Lancashire Cricket League: Ramsbottom enter women's team

The move follows the team's unbeaten run in the women's Lancashire Cricket Foundation League

A cricket club is set to make history after announcing plans to enter the first all-women team into the Lancashire League.

Ramsbottom Cricket Club said the first 11 will be joining the historic league's third section next season.

It follows their unbeaten run in the women's Lancashire Cricket Foundation League last season.

The club, which was one of the league's founding clubs in 1892, said the league had been "hugely supportive".

Lancashire League chairman Mike Bibby said he was "very excited" to welcome the team to the third division and hopes other leagues follow their lead.

He added: "There have been a number of changes to the league in the last few years and this is the icing on the cake."

Andy Dalby, director of cricket at the club, said the idea to play against teams predominantly made up of men came after the team, the first XI won every league game last year.

He said after getting the backing of the players, their parents and supporters, they approached the Lancashire League who were "hugely supportive of the initiative".

The women's and girls' section at Ramsbottom was set up in 2020 and boasts an under 13s team, under 15s and an under 19s women's side and second XI and first XI teams.

While the club believes the future of women's cricket is women playing against women regularly in a competitive league, it felt an interim solution was required to help progress the female players Ramsbottom has attracted.

As well as playing in the Lancashire League, the women's and girls' first XI will continue to compete in the women's Lancashire Cricket Foundation League next season, where they will aim to retain the trophies they won this year.

Chairman John Fox said: "We're really happy to try and be the standard bearer for women's cricket in the Lancashire League and hopefully, the north west.

"It's a big thing from our point of view but we want to stress that it's the women's game as much as Ramsbottom Cricket Club.

"We're here really to try and help the women's game progress."

'Develop us as players'

The move is yet another step forward for a women's and girl's section that was "firing on all cylinders" under head coach Iain Collier, the club said.

Along with the success of the first team, the seconds and the U18s side both won their respective leagues last season.

The under 13s are current North West of England Champions and Lancashire County Foundation Softball Cup Champions.

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Ramsbottom also have five players on the Thunder Emerging Player Programme - a women's regional cricket team which represents Lancashire and the North West of England.

Imogen Young, 17, is a wicketkeeper batter for Ramsbottom women's and girls first XI and has represented Lancashire in many different age groups.

She said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing against men next season. It will develop us all as players and as a team."

She said she hoped it would encourage more women to the club.

"Ultimately though, I hope the move helps to develop women's cricket in the north west," she added.

The team will begin their League campaign away against Bacup on 20 April with their first home game against Accrington on 27 April.

Mr Bibby said: "It's a massive step and I wish them every success."

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