Former England star Lydia Greenway is bringing her Girls Cricket Club to Nottinghamshire this week to help inspire those stars of the future who may have been inspired by The Hundred in recent weeks.
Girls Cricket Club was founded to advance the growth of women’s cricket by sharing knowledge, resources and opportunities, and providing a community in which individuals can flourish. It does so through ‘Day Camps’, providing specialised training for girls, with camps taking place on Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 August at Worksop College and Keyworth Cricket Club respectively.
Greenway, herself capped 225 for England and an influential figure in the arrival of central contracts for female players in 2014, will be coaching at the U10-U17 hardball camps taking place in conjunction with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club as part of the Junior Outlaws Summer programme.
“Girls Cricket Club is an extension of Cricket for Girls which I set up in 2017, and the aim of that was to bring more girls’ cricket into schools and clubs.” Greenway said.
“With this, we have placed more of a focus on the players, so the parents know where to go if they want their young girl to go on a camp. It is a place for girls to feel part of a community, because as much as there are loads of girls’ clubs out there now, there are still situations where girls can feel a bit isolated. This is something that allows them to feel special.
“While The Hundred has been such a success, our passion has always been to support the grassroots development of the girls' game as much as we can. If The Hundred means that more girls are going to get involved because they have been watching, then that’s great.”
Greenway, who has been a familiar face on Sky Sports in the years since her retirement in 2016, has also been outspoken in her support for girls’ cricket initiatives, and praised the work of Nottinghamshire community team for their efforts in raising the exposure of, and opportunities for, women in cricket.
“Notts have been great,” Greenway added.
“Mandy Wright [Community Development Manager], Graham Redfern [Women and Girls Officer] and Mick Newell [Director of Cricket] have been really trying to lead the way in developing girls’ cricket.
“Some organisations see people like us as a threat, when actually there is a really good partnership that can be built.
“We have developed a really good relationship with Notts, and because that has worked so well, there is no reason why it shouldn’t work at organisations around the country.
“The club has been really supportive in what we are trying to achieve, and they want to be proactive and drive that growth which is important. Hopefully we will work together for some time to come.”
Redfern is equally delighted to partner with Girls Cricket Club, and for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club to play their part in the progression of women’s cricket.
“Lydia has been a lifelong advocate for the growth of girls’ cricket, and the opportunity to form an allegiance with Girls Cricket Club is of great benefit to both parties,” he said.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that there are opportunities for girls to take part in cricket throughout the county, and to help them feel supported in their development.
“The establishment and successful rollout of the East Midlands Women’s Cricket League has provided a clear pathway for girls, facilitated by local clubs, and the partnership with Girls Cricket Club will provide another important hub for those coming through.”
"We must extend our thanks to those who continue to support us, including Worksop College and Keyworth Cricket Club, who are kindly hosting the Girls Cricket Club Camps this week."
There are a limited number of spaces remaining for the Day Camps at Worksop College and Keyworth Cricket Club which can be booked here.