Captain Elizabeth McLean lauds 'family spirit' at heart of Alnmouth and Lesbury CC's Women's team

Alnmouth and Lesbury CC’s Women’s team is built around family, in just about every sense of the word.

Not only was the side started by captain Elizabeth McLean and her mother around a decade ago, but it is a frequent occurrence to have relatives lining up alongside each other on the pitch, and - perhaps most important of all - there is a pervasive camaraderie underpinning everything the squad does that can often often feel familial.

“I absolutely adore the women and girls at Alnmouth and Lesbury”, Elizabeth explains. “I've been with the club a long time and we've had girls come and go. University gets in the way in every form of the game. And you'd be surprised how many of them, if they settle back up here, are like, ‘Can we come back?’. And I'm like, ‘Yes, of course you can!’. You're part of the family, effectively.

”It is very much a big family. Cousins are involved, aunties are involved, mums are involved, daughters are involved - if we can keep a family playing together, we'll keep the family playing together.”

The thing that Elizabeth and her side pride themselves on most, however, is providing a welcoming atmosphere to anybody - regardless of ability - who might be interested in giving cricket a try. With dedicated training sessions on Thursday nights and support from a professional coach, Alnmouth and Lesbury are determined to keep shining a light on - and developing - the women’s game, and are always keen to see new faces around the club.

“It's such an encouraging sport”, Elizabeth continues. “You might not be the best bowler, but you can pick up a bat and you can hit a six. There's something for everybody within the game. And I think that's a big thing about the women and girls’ game... If you're fast on your feet, we're going to have you out in the field chasing every ball. There is a family spirit. It's really hard to explain to an outsider, but once you're inside it, it's difficult to want to leave.”

And while there is a healthy passion and competitiveness driving Alnmouth and Lesbury on, it really is their sense of togetherness that has made the team into something special. As Elizabeth puts it: “It's brilliant. It's so lovely to have that community spirit and family feeling. They want you to be there and celebrate with them. I can't put it any other way - it is just so lovely.”