Report By David Febrero

The development of women's cricket, although delayed, has been significant in recent years. The England women's 2005 Ashes victory, although overshadowed by the men's first triumph versus the Aussies in 18 years, was great for the recognition of women's cricket at a local and national level. Or so one would have thought. At Shelf CC, and similar other clubs dotted about the UK's regions, women's cricket is non-existent.

However, a women's committee did officially exist at Shelf for 30 years prior to 1996. Although the committee folded before that date, it remained in existence to help the club by providing tea on matchdays. In addition to this role, the women's committee also organised countless fundraising events in order to contribute to the survival of Shelf CC. "We did a lot of bring-and-buy sales and sponsored walks and things, anything which would raise some money," ex-ladies committee member Carol Boardall said. "We formed it solely for money-making purposes; although we didn't make much initially we did contribute to the club".

Actually, Carol kept a log of the money raised on weekends and at fundraising events. "In 1975 the second team raised £3.30 and the first team raised £3.14," she says. "You couldn't get much for that nowadays of course," she admits. In addition to supplying and selling refreshments on matchdays, the women's committee often baked and prepared food themselves in order to maximise profits for the cricket club.

"We have thought about re-establishing the committee" Carol declared. "But it is a different world now; we had 10 women at one point but nowadays nobody can find the time to form a committee, and if we formed our own cricket team we wouldn't be the best side in the world to watch!" Once upon a time a Shelf women's team played a friendly against the Shelf men's 1st team - an experience that was rather humbling. "That was a funny game. It was a close one, I think we only just lost it," Carol joked.

The Boardall family have legendary status at Shelf CC. In addition to Carol organising the women's committee for a number of years, her husband, Colin, was a member of the Shelf Waddilove Cup-winning side in 1989 and her son also plays for the club.