David ‘Syd’ Lawrence was the first British-born black man to play for England, and now aims to break down more barriers as president of Gloucestershire CCC
David “Syd” Lawrence rises to his feet in a meeting room at Gloucestershire’s Nevil Road ground, right leg in a boot because of an achilles injury. His muscles ripple across his shoulders like Himalayan foothills, his hands colossal hams.
He is waiting to be unveiled as the club’s next president at that evening’s AGM, the first black president of Gloucestershire and thought to be the first black president at any county. He has big plans to open the game up to people of colour and to children from all backgrounds. “The game has gone through a watershed moment. It’s not looked pretty at all. Historically I suffered racism. And I think it’s important for me as a person of colour to be viewed in the community [to show] that anything is possible.”
