Former Scotland international player Olivia Rae will coach North London Cricket Club’s women’s team for the forthcoming season, in a massive statement of intent for the club’s women’s setup.
Capped 76 times by Scotland, Rae has played for the Berkshire and Middlesex senior women’s teams and hopes to bring her knowledge as an experienced right-handed opening batsman to North London as its women’s first team begin its Middlesex Women’s 40-over and Middlesex Women’s 20/20 league challenges.
After having collaborated with neighbouring North Middlesex Cricket Club ahead of the new season to include their older girls in their training and league matches, North London will also field a development team to play in Division 2 of the 20/20 League, hoping to allow the less experienced players to improve with time at the crease. The club has been able to boast that, for the first in its history, a third of its membership is now female.
“This combination with our friends at North Middlesex represents a really exciting next step” – Martin Issitt.
Rae, who is the first and only girl to play cricket at Durham School in its 500-year history, went on to vice-captain Durham University first XI and earn selection for the MCCU. She hopes that the extra resources from North Middlesex will help to cement strong league positions in 40 and 20-over formats and build a development side in league competition.
She said: “They are a promising bunch of players. I have already had a training session with the combined group and look forward to watching the improvements. They are a joy to work with.”
Mike Harris, from North Middlesex, is enthusiastic about this further pathway: “Until now we have not been able to offer competitive girls’ and women’s cricket to our members in Year 11 and above. Having two women’s teams and a professional coach will enable the partnership to provide opportunities for women and older teenage girls to develop, while preserving a relationship and a sense of identity for the players with their respective clubs.”
The women’s teams play matches at the North London club in Crouch End and train on Saturday mornings. Players of all abilities are encouraged to apply.
Martin Issitt, North London chairman, says the collaboration is a perfect opportunity for both clubs: “This combination with our friends at North Middlesex represents a really exciting next step and we are delighted to offer the older teenagers an environment in which to develop and grow. We are already looking at further ways to work together with a common goal to develop a major local centre for women’s cricket – other new women players continue to join too and will be made very welcome as we offer these wider opportunities.”
North London also runs five men’s teams with a sixth playing in the Sunday Chess Valley League and an U21 squad in the Middlesex Development League. With the men’s first XI gunning for promotion from Division 3 to Division 2 of the Middlesex County League, a promotion that was narrowly missed last season, North London seems to be going from strength to strength across the board.
The men, too, play their matches at Crouch End, with the fifth team also taking advantage of a pitch in Walthamstow. The club, as well as always being on the lookout for new players, are also looking for umpires and scorers and have offered to help with any required qualifications. The men train on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Men’s and women’s friendlies are due to start on Saturday 11 April with competitive fixtures beginning on Saturday 11 May for all teams.
Anyone wishing for more information is urged to visit https://northlondoncricketclub.org/
