As the cricket season rapidly approaches Shepparton United Cricket Club is hard at work.
After fielding an A-grade women’s side in the Goulburn Murray Cricket Association competition in 2021, the club has lodged for its first B-grade women’s outfit to compete in the upcoming season, due to kick off on Saturday, October 8.
Club general committee member Chris Barclay said the women’s side had experienced significant growth in the past two years, enough to potentially field two sides this year.
But with less than a week until the season commences, the club is still on the hunt for new members.
“We’re at the point where we’ve grown enough to have two teams this year,” Barclay said.
“We had some pretty big inquiries last year and have had quite a few new girls sign up this year — there’s a really great buzz around the club at the moment.”
Barclay said a committee restructure at the club’s recent AGM had four women come on board to take up committee positions this year.
“We’re really excited about what’s to come this season, our committee has grown to include four women out of the 10 committee members. We now have a new treasurer, secretary and vice-president who are all women,” Barclay said.
“We’re getting inquiries from as far as Tocumwal and we’ve got a girl who’s travelling from Wodonga to play for us.”
One of the club’s newest members, Angela Rainbird, will play competitive cricket for the first time this year.
“I’ve never played cricket before, this will be my first season and I’m very keen,” Rainbird said.
“The last few years, there’s only been an A-grade side, but it’s become a lot more popular, especially since we’re the only women’s team in Shepparton.”
On top of her playing duties, Rainbird has taken on the role of treasurer.
She said a welcoming club culture at United had been a major reason behind an influx of women’s players.
“We’ve got a lot of new girls coming on board — people who’ve moved to the area, people who’ve heard about it from a friend or who have moved up from juniors,” she said.
“The best thing about it is we’ve got a very culturally diverse team, we’re all very excited and everyone is very keen for their first game.
“What I’ve noticed is that there is great support, the club is very supportive and especially in the girls’ team, we all get around each other and I haven’t seen that as much in other sports.
“It’s been really great to come into this new sport and play with a very welcoming side.”
With the club due to take a big step in fielding two women’s outfits this year, Barclay said a logical next step would be building a junior girls’ set-up.
“That’s our big aim — to get a junior girls program up,“ he said.
“That way we can build something at the club that is sustainable for the future, at the moment the age demographic is girls who are in their mid-30s, so we want to push for new girls to start coming through as well.”
The club will hold a clinic with former Australian Test captain Raelee Thompson at Princess Park on Wednesday, October 19, with all welcome to join.
For more information or to find out how you can get involved this season, visit www.sheppartonyouthclubunitedcc.com.au