We have three children each. Coincidentally, we both have two sons and a daughter, with our daughters being the youngest of their siblings!
We’ve watched and supported our sons’ journeys into cricket, with our daughters at our sides.
Realising our daughters were approaching an age where they could join the club but seeing no female coaches and noticing that the number of girls on our sons teams, dwindled each year, we decided there should be a stronger female presence within the club. We felt if we were seen as coaches, with our South Asian heritage, it would encourage more girls of similar backgrounds to play and continue playing cricket.
Supported by our husbands who were already coaches at the club, we decided to undertake an ECB Level 2 coaching course. We were surprised that we were the only females on the course, from a group of around twenty. Some of the other participants included ex-county players and we were worried we were out of our depth but with the support of each other on the course we managed to get qualified.
After completing the course, in 2017 we joined Llandaff CC as U9’s coaches. We reached out to the community to encourage girls to join. The aim was to break gender and cultural bias around girls from certain communities playing cricket. It worked! We now have girls playing in U12’s and U14’s softball league and in mixed U11’s and U13’s hardball teams. It’s been wonderful to see girls joining at U9’s and moving up the age groups and continuing to play. We already have one girl who has now been selected to play for the Wales U13’s teams we also have two girls who have been selected for the Wales U12’s development team preparing them to enter the U13’s Wales team. Another highlight is having four girls on the Cricket Wales East Pathway program.
Many of the girls have brothers who played for the club, but the girls were reluctant to join. Since seeing female coaches at the club, who they identify with, they now feel encouraged at having a go at playing cricket. This has been furthered by the addition of new female coaches and we now have five female coaches at the club. We have tried to create an inclusive environment where the parents would feel comfortable to send their daughters. We all know the benefits of exercising and this has been great to see so many girls taking part and encouraging their friends to get involved too. It also important to mention the impact this initiative has had, on mothers and women in general, with one particular female coach lead now doing PE at a local primary school.
In 2020 Cricket Wales and Llandaff CC introduced softball cricket for women of South Asian heritage, once again fragmenting the stereotypes around playing cricket. The response was amazing with an age range of 18 – 70 years including a gran coming along to training with her daughter and granddaughter!
It’s always wonderful when we have women attend training sessions, who say they last played cricket at school and haven’t played cricket or any other sport since. They express their gratitude to have the opportunity to play in an all female environment, with female coaches, where they’ve formed friendships and grown in confidence. We now have ladies representing Llandaff CC, from a range of backgrounds and heritages, playing in festivals, indoor league and softball league. Some of these are now progressing to hardball cricket as they want to further pursue playing.
Cricket Wales have been fantastic in helping Llandaff CC grow the girls and women’s cricket, by providing kit and supporting us with training facilities, and going back to where it started for us, our daughters continue to thrive, playing at Llandaff CC with aspirations greater than ours….!
A few quotes from some of the ladies that took part in the festivals and training last year, showing the impact and what it means to the women of the community…
Being a part of this team has made me a confident individual who always looks forward to training and matches. It has taught me to be enthusiastic to work as a team and build great communication skills with my teammates and opponents. I feel that cricket has added to my personality as I am always eager to talk cricket with people in and out of the cricket world. It is exciting to see the progress we have made as a team and even more proud to be representing the ethnic minorities. Setting an example and breaking barriers for women to join a sports team is so rewarding when they tell us that they are proud of us. Its beautiful that just by joining a team and having fun holds so much influence. That is a power im proud to hold and excited to see where the future takes us. Win or lose, the beauty is in the dedication to represent the BAME community. – Naseha Haque
In May 2021 I was given the opportunity to join in and play cricket as part of Llandaff CC. Since joining the team, I have become a part of a new community, welcoming BAME ladies of all age ranges to get together. What started off as a hobby and a fun way to get fit has now become a big part of my life. I dedicated my summer to compete in festivals and attend training, and still continue to play this winter in an indoor league. The team has now become a family, we have fun, work hard and encourage each other to become better together. I feel very proud to be playing for Llandaff CC and to have been given an opportunity to play cricket in a ladies team was something I thought I would never have. Cricket for me is not only a passion, but it has become a priority, I hope to continue playing and training hard! Thank you to all who have made this possible. – Taibah Tariq
Women’s llandaff cricket club has made me achieve many skills such as physical and mentally coming from an ethnic background opportunities are narrow being a woman. It has empowered me as a woman that achieving things are possible. I have met so many different women of different ages and background that all come together to support and play cricket together as a team. We support each other, we smile together, we eat together, we even have dinner parties together, we are a family now. – Lubna Ghaney
I have never played cricket before in my life, or even considered playing it. I’d barely even watched it and had no idea what it was about! Then my son joined a a local team and everything changed. I was invited to play for the ladies team and was welcomed with open arms. One of the great things about playing is the support the ladies give to each other. There’s a great mix of ages, experience and cultures and the atmosphere, win or lose is always lovely. I haven’t been involved in any kind of team sports (apart from going along to support the boys in my life!) since I left school so the whole experience has not only been good for my fitness, it’s also been great for my emotional well-being. I wouldn’t yet describe myself as a cricketer but that doesn’t really matter to me. The opportunity to be part of something that is just for me as a woman has been life affirming. And to play with such a caring and supporting group of other women has enhanced the whole experience. – Sara Erickson
A poem!
Winter cricket
Crickets a funny game, it takes away the winter blues.
Crickets a funny game we celebrate even if we lose.
Crickets a funny game, brings together every race.
Crickets a funny game even my kids come watch me play. 😘
– Shabina khan
A few weeks ago, I joined Llandaff Ladies Softball (cricket training). My interest in cricket only began earlier this year when my son started playing it at school – and really enjoyed it. My family and I also went to a live Glamorgan match. I mentioned this to my friend (who is already a member of Lladaff Ladies) and she encouraged me to join up. From day one, the coaches and all of the ladies – without exception – have been so friendly and welcoming, they have also been hugely encouraging to someone who has never played before. On a couple of occasions, I haven’t felt like going to training – it’s about a 30 minute drive for me & I don’t get home ’til around 9.30pm – but as soon as I arrive, all of the ladies say hello, ask how I am and how my week has been. They are full of smiles, laughter, enthusiasm and encouragement and it makes me glad that I made the effort. The training lasts for about an hour – it’s fun, interesting and full of excellent cricket tips!I look forward to training and being part of a diverse group of women who are predominantly from the BAME community. Playing cricket with them has empowered me and strengthened my confidence. I’m really pleased that I have joined up – it really is a great team sport and would encourage anyone considering it, to definitely give it a try. Thank you Llandaff Ladies 💕 xxx – Carolyne Trinick
