Carlisle Cricket Club is launching girls only sessions from this Friday.
The new free-to-attend initiative at Carlisle’s Edenside ground is aimed at girls aged eight to 15.
The sessions will be run by ECB-qualified coaches and start from 6pm.
Recently appointed club development officer Sam Clarkson hopes that the sessions will attract girls from across the city and the wider communities who would like to give cricket a go.
He says: “There has never been a better time for the club to get behind female cricket. Once again we have seen the recent success of the women’s national team and also the impact that The Hundred had on the game last summer.
“I think it is vital as a major sports hub in the city that we provide these opportunities for young girls to come and get involved.”
The Carlisle club has also launched a partnership with Cumbria Cricket and Sam has explained this new development.
He said: “We have recently signed up to be a Women and Girls Hub for cricket in Cumbria. The club hopes that by working alongside Cumbria Cricket we can really develop our provision for the game and make our club a welcoming environment for women and girls who want to play cricket. We want to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to play the game.”
Johnny Westgarth, the club’s women and girls development Officer, will be running the sessions. He said: “As a club we are focussed more than ever before on getting women and girls cricket off the ground at Edenside.
“We have distributed flyers in both primary and secondary schools across the area as well as promoting the sessions through our social media channels.
“I would love to see the ground full of young female cricketers on a Friday evening.
“We want to cater to as many people as possible. Some girls may have previous experience and some girls might not even know what cricket really is.
“Everyone that comes to the sessions we want to get involved and play with a smile on their face.
“Players do not need to have any equipment as the club will provide everything that they will need.
“They just need to chuck on a pair of trainers and some sports gear and get down to Edenside.”
People are asked to arrive 15 minutes before the session to register their details. Sessions may be cancelled in poor weather and updates will be posted to the club’s Facebook Page.
Anyone needing any further details can contact Sam on 07960397374.
