As part of our Black History Month celebrations we spoke to Warwickshire and England icon Gladstone Small on his time at Edgbaston and inspiring the next generation of black cricketers.
Gladstone – or ‘Gladys’ to Bears fans down the years – came to Birmingham from Barbados aged 14 and his talent was soon spotted by legendary Warwickshire coach Derief Taylor.
He made his Bears debut in 1979, aged 17, and would go on to take more than 1,314 First Class and List A wickets during 20 years at the Club.
Here he talks about his enduring love for cricket, progressing through the Warwickshire ranks, and his hopes that increasing numbers of young black cricketers will follow in his footsteps…