First Ever Hampshire Girls' Emerging Players Programme Launched

Six girls given one-on-one cricket coaching from England Womens' Captain

Hampshire’s first ever girls-only Emerging Players Programme (EPP) has been launched to help female cricketers between the ages of 12 and 16 to improve their game.

Six of the best players across Hampshire’s County Squads have been selected for the 2012 / 2013 programme which gives high quality one-on-one coaching with the aims of:

• Developing players who have the capability to play Regional cricket.
• Developing players who have the capability to play for England age group sides.
• Enhancing the performance of County Age Group teams which will, in turn, improve the performance of the Hampshire Senior Ladies' team.

The inaugural programme’s participants are Providence Cowdrill (13) from Cove Cricket Club, Katie George (13) from Romsey & OT’s CC, Martha Bilsland (14) from Alton CC, Emily Windsor (15) from Havant CC, Gemma Harper (16) from Hursley Park CC and Leanne Davies (15) from Eversley CC.

As part of the programme, they are benefiting from the expertise of England Ladies Captain and Chance to Shine Ambassador, Charlotte Edwards who is providing valuable advice and guidance to our future star players. Having already held the initial coaching session on the 17th October, she will be doing another on Wednesday 7th November to work with three Hampshire girls and will be coming back again on the 5th of December to work with all six selected players.

The Head Coach of the programme is Ian Stuart. He has a wealth of experience having worked for the International Cricket Council [ICC] in Europe and been one of the lead tutors for the Hampshire Coach Education Programme. He has also set up his own company called Coaching for Greater Understanding where he has worked alongside a number of clubs including Sparsholt and Easton & Martyr Worthy to improve their Coaching set up.

Girls’ cricket in Hampshire has gone from strength to strength in recent years. In 2012, the U13 Squad reached the National Finals for the first time and the U17s reached the National Semi Finals.

Head of Women and Girls Cricket for the Hampshire Cricket Board, Mike Pollard said; “This is an exciting opportunity for Women and Girls’ Cricket. We are finally able to offer our best female players the same level of support that the boys enjoy as we look to develop players for the future and hopefully play for England one day.

“However, it is absolutely crucial that this programme is continued after the initial two-year period so we desperately need anyone interested in potentially sponsoring the programme in future to contact us.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the Girls’ Emerging Players programme should contact Mike on 07920 452527 or michael.pollard@ageasbowl.com.

Back to news