We first started taster sessions for girls to ‘give cricket a go’ back in 2014 and these were followed by some bilateral friendly matches in 2015. But it was at the beginning of 2016 that the club committee made the decision to explore opportunities for women’s cricket. The thought was to make it fun – look at the core elements of batting, bowling and fielding with a soft ball on a segregated/dedicated area of the outfield. It was a big idea from scratch, but and a big but… we needed somebody to champion the idea.
Up stepped Jacqui, partner of the then club fixture secretary with no prior cricket playing experience. Supported by a poster and mailing campaign to all club members, parents and friends - and the promise of a glass of prosecco at the end of the session – we waited to see what would happen.
Sixteen ladies took part and the fun and laughter was audible before eventually arriving back at the clubhouse way beyond the expected session time for their now hard earned glass of prosecco (or two??).
In welcoming them to the club and hoping they had enjoyed themselves we made the mistake of suggesting that perhaps they would like to come along once every month for a repeat which met with a loud chorus of NO, led by Jacqui. We want to come every week was the plea, and so they did and very quickly became the toast of the club. Soon we were hosting mini festivals, welcoming other clubs and receiving the support from the County who subsequently asked them to put on demonstration sessions at Trent Bridge during intervals at Notts T20 matches.
Jacqui took on the mantle of captain and co-ordinator of the group and her enthusiasm led Keyworth Cricket Club, into a new era 201 years after being founded, gaining new vibrancy as quickly members of the Women’s Soft Ball team elevated the level of social activity in the club. As some of the young girl players started to develop into fine young cricketers this added weight and support to the club, to the extent that around 1/3rd of playing members at KCC are now female, and we cannot imagine a club without women and girls teams anymore.
KCC were given a voice in the region with Jacqui becoming a founder member of the East Midlands Women’s Cricket League (EMWCL) committee, and other female Keyworth members have been willing to take on roles that helped foster female cricket in the community, the club, the county and the East Midlands.
When I talk to the women’s soft ball cricketers to this day, a common theme from many is how becoming involved in cricket at Keyworth has provided them with an opportunity of making new friends and having a fresh interest in their lives, combining a ‘getting active’ element with a ‘having fun’ aspect. Cricket often hadn’t been an option for them as a sport at school, and this is their chance to enjoy playing the game.
Jacqui and her colleagues set an incredible example in the region and it is brilliant to see so many clubs opening their doors to women and girls and I can only see the trend gathering more and more momentum.
For a new venture, a person with passion and enthusiasm is needed for it to succeed and in Jacqui Dakin we were lucky to find the perfect role model and I am proud to nominate her as one of our heroes of International Women’s Day.
Barry Baker – President – Keyworth CC