New girls club launched in Kent

Lynsey Askew signs up some new girls to cricket

Kent and England Under 21 player Lynsey Askew has helped enthuse over 160 girls aged 10-13 from the Swale and Medway area of Kent into playing cricket for a new club.

Lynsey, 19, an ECB coach who plays for Hayes Hurricanes Ladies, was part of an initiative sponsored by SeaFrance and Sportsmatch, and supported by Swale Borough Council and Medway Council, to develop local cricket clubs for girls.

She said: "I really enjoyed working with the girls. There is an amazing amount of talent around here. It brings back fond memories when I started at their age.

“I spoke to all the girls about how important it is to play for a club first and if you stick at it, you could play for Kent.

“We have a good age-group system in Kent and, perhaps, one day a girl here might be in the same Kent senior team as me - a frightening thought!"

Kent Cricket Board's Development Manager David Sear co-ordinated the 'girls extravaganza' and said: "I thought this was one of the best girls' cricket taster days we have ever organised.

“I am confident that a new girls and women's cricket club will grow out of today's launch and it means that SeaFrance and Sportsmatch funding has been put to very good use.

The girls with their goodie bags full of merchandise

"It was a brilliant example of local groups in the development network combining to make the day such a success.

"These included school sports partnerships, development managers, local authority sports development officers, local clubs and coaches."

All the girls went away happy with fantastic 'goodie' bags full of merchandise supplied by SeaFrance, ECB Pride Side and NatWest.

A follow-up to the extravaganza is a special four-week course for girls who are interested in developing their cricket and joining the new club.

Contact Carolyn Sutton on 01634 316100 or carolynjohnshauna@hotmail.com for details.