Sunday 31 May 2026 will be remembered as a landmark day in the history of Selby Cricket Club as the club’s first-ever Ladies Team played its inaugural match.

The friendly fixture against Barnby Dun Ladies saw the visitors score 190-2 before Selby replied with a spirited 165-7, but on a morning like this the result was very much secondary.

The occasion marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the club and the culmination of months of hard work to create opportunities for women and girls to play cricket at Selby.

A huge amount of credit must go to team captain Kirsty Hoyle, whose enthusiasm, determination and commitment have been instrumental in getting the Ladies section off the ground. From recruiting players and organising training sessions to encouraging complete beginners to give cricket a try, Kirsty’s efforts have helped turn an idea into reality.

The launch of the Ladies Team follows the successful introduction of the club’s Roses Girls section last season and now provides a clear pathway for female cricketers to progress from junior cricket into adult cricket at Selby Cricket Club.

There were plenty of positives on the field too. Fiona Rodgers top-scored with an excellent 36 runs, including eight boundaries, while wickets were shared between Kirsty Hoyle and Maisie Rodgers-Oldroyd as Selby competed strongly throughout the match.

The club would also like to thank North Yorkshire Council for its support and local business Chocolotte, whose sponsorship has helped provide kit for the new team as they begin their cricketing journey.

Captain Kirsty Hoyle said:

“It’s been great to finally get the team out on the field after all the work that’s gone into setting it up. Everyone really enjoyed it and there was a brilliant atmosphere around the game. We’ve got a great group of players and hopefully this is just the start of something that continues to grow.”

Club Chairman Gareth Pearce added:

“This is a really important step forward for the club. We’ve worked hard in recent years to develop opportunities for girls to play cricket and having a Ladies Team now gives players somewhere to progress to. A lot of credit goes to Kirsty and everyone involved in getting the team started, and we’re looking forward to seeing it develop over the coming seasons.”

For Selby Cricket Club, the significance of the day went far beyond the scorecard. Seeing the women of Selby Cricket Club take to the field for the first time was a proud moment for players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors alike.

The scoreboard may show a Barnby Dun victory, but for Selby Cricket Club the real success was making history and taking the first step in what everyone hopes will be a bright future for women’s and girls’ cricket at Sandhill Lane.

With the Roses Girls section continuing to grow and the Ladies Team now underway, the future of women’s cricket at Selby Cricket Club looks brighter than ever.