Following a successful joint initiative with Highgate Cricket club from 2018, the fledgling Crouch End Women and Girls section burst on to the scene in early 2020. Pre-pandemic, at the Jan 2020 club AGM the Women’s section voted for their first captain, Monika Temple, setting in train a monumental rise for Women and Girls cricket at the club that overcame everything that the pandemic could throw at it.

Building on an excellent training base through coaches Lucy Pringle, Emma Whiteman and Ryan Cunningham, and a focussed Women’s Committee consisting of Monika, Serena Cross, Clare Ludlow and Kelly Minett-Robson, the Crouch End Women, or CrEW as they quickly became known as, fast became one of the most vibrant parts of the club’s activities.

This was driven by an insatiable desire to learn as much about the game as possible including signing up for umpiring, scorers, and coaching courses, whilst also putting other members to shame with their regular attendance at training throughout the winter months in late 2020/early 2021.

Entering the Derick Morgan Middlesex Women’s Cricket league in 2021 was a massive honour for the club, and the league campaign began well with victories in their first three matches springing them up the table. With Tonya Martin, joining the CrEW as the first woman in an Antiguan cultural and cricket exchange programme helping to support the women through training and active support for all participants. We also had two Junior girls, Bella Robson and Lucy Townsend, make their debuts for U11 Middlesex Girls against Suffolk in July, and Lila Priyadarshini for the U13 Middlesex Girls. With 27 adult members and 48 juniors the Women and Girls section is a major part of the club.

The Women and Girls have brought innumerable benefits to the club expanding the playing options we can offer the Crouch End and Hornsey community, supporting the men’s teams with extra players, playing at Lords, and providing a range of new opportunities through hosting training sessions led by, and matches involving, the Middlesex County Women’s side. Even more, it has further extended the diversity of the club and its management that has underpinned its recent success on and off the field bringing an extra dimension to the famous welcome to all who visit the Calthorpe Ground. All contributing to making the Crouch End CC community great to join to access a special place to play, enjoy, and experience the wonderful game as friends, players, members, and supporters.

The club in 20 words
CECC is a proud, diverse, community offering all-age competitive and social cricket famous historically for its welcoming and open outlook.

For more details find us at:
Website: https://www.crouchendcricketclub.club/
Twitter: @crouchendcc
Instagram: @crouchendcricketclub
Simon Tanner