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“We had to be brave enough” - The all-female cricket team making history in men's Lancashire league

Ramsbottom CC's all-female team are breaking boundaries in the Lancashire Cricket League where they have proved their quality in men's cricket as the club showcases the value and opportunities an inclusive environment creates.

By Evie Ashton, ECB Reporters Network

As Maeve Jones led her all-female team out to face Accrington Cricket Club in the men’s Lancashire Cricket League, they knew they were representing far more than Ramsbottom CC Women.

Prior to 2020, the women and girls set up at Ramsbottom CC didn’t exist. Fast forward to last year and the women’s first XI went unbeaten in the Lancashire women’s 40-over league, making them two-time champions.

The players, their head coach Iain Collier, and the club committee realised a new challenge was needed and decided to enter the men’s League Division 3 competition for the 2024 season.

Ramsbottom, which is located around 20 miles north of Emirates Old Trafford, finished seventh out of 11 teams, while defending their women’s 40-over league title, and plan to go again next year.

“For us to take that first step for women to enter the men's league… someone has [do it]. Someone has to be brave enough to put themselves out there,” captain Jones said.

“We could have easily gone out there and not won a game this season. Everyone would have gone ‘oh, see I told you so’. But we didn’t. We fought really hard and people can see that from how many games we won.

Ramsbottom CC players celebrate taking a wicket in Division Three of the Lancashire Cricket League

“The girls felt they weren’t just representing themselves and the club on occasions. There was a lot of people that came a long way to come and watch the game and a lot of people watching it online,” added Collier.

Although Collier stresses it was only a logical move at the right time to offer players the opportunity to develop and express themselves, it inadvertently defied enduring stereotypes around women’s cricket.

“I remember when Shriya [Pindoria] took over five wickets and seeing that one of our girls was really talented enough to destroy their batting, really opened their minds. It was a big turning point and they were gracious in defeat,” said Jones.

“We surprised them on that day with the ability we had, whether that with the bat or the ball… we threw ourselves around the field and gave our best. We’ve enjoyed every second of [the season].”

This was particularly significant to Jones whose experience this summer markedly contrasts those of her early teens.

“I was the only girl playing in a men’s team and captain. A lot of male coaches would say ‘you’re really talented, you’re going to be a great player, come play men’s cricket’,” the 18-year-old said.

“There were times where I’d show up, my Mum and Dad would take me because I was 14 and they said, ‘you’re just fielding today, you’re not going to bat or bowl.’ I was a county player at the time, so why is that any different playing in men’s club cricket?’

“I’d actually stopped playing men’s cricket at that time because I was like, ‘you know I’ve had enough of this, it’s not fair.”

However, it is clear that at Ramsbottom CC, whom Jones joined aged 16, equal opportunities for women and girls are becoming the norm.

Ramsbottom Women defended their 40-over title this season while also competing in the men's Divisoin Three competition

Along with separate changing rooms, practice time and net availability is shared equally between the men and women whose set-ups are also combined at training sessions and selection meetings.

This year also sees the club’s first joint end of season junior, academy and senior presentations.

“[Ramsbottom CC] have done so much for us. We do all feel included and important. Especially this season, important people from the club have come down and supported,” says Jones.

“It was amazing to see everyone cheering us on. I thought, ‘wow these people care because we’re walking out wearing the Ramsbottom badges and that means something to the club.”

Playing in the men’s league has certainly created opportunities for female cricketers in the small town of Ramsbottom, but the ripple effects are likely to be far-reaching.

“If what we do inspires clubs, provokes decisions changing, and there’s wider benefit within Lancashire or further afield, then that’s fantastic,” smiles Collier.

“We hope that more people do it and more people are brave enough to [enter their women’s teams into men’s competitions],” says Jones assuredly.