When James Bracey thinks of Syd Lawrence, he does not first think of wickets, records or milestones.
He thinks of a man who never stopped giving to Gloucestershire cricket.
This Sunday, Gloucestershire will honour former England fast bowler Syd Lawrence during their Metro Bank One Day Cup fixture against Nottinghamshire, wearing a special commemorative kit and raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
For Bracey, the occasion is deeply personal.
One memory stands above all others: September 2024, when Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast for the first time in the club’s history. Lawrence, already battling motor neurone disease, was there to present the trophy.
“That was very special for me,” Bracey tells Sky Sports.
For Bracey, his standout memory of Lawrence comes from that exchange – Photo courtesy of Gloucestershire CCC
“We were obviously delighted that we’d just won the Blast for the first time as a team, but to see how much it meant to him, even at that stage of his life, was really emotional.
“It just showed how much he really loved the club. To see his face when he was able to hold that trophy was really special for me.”
Photo courtesy of Gloucestershire CCC
Lawrence, who passed away in June 2025 aged 61, remains one of the most influential figures in Gloucestershire’s history. He became the first British-born Black cricketer to play Test cricket for England in 1988 and later became Gloucestershire’s first Black president.
Although Bracey never saw Lawrence play, his impact on the club was impossible to miss.
“From my experiences, he was an incredibly kind-hearted person, incredibly personable and cared a hell of a lot about Gloucestershire cricket,” Bracey said.
“Any time he was around the ground, he was chatting to everyone. He was larger than life and had a hell of a lot of energy.”
Sunday’s tribute is also designed to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and highlight the work of the MNDA.
“We’ve seen how public Syd was with his condition,” Bracey said. “But the impact it has on family and friends is just as important.
“That’s the amazing thing about what the MNDA do. They support the person with the disease, but they also help those around them.”
A pioneering Black cricketer, Lawrence helped open doors for future generations
Lawrence’s legacy also extends beyond Gloucestershire. As a pioneering Black cricketer, he helped open doors for future generations.
“There’s been a lot of progress,” Bracey said. “But there’s obviously a lot more work to do in maintaining that progress and increasing it as well.”
As Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire come together to honour Lawrence, Bracey hopes supporters remember the cricketer, the trailblazer and the person behind both.
“When I’m reminded of Syd, it takes me back to that day,” he said.
“It was a very special and happy moment for me to see what that meant to him.”
This weekend’s tribute will celebrate a man whose love for Gloucestershire never faded – and whose legacy continues to inspire the club he loved.
