Girls from primary schools across Cardiff are preparing to join two new cricket teams following training with Glamorgan County Cricket Club.
Based on their potential ability, 28 pupils from Kitchener, Lisvane, Bryn Deri, Eglwys Newydd, Melin Gruffydd, Thornhill and Rhiwbina primary schools, were referred onto the Glamorgan ‘Cricket in the Community’ programme by their sports teachers.
The programme is a joint partnership between Glamorgan Cricket and Sport.Cardiff, and aims to make cricket accessible to everyone, and specifically affording more opportunities for girls to play cricket.
Since February, the girls have attended weekly training sessions at the National Cricket Centre, as well as receiving coaching at school and after-school clubs.
The girls will now join Lisvane and Cardiff Cricket Clubs, who will enter girl-only teams into the Cardiff and Vale Under 11s Cricket League for the first time.
In recent years, over 200 primary school girls have taken part in tournaments held at the SWALEC Stadium, and it is hoped that the new structure will offer girls more opportunities and develop their talent.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “The partnership between Sport.Cardiff and Glamorgan County Cricket Club means that primary school girls have greater opportunities to get involved in cricket and considerably develop their talents.
“Sports teachers have been successful in inspiring these girls during the early stages, so that they may go on to receive the fantastic coaching provisions at Glamorgan County Cricket Club and gain invaluable skills for the future.”
Peter Edwards, Glamorgan’s Cricket in the Community Co-ordinator, said: “It is great to see girls having the opportunity to develop their cricket at primary school level.
“I look forward to seeing a number of these girls going on to win national honours, and, more importantly, we now have a structure in place that enables girls to take their first step on the cricket development ladder.”
