After several years of developing the facilities at Oakley Park, the committee now feels that we are in a position to start the process of having a women’s team.
We attempted this a decade ago but at the time our facilities were not great and it never really got going. It was decided that over the coming years, we needed to make the club more user-friendly, in particularly for colts, and potentially, a future ladies’ team.
All Going to Plan
Everything has gone to plan. The Colts are now large in numbers with qualified coaches using quality equipment to train the players that evolve into senior members. Added to that, All-Stars coach, Ross Hunter (with the help of Adam Robinson and the player’s parents) has established our first-ever girl’s team.
So, the next logical step is a ladies’ team in 2024. Now, it may seem daft to talk about the summer of 2024 in the middle of 2023 but these things take time to sort out. Firstly, we need players and then we need a coach to train those players (Oakley will pay for caching courses). Obviously, without those two ingredients, we hit a brick wall.
Guidance and Training
What Oakley can offer, is guidance, a facility to train once a week, and the freedom of the ground to play Sunday afternoon league fixtures against other local teams. Everything is in place to land running in April 2024 and kick off a new era of women’s cricket at Oakley.
There are modern changing rooms and training facilities as well as a licensed bar for those who wish to indulge in post-match social time. We find that the social aspect of cricket is just as enjoyable as the game itself. Several of our men’s players can offer you guidance with regard to preposterous barstool cricket tales.
Interested?
So, if you are reading this and your interest has been spiked, please contact us via email with your intention to either play or coach. You don’t have to have played before and anyone wishing to coach will be put on a Level One coaching course allowing them the ability to teach those new to the game, basic skills.
Please contact bob@lethabyandcook.co.uk expressing whether your interest is in playing, coaching or both and we will keep you up to date with the progress we are making.