the manager of England's Physical Disability (PD) team.

He oversaw their phenomenal success in the recent inaugural International Committee of the Red Cross T20 tournament in Bangladesh.

Disabled cricket has been around in this country for the best part of three decades, but the PD side were only formed in 2010 and have enjoyed a rapid rise.

The tournament was the first PD one to have multiple nations competing against each other – teams from England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and India all entered.

Bradshaw's side, featuring a squad of 15 who are all involved in club cricket, including Albrighton Cricket Club's Matt Askin, took on Pakistan in a keenly-contested final, winning by 19 runs.

The night-shift warehouse manager turned national team manager said: "It's been an emotional rollercoaster for me and everyone involved.

"We knew of a potential tournament and when it was confirmed early summer time we travelled around the country as best we could, taking on academy sides up at Newcastle and down to Portsmouth.

"We'd been fortunate to play against Pakistan twice before in short tours to Dubai – but this was the first time a tournament has been contested with more than one nation.

"It was frightening out there in Bangladesh. The heat was oppressive; it would be 49 degrees at times.

"We backed our skills, but everything seemed against us. There, sub-continent teams know how to handle the conditions."

One thing the side were not prepared for was their reception and the impact the competition had on the staging nation.

The 37-year-old said: "Cricket is a religion and a passion out there. It was crazy. Roads were closed and supermarkets were shut when we were around.

"The photos that were taken and autographs we had to sign was really surprising. There were 15,000 spectators due to watch us in our opening game at the national stadium, Sher-e-Bangla.

"That was rained off but the final was breathtaking. It was broadcast live on national TV to anything from 10 million to 50 million."

And they did not leave the stardom behind in Asia. Bradshaw's side, along with head coach Qasim Ali and assistant coach Ian Salisbury, were well-received back on home shores.

They paraded the trophy around Old Trafford and were at the Oval for the Help the Heroes XI v Rest of the World XI match on behalf of organisers International Red Cross.

Bradshaw said: "It was for all of us out there – particularly Ian Martin, the head of disability development for ECB.

"For us to be crowned world champions after all of the hard work, time and money was incredibly moving. I'm not afraid to say I shed tears and so did Ian. It was absolutely epic.

"The lads were so adaptable. It was so emotional to watch them all grow and see some of the battles they face just to play."

Bradshaw has risen rapidly from spectator to manager, saying: "I loved the game as a kid but playing it while growing up wasn't for me.

"I'd stepped out of the game by 15 but never stopped watching. When I was 26 I had the opportunity to watch Shrewsbury's disabled side and gradually got involved by helping them warm up.

"I went on to get my level one and then level two coaching and in 2010 was honoured to be named as the new England side's team manager."

The side include players with cerebral palsy, club foot and other arm or leg problems. Bradshaw has a dream for the game.

He said: "We want to go back next year and, hopefully, compete again. But to have an official World Cup would be the ultimate vision."