Kent’s first-ever LGBTQ+ cricket club, Invicta Icons, has officially launched

Kent’s first-ever LGBTQ+ cricket club, Invicta Icons, has officially launched, offering a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for players of all abilities to discover – or rediscover – the sport.

The club grew out of taster sessions run by Kent Cricket Foundation in partnership with Out4Cricket towards the end of 2025. What began as a short programme quickly gathered momentum, with strong interest from across the county.

Jordan Chan, an ambassador and member of Invicta Icons, says the appetite for an LGBTQ+-inclusive cricket space was clear from the outset.

“After the initial taster sessions, we moved into six bi‑weekly sessions starting in early March,” Jordan explained. “People were travelling from all over Kent to get involved, which really showed there was a need for something permanent.”

That permanence arrived through the formation of Invicta Icons, founded by Jack Kellam, Marcus Law and Thom Waters. The trio had previously led a temporary LGBTQ+ team to victory in Birmingham and were keen to establish a lasting presence closer to home.

“They’d already proven what was possible, and wanted to build something sustainable,” said Jordan. “They’re not only the founders but also fantastic coaches.”

Invicta Icons is now officially Kent’s first and only LGBTQ+ cricket club, with Jordan serving as the club’s LGBTQ+ ambassador, supporting community outreach, sponsorship, advertising and social engagement.

From its inception, Invicta Icons has placed visibility and community engagement at its core. The club is planning an active presence at Pride events across Kent throughout the year.

“As a director for both Swale Pride and Trans Pride Kent, it was brilliant to have the team supporting Trans Pride earlier this spring,” Jordan said. “We had a stall there in March and we’ll be attending Swale Pride later in the summer, as well as Canterbury Pride, which is where we train.”

The club’s ethos goes far beyond competition, aiming to tackle barriers that have historically pushed LGBTQ+ people away from team sports.

“We’re creating a safe, judgement‑free space where people can meet new people and learn and play cricket,” Jordan said. “It’s open to everyone – complete beginners, people returning to the sport after years away, and those who already play regularly.”

There is no pressure to immediately take part. “You can just come along, watch, say hello,” Jordan added. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

For Jordan, Invicta Icons has had a personal impact as well as a professional one.

“I didn’t think I ever liked sports,” they said. “But it wasn’t sport itself – it was bad experiences in school PE and the toxicity you often find in changing rooms.”

Being part of Invicta Icons changed that entirely. “The club completely shifted my mindset. I realised I do actually enjoy cricket, and I can be completely myself while playing. That’s why I champion the Icons so strongly.”

Since forming, the club has seen growing interest and increasingly tangible signs of success.

“The response has been amazing,” Jordan said. “New people are coming to sessions, we’ve formed a proper team, launched our logo, website and social media pages, and we’ve got our playing and training kits.”

The club is also keen to build partnerships with LGBTQ+-owned and allied businesses across Kent. “It would be brilliant to see more local businesses get involved and sponsor us,” Jordan added, naming Café Nucleus, Le In Margate and Margate Beach Club as examples of the kind of community support the club hopes to grow.

Looking to the future, Invicta Icons’ ambitions stretch both on and off the pitch.

“Our main goal is to keep providing a genuinely safe and inclusive space where people feel accepted, can be themselves, meet new people and enjoy cricket,” Jordan said.

On the competitive side, the club is preparing to take part in a national LGBTQ+ cricket tournament in Birmingham this June, with hopes of silverware later in the summer.

“We want people to see themselves in the Icons – whether as players, supporters or partners,” Jordan added. “And hopefully, we’ll be celebrating a cup victory before long.”

Invicta Icons’ journey can be followed on Instagram