Women's Hardball 2026 Season
2026 marked the first season of Grayshott’s dedicated women’s hardball section, following our partnership with Aldershott CC last year. The squad was a mixture of players new to hardball, Girls joining the women's section from our Junior setup and those with some hardball experience.
There were some tough matches along the way, and the results reflected the challenge of learning a new format and skills, while building a team. But there were also some great performances, moments of real progress and plenty of reasons to be excited about what comes next.
Perhaps the biggest achievement has been creating a genuine pathway through the club. With a growing girls’ section thanks to the hard work being done within Junior cricket over a number of years, the women's hardball section provides the opportunity for girls moving beyond junior cricket to continue playing and developing alongside adult players. Alongside this, women from the softball teams have been able to try hardball in a supportive environment, developing new skills and confidence.
And the learning has gone both ways. Experienced players have shared their knowledge, and newer players have brought enthusiasm and fresh perspectives. With the whole women’s section training together, players have been able to learn from one another, support each other and enjoy being part of the same team.
There have undoubtedly been moments when the cricket has been tough, but those are often the moments when team spirit matters most. The encouragement from the boundary, the celebrations of a first wicket or boundary, a 3-wicket maiden over, a maiden 50, helping each other through difficult spells and simply sticking together have been some of the highlights of the season.
This year was never just about the results. It was about building something. Building confidence, developing skills, creating opportunities and proving that there is a place for every woman and girl who wants to play hardball.
The hardball squad have laid some important foundations this season, and 2027 looks set to be an exciting one as we continue to develop women's hardball and see more of our Junior Girls coming into the section.
