Lancashire Cricket Foundation Announces a New Era for Women & Girls' Cricket Across Lancashire
Working together to support the continued growth of the game
Over the past 12 months, Lancashire Cricket Foundation has been working closely with our five affiliated leagues – Liverpool & District Cricket Competition, Northern Pyramid, Lancashire League, Greater Manchester Cricket League and North West Cricket League – to shape the future of Women's & Girls' recreational cricket.
Together, we are pleased to announce our shared vision for the future of the game. From the 2027 season, we will begin transitioning towards a model where our local leagues will lead the delivery and administration of all Women's & Girls' league cricket across Lancashire, supported by Lancashire Cricket Foundation.
This collaborative approach reflects our shared commitment to ensuring the game continues to thrive and that every woman and girl in Lancashire has access to more opportunities to play, develop and enjoy cricket.
Why are we making this change?
Women's & Girls' cricket in Lancashire is experiencing unprecedented growth.
We have grown from 112 women’s teams and 81 girls teams playing across the county in 2024 to 188 women’s teams and 178 girls teams today, a remarkable achievement that reflects the incredible work of our volunteers, clubs, leagues and communities, alongside the growing enthusiasm for the women's game at every level.
With this growth comes the opportunity – and responsibility – to ensure our competition structure continues to evolve and meets the needs of players, clubs and leagues for years to come.
Following extensive consultation with clubs, league representatives and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), we have developed a collaborative framework that will create a more sustainable, accessible and connected competition structure across Lancashire.
Building on Strong Foundations
This new approach builds on the fantastic work that many of our leagues are already delivering.
Several of our leagues have successfully established and grown Women's & Girls' competitions over recent years, providing valuable playing opportunities for clubs and players across Lancashire. We would like to acknowledge and thank the volunteers, league committees and administrators whose commitment and dedication have helped drive the growth of the game to where it is today.
This is not about changing what has been successful; it is about building on that success together to meet the unprecedented growth of Women's & Girls' cricket across Lancashire.
By working collaboratively across all five leagues, we can share knowledge, align our approach and ensure every club and player benefits from a consistent, high-quality experience, regardless of where they play. As participation continues to grow, this collaborative structure will allow us to expand competitions, create even more local playing opportunities and ensure the game remains sustainable for years to come.
Our Shared Objectives
Together, Lancashire Cricket Foundation and our five leagues are committed to:
- Creating more accessible playing opportunities for women and girls across Lancashire.
- Increasing the number of competitive fixtures available at all levels.
- Working collaboratively on scheduling to complement existing local playing opportunities and reduce unnecessary fixture clashes.
- Strengthening governance by introducing consistent standards and competition regulations across the county.
- Providing a clearer and more connected player pathway from recreational cricket through to the elite game.
What Will the New Structure Look Like?
Our shared vision is for the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition, Northern Pyramid, Lancashire League, Greater Manchester Cricket League and North West Cricket League to collectively deliver all league cricket across Lancashire, including both softball and hardball competitions from junior girls to adult women.
This local league-led model will ensure competitions are delivered by those who know their clubs and communities best, whilst working together to provide the most localised, enjoyable and competitive playing opportunities possible.
Lancashire Cricket Foundation will continue to oversee county-wide competitions sitting outside league cricket, including:
- The Lancashire Knockout Cup
- The Thunder Competition / top-tier longer-format county league
- Other county wide cup competitions
These competitions will continue to bridge the gap between recreational and professional cricket, ensuring talented players have a clear pathway to progress. We are currently in the process of confirming the format of the Thunder Competition for 2027 and beyond but the aim is for this to provide the best possible competition across the North West.
Recognising that participation and geography vary across the county, all five leagues have committed to working collaboratively, particularly during the first few years of the new structure. This will allow leagues to work together where appropriate, creating competitions that maximise participation, minimise travel and provide the most meaningful playing opportunities for every club.
Looking Ahead
This marks an exciting new chapter for Women's & Girls' cricket in Lancashire.
By combining the local knowledge, relationships and expertise of our leagues with the strategic support of Lancashire Cricket Foundation, we believe this new model will create a stronger, more sustainable future for the game.
Together, we are committed to ensuring every woman and girl in Lancashire has access to high-quality, enjoyable and inclusive cricket opportunities, while creating a clearer pathway from recreational cricket through to the elite game.
Caitlin Ormiston, Women & Girls Manager at Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said:
"We are incredibly excited about this new era for Women's & Girls' cricket in Lancashire and are delighted to have our leagues fully on board as we embark on this journey together.
This is about working together, not working separately. By combining the knowledge, passion and expertise of Lancashire Cricket Foundation and our leagues, we can create more opportunities for women and girls than ever before.
The growth we've seen over the last few years has been phenomenal, and this new structure gives us the platform to continue building on that success. We can't wait to see the positive impact this collaboration will have on clubs, players and volunteers across the county in the years ahead."
Next Steps
Over the coming weeks, each of the five leagues will distribute Expressions of Interest for the 2027 season.
These expressions of interest will help us understand demand across different geographical areas and ensure competitions are structured to best meet the needs of clubs and players.
Throughout this process, the Leagues will work closely together, supported by Lancashire Cricket Foundation, to develop a competition structure that provides the very best experience for women and girls across Lancashire.
We look forward to working with clubs, players and volunteers as we shape this exciting future together.
The growth of Women's & Girls' cricket in Lancashire has been one of the county's greatest success stories in recent years. This collaborative approach represents the next step in that journey, ensuring that together strengthen local competition and that we can continue to grow the game.