Horsham and Hailsham triumph in inaugural Aldridge@BACA Women's Cricket League

2023 saw the introduction of the first Women’s Club Premier league in Sussex with a Division 2 below. The league became the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League, thanks to the sponsorship and continued support ofSir Rod Aldridge.

Five clubs took part in the Premier League, Bells Yew Green CC, Brighton & Hove CC, Burgess Hill CC, Horsham CC and Eastbourne CC, playing T20 in the first half of the season followed by 40 overs. A total of 32 matches were played in the premier league in the first season with many competitive and close matches throughout the summer.

Horsham CC were the first league winners of the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Premier League having won 11 of their matches.

Premier League Champions, Horsham Cricket Club

In Division 2, ten clubs took part, split into East and West groups with the winners playing in a play off at the end of the season, which was between Hailsham CC and Bognor Regis CC. Hailsham CC came away as overall Division 2 winners and have been promoted into the Premier League for the 2024 season.

Rob Wilkinson from Hailsham CC said: “We are delighted with the news that we are able to take the next step in our progress and move up into the Premier Division next season.

"The whole squad looks forward to this challenge, as well as the extra games that this will bring for our thriving Roses team.

"We know that as a young team, there is always plenty more to do, and the girls look forward to working hard in training and continuing to learn the game and develop their skillsets, so that we can compete at this higher level.

"We look forward to attacking this head on and welcome the opportunity to compete against tougher opposition, as we continue to grow and promote the women’s game at Hailsham Cricket Club.”

The Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League has given clubs an opportunity to play longer format, competitive league cricket, without having to travel to other counties to play teams.

It has also allowed a more structured pathway for any young cricketer coming into the game to see that they can play junior cricket and then if they wanted Sunday league cricket as they get older.

Division 2 Champions, Hailsham Cricket Club

Sussex Cricket Foundation Women & Girls Development Officer, Charlotte Burton said, “It has been great to be able to set up the Aldridge@BACA Sussex Women’s Cricket League for our clubs and to have this many teams enter in both leagues was something I never expected for our first year.

"We know there have been challenges this year, such as some concessions in Division 2, and that is something we are looking to rectify for next year.

"However, the Premier league in particular has run really well, with some good, competitive matches and some stand out performances from all teams and players in each club.

"It is exciting that we can bring Hailsham CC into the premier league next year and bring a new team into the mix of that league.

"We have also had many new clubs enquire about entering Division 2 for 2024, which again is exciting and something we hope we can continue to grow and develop.”

Sir Rod Aldridge, sponsor of the league, added: "I am very pleased to be the sponsor of the Sussex Women’s Cricket League.

“For me, this not only represents another massive first for Sussex Cricket as being one of the first counties to establish a league, but I believe it supports my view that that woman and girls’ game has a massive future.

“It also fits well with the ambitious programme we have developed at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA), where we are leading the way in re-establishing the importance of cricket being played in a state school setting.

“I am looking forward to seeing the league grow and develop over the years to come whilst providing opportunities for Women & Girls to access the game.”