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Ashford Women – Important Announcement
Alison McCreedy18 Feb - 19:48
Ashford Women – Important Announcement
In what would have been their 20th year playing at Ashford, unfortunately the club has had to take the very difficult, and hugely sad, decision, to withdraw the women’s team from all competition. This decision was reached after hours of discussions and meetings, involving the women’s section, the club general committee, and Surrey Cricket.
As Elize, Jenny and Ali began preparations for the 2025 season, it became apparent that the squad of committed players available was simply not big enough for the team to fulfil their fixtures. In order to be fair to everyone (the few players we did have, our potential opponents and the league organisers) the conclusion was reached that it would be best for us to withdraw before the season, rather than try to limp on, with the likelihood of conceding most games.
The 2024 season was an indicator that this decision might have to be made, as there were many occasions when the team found themselves short of players, and with a lack of numbers, even when the side managed to avoiding conceding, they were unable to compete.
Ashford’s women’s team took to the field in 2006, when the side moved from Laleham Village. The early years were tough, but under the leadership of Becky Halls the side made steady progress and by 2012 had risen to Division 2 in the Women’s Cricket Southern League, where they held their own. This was recognised with the Women’s 1st XI winning Ashford’s Team of the Year award. Indoor cricket was to play a major part in Ashford’s progress, and for 6 years from 2013 they dominated Surrey indoor tournaments, becoming Champions 7 times. 2014 was the start of the best period for the team, now in Division 1, and as Surrey Champions they made it to the Final of the ECB Indoor National Knock Out, where they finished as runners up. This was recognised with the award of Spelthorne Sports Team of the Year, and a nomination for the Surrey Sports Awards Team of the Year. One of the team’s strengths was that it was never about individuals, but the rise of Rhianna Southby from her debut as a 12 year old in 2013 can’t be ignored. She was soon in the Surrey squad, and part of the England Women’s Development Programme, enough to win Spelthorne’s Young Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2016. She has gone on to represent Surrey Stars, and in 2023 played a key role in the Southern Brave’s win in The Hundred. Ashford had their best ever league finish in 2017, 3rd place in the Championship, but the glory days were coming to an end. Relegation in 2019 saw them back in the Surrey league, and now under the leadership of firstly Jenny Tippell, then from 2023 Elize Brown, they were comfortably able to stay in the top tier for several years, coming close to winning in 2023. The Women’s Surrey Slam was gaining in stature, and after finishing as runners up in 2020, Ashford found themselves back in the Final in 2022, for what was to prove one of the most thrilling finishes in the whole club’s history. Agonisingly on the wrong end of a super over, it was enough for the Women’s Slam Team to lift the Ashford Team of the Year Award. Availability issues have been an ever present thread through Ashford’s story, despite periods of great success, and they slowly became more apparent. 2024 was by far the team’s worst season, with far too many games conceded through a lack of availability and player withdrawals, and those players trying to hold the side together were left frustrated, and facing the inevitable relegation.
Right from the start, Ashford has proved to be a wonderful club for the women to be part of. Women’s cricket was embraced at Ashford long before many other clubs, and the club has always had the goal of a thriving women’s and girl’s section. Over the years many things have been tried to boost player numbers, but despite the apparent numbers of women and girls wanting to play, we have never found the key to getting them to Ashford. Advertising, links with schools, taster sessions, soft ball sessions and engagement with other local sports clubs and groups have all been tried without success, and advice sought from Surrey as well as other clubs. Last season girls only training was offered all through the summer, with little take up.
Clearly a rethink is required, and the club is determined to address the problems and rebuild the women’s section. This won’t happen without a lot of hard work and patience, from people willing to step up and lead the club into a new era. If you want to be involved in building the future, or have any ideas to suggest, please let us know!
In the meantime, the remaining women’s players are, of course, welcome to make themselves available for selection in the men’s teams.
As Elize, Jenny and Ali began preparations for the 2025 season, it became apparent that the squad of committed players available was simply not big enough for the team to fulfil their fixtures. In order to be fair to everyone (the few players we did have, our potential opponents and the league organisers) the conclusion was reached that it would be best for us to withdraw before the season, rather than try to limp on, with the likelihood of conceding most games.
The 2024 season was an indicator that this decision might have to be made, as there were many occasions when the team found themselves short of players, and with a lack of numbers, even when the side managed to avoiding conceding, they were unable to compete.
Ashford’s women’s team took to the field in 2006, when the side moved from Laleham Village. The early years were tough, but under the leadership of Becky Halls the side made steady progress and by 2012 had risen to Division 2 in the Women’s Cricket Southern League, where they held their own. This was recognised with the Women’s 1st XI winning Ashford’s Team of the Year award. Indoor cricket was to play a major part in Ashford’s progress, and for 6 years from 2013 they dominated Surrey indoor tournaments, becoming Champions 7 times. 2014 was the start of the best period for the team, now in Division 1, and as Surrey Champions they made it to the Final of the ECB Indoor National Knock Out, where they finished as runners up. This was recognised with the award of Spelthorne Sports Team of the Year, and a nomination for the Surrey Sports Awards Team of the Year. One of the team’s strengths was that it was never about individuals, but the rise of Rhianna Southby from her debut as a 12 year old in 2013 can’t be ignored. She was soon in the Surrey squad, and part of the England Women’s Development Programme, enough to win Spelthorne’s Young Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2016. She has gone on to represent Surrey Stars, and in 2023 played a key role in the Southern Brave’s win in The Hundred. Ashford had their best ever league finish in 2017, 3rd place in the Championship, but the glory days were coming to an end. Relegation in 2019 saw them back in the Surrey league, and now under the leadership of firstly Jenny Tippell, then from 2023 Elize Brown, they were comfortably able to stay in the top tier for several years, coming close to winning in 2023. The Women’s Surrey Slam was gaining in stature, and after finishing as runners up in 2020, Ashford found themselves back in the Final in 2022, for what was to prove one of the most thrilling finishes in the whole club’s history. Agonisingly on the wrong end of a super over, it was enough for the Women’s Slam Team to lift the Ashford Team of the Year Award. Availability issues have been an ever present thread through Ashford’s story, despite periods of great success, and they slowly became more apparent. 2024 was by far the team’s worst season, with far too many games conceded through a lack of availability and player withdrawals, and those players trying to hold the side together were left frustrated, and facing the inevitable relegation.
Right from the start, Ashford has proved to be a wonderful club for the women to be part of. Women’s cricket was embraced at Ashford long before many other clubs, and the club has always had the goal of a thriving women’s and girl’s section. Over the years many things have been tried to boost player numbers, but despite the apparent numbers of women and girls wanting to play, we have never found the key to getting them to Ashford. Advertising, links with schools, taster sessions, soft ball sessions and engagement with other local sports clubs and groups have all been tried without success, and advice sought from Surrey as well as other clubs. Last season girls only training was offered all through the summer, with little take up.
Clearly a rethink is required, and the club is determined to address the problems and rebuild the women’s section. This won’t happen without a lot of hard work and patience, from people willing to step up and lead the club into a new era. If you want to be involved in building the future, or have any ideas to suggest, please let us know!
In the meantime, the remaining women’s players are, of course, welcome to make themselves available for selection in the men’s teams.
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