Everything is coming up Roses at Albrighton CC – thanks to the ECB’s Women’s Softball initiative.
The club decided to form a Ladies Softball team – the aptly named Roses in a village famous for David Austin Roses – in 2018 to take part in one of the Women’s Softball Festivals organised by Cricket Shropshire.
Karyn Shimmons, the Albrighton Roses Softball Cricket Co-ordinator, said: “There was a lot of interest in the club from the men’s section’s wives and girlfriends who thought it would be a great idea.”
With husband Darren involved at the club for over 30 years as a player and now chairman, Karyn has taken on a number of roles from tea maker to treasurer for the last eight years.
“I joined the coaching team a few years ago a took on the role of Allstars Activator (with Helen Hurford) and enjoy being a more active member of the club,” she adds.
She has been involved in the game for many years now, playing indoor cricket at Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton back in the 1980s, and also a few games of Sunday social cricket from time to time.
And with a thriving junior section developing at the club during the past decade, she feels it was a natural progression to create a Ladies Section.
“It has been a great honour to be part of such a fantastic group of ladies who want to take up the sport and the fun we and enjoyment in doing so has been great.
"The Ladies Softball section at Albrighton CC has grown and grown, and we now have over 30 players registered.
“We have travelled the county playing in festivals and visited New Road in Worcester for a couple of Megafest and watch a Women’s ODI England v West Indies and a T20 game.
“In our first season we reached the final of the end season tournament losing to Beacon Belles in the final and received an award from the SCB for newcomers of the year.
“The squad has enjoyed taking part of indoor leagues and Wrekin College and now trains indoor through the winter – all creating great memories for me.”
She says the club have been very supportive of the development of the Ladies Section over the past couple of years.
“We are very grateful to our coaches Darren Shimmons and Andy Parker who have been with us since the start making all practice session fun and guided us at festivals.
“Many of the ladies play Softball Cricket for fun only, and love the social atmosphere of the group and club and on awaydays at festivals.”
She welcomed the help that Cricket Shropshire has provided to the development of the Women and Girls’ cricket in the county.
“Sheila Dickie, Kate Rushton and Steve Reese have worked with clubs to develop the growth of the game. Each year there are more festivals and Softball League Cricket and Indoor Cricket have been well promoted.”
She is confident the Softball Cricket has become an integral part of the club and hopes to see it prosper for many years to come.
“The social benefit to the club, to now have men, ladies and children taking part in the sport, is brilliant.
“Our last Presidents' Day was split in to three sections with a Junior event in the morning, Ladies Softball early afternoon followed by a senior match in the afternoon.
“The opportunity for the ladies to travel the county and other events have been great family days out.
“The taking part is the key side to where we try to promote fun and enjoyment in both our game and hopefully our oppositions to. Winning is not key and every time we play we say we “win or lose by one run!”
She says the club’s ethos of making sure the game is fun is the key to its continued success in bringing new players to the game.
“There many different standards of players now in all teams, but the key to enjoyment is ensuring that all players accept that Softball Cricket is an introduction to the game and more social than the more specialised hard ball cricket.”
She does have one idea to make the game more entertaining
“Maybe introducing targets on the boundary for extra runs/prizes could be a new gimmick!”
Her favourite cricketing memories include being at Lord’s with Darren to see the England Ladies win the World Cup in 2018 after a day of drama.
She is also proud to support the ACCCF – a group of club members who have raised more than £10,000 through charity walks to Test match grounds such as Lord’s and Headingley.
If you’re interested in finding out more about getting involved with the Albrighton Roses, you can email shimmo.acc@btinternet.com
The club decided to form a Ladies Softball team – the aptly named Roses in a village famous for David Austin Roses – in 2018 to take part in one of the Women’s Softball Festivals organised by Cricket Shropshire.
Karyn Shimmons, the Albrighton Roses Softball Cricket Co-ordinator, said: “There was a lot of interest in the club from the men’s section’s wives and girlfriends who thought it would be a great idea.”
With husband Darren involved at the club for over 30 years as a player and now chairman, Karyn has taken on a number of roles from tea maker to treasurer for the last eight years.
“I joined the coaching team a few years ago a took on the role of Allstars Activator (with Helen Hurford) and enjoy being a more active member of the club,” she adds.
She has been involved in the game for many years now, playing indoor cricket at Dunstall Park in Wolverhampton back in the 1980s, and also a few games of Sunday social cricket from time to time.
And with a thriving junior section developing at the club during the past decade, she feels it was a natural progression to create a Ladies Section.
“It has been a great honour to be part of such a fantastic group of ladies who want to take up the sport and the fun we and enjoyment in doing so has been great.
"The Ladies Softball section at Albrighton CC has grown and grown, and we now have over 30 players registered.
“We have travelled the county playing in festivals and visited New Road in Worcester for a couple of Megafest and watch a Women’s ODI England v West Indies and a T20 game.
“In our first season we reached the final of the end season tournament losing to Beacon Belles in the final and received an award from the SCB for newcomers of the year.
“The squad has enjoyed taking part of indoor leagues and Wrekin College and now trains indoor through the winter – all creating great memories for me.”
She says the club have been very supportive of the development of the Ladies Section over the past couple of years.
“We are very grateful to our coaches Darren Shimmons and Andy Parker who have been with us since the start making all practice session fun and guided us at festivals.
“Many of the ladies play Softball Cricket for fun only, and love the social atmosphere of the group and club and on awaydays at festivals.”
She welcomed the help that Cricket Shropshire has provided to the development of the Women and Girls’ cricket in the county.
“Sheila Dickie, Kate Rushton and Steve Reese have worked with clubs to develop the growth of the game. Each year there are more festivals and Softball League Cricket and Indoor Cricket have been well promoted.”
She is confident the Softball Cricket has become an integral part of the club and hopes to see it prosper for many years to come.
“The social benefit to the club, to now have men, ladies and children taking part in the sport, is brilliant.
“Our last Presidents' Day was split in to three sections with a Junior event in the morning, Ladies Softball early afternoon followed by a senior match in the afternoon.
“The opportunity for the ladies to travel the county and other events have been great family days out.
“The taking part is the key side to where we try to promote fun and enjoyment in both our game and hopefully our oppositions to. Winning is not key and every time we play we say we “win or lose by one run!”
She says the club’s ethos of making sure the game is fun is the key to its continued success in bringing new players to the game.
“There many different standards of players now in all teams, but the key to enjoyment is ensuring that all players accept that Softball Cricket is an introduction to the game and more social than the more specialised hard ball cricket.”
She does have one idea to make the game more entertaining
“Maybe introducing targets on the boundary for extra runs/prizes could be a new gimmick!”
Her favourite cricketing memories include being at Lord’s with Darren to see the England Ladies win the World Cup in 2018 after a day of drama.
She is also proud to support the ACCCF – a group of club members who have raised more than £10,000 through charity walks to Test match grounds such as Lord’s and Headingley.
If you’re interested in finding out more about getting involved with the Albrighton Roses, you can email shimmo.acc@btinternet.com
