By Liam Warren
Glamorgan’s chief executive officer, Dan Cherry, has said that Glamorgan’s bid for a professional women’s team could prove “transformational” for the sport in Wales.
Cherry said: “The whole team at Glamorgan is extremely excited by the possibility of a professional Glamorgan women’s team playing in tier one of a newly established competition.
“To be able to offer the opportunity or young women and girls from all over Wales to develop their skills and transition through a fully operated pathway… will be transformational for women’s cricket in Wales.”
Their bid has been supported by the Welsh Government, Cricket Wales, Sport Wales and a smattering of Welsh businesses and has been touted as something that could be a large economical boost for the country.
Another person delighted by this move is Glamorgan’s Head of Women and Girls’ Cricket, Aimee Rees, who herself has experience playing for her country:
“I was one of the 11 female cricketers selected to represent Wales in the inaugural fixture against Scotland at Ynysangharad Park, where Wales won by six wickets. I am incredibly proud when I think back to receiving my first Welsh cap and that I played in the first ever international fixture.”
Speaking on her current role within the club, Rees stated:
“I am incredibly passionate and proud of the role I hold at Glamorgan. I helped to develop and shape the female game in Wales on a part-time basis for twenty years prior to working in cricket full-time for the last eighteen months. I love the opportunity Glamorgan and the current programme gives women and girls in Wales to develop as people and cricketers. We are providing a cricket and holistic programme to help them achieve their goals on and off the pitch.”
The programme has already produced many female international and professional players, such as Rachel Priest, Danielle Gibson, Sophia Smale, Alex Griffiths, Claire Nicholas, Lauren Parfitt and Beth Gammon, just to name a few.
Rees said that “seeing Glamorgan awarded a Tier One would be my proudest moment to date. I strongly believe we would embrace the opportunity and make the whole nation proud.”
This comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board’s announcement of plans containing up to £5m in extra yearly funding towards the women’s game going forward.
The plans contain three tiers, of which the English counties are being asked to file tier one (professional) applications.
However, teams who submit unsuccessful tier one bids are then invited to fill slots in the semi-professional and amateur (tier two and tier three) games, a process which is said to be completed by September of this year.
