Bradford award winner talks after cup final about his story

He won the disability sportsman prize in the senior achievers’ category at the Bradford Sports Awards at the Life Centre on Wapping Road in May.

However, the 30-year-old could not be there to pick up his trophy.

Thomas said: “It was amazing to hear that I had won the award. It was unexpected, but it was really nice to be recognised.

“I was nominated by one of my good friend’s parents Linda Wear.

“She sent me an e-mail asking me some questions, and it was really nice of her to put me forward for the award.

“It was last minute that I found out, but I had made childcare plans prior to the event.

“I got a message from Jane Powell, who is Yorkshire County Cricket Club’s chairman and head of disability cricket, who wasn’t too happy that I didn’t attend.”

Thomas, who has an artificial right leg, explained: “When I was in the womb my body didn’t develop as it should.

“It meant the fingers on my right hand fused together and my right leg didn’t develop, so at one year old I had to have my leg and hand operated on.

“However, I would describe myself as fortunate as I have never known anything different, so I haven’t had something then lost it and had to re-adjust.

“All that I can remember is being four years old running around and playing sport, so I am quite fortunate in that sense.

“My hand is okay, apart from being a bit sore in the fingers from wicket-keeping, but that is an occupational hazard.”

As for his cricketing journey, Thomas said: “I started at Cleckheaton in the under-nines and under-11s and went to Woodlands through their junior section up to under-17s.

“But when I was under-15 I joined Scholes to play second-team cricket and moved up to the first team when I was 17, which was a natural progression.

“Then I went to Gomersal for six years or so, Morley for two years and now I have come back to Scholes.”

If you did not know that Thomas was missing a limb, you would be very surprised to find out that is the case when watching him.

His running between the wicket is virtually seamless, while he has quick hands and movement behind the stumps.

He beamed: “This carbon-fibre leg is the best one that I have had.

“I have had this ‘blade runner’ for five or six years now and it is brilliant as I am always looking for that extra margin and new opportunities.”

Thomas was part of the Scholes team that lost the Bradford Premier League’s Jack Hampshire Cup final to Hunslet Nelson by four wickets at Liversedge earlier this month.

Hunslet Nelson celebrate their deserved victory in the 2024 Jack Hampshire Cup final. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

He said: “I was quietly confident at the tea interval after we had scored 206 and they needed five an over, but we didn’t bowl or field well enough.

“Every time we clawed it back, we seemed to then bowl two bad balls an over, so it was frustrating that every time we gave ourselves a chance we threw it away.

“They bowled very well and batted very well and we didn’t really match their impetus if I am honest.”

However, there is plenty for Scholes to play for in the rest of the Division Two season, including a potential promotion to Division One.

“There are going to be lots of twists and turns,” reckons Thomas.

“Anyone can beat anyone in our division at any point and we hope to be on the right side of things at the end of the season, but there is going to be a lot of excitement and nerves.

“Personally, I have scored 450 runs and around 20 victims behind the stumps, so I am doing all right, but I don’t look at personal accolades at all.

“All I try to do is contribute to wins for Scholes, whether that be making 20, 30 or 40 not out chasing a low score, by setting a good field or by taking a catch or a stumping.”