MCC's women members anniversary

Date released: 1 October 2008

Ten years since a historic MCC members’ vote, women’s representation at 'The Home of Cricket' has gone from strength to strength.

The vote to admit women to the Club - taken ten years ago this week - resulted in the first woman, Charlotte Williams, being nominated for membership.

Miss Williams became a full playing member on 13 December 2000.

In total, 740 women are now either full, associate or out-match members of MCC or candidates for membership.

MCC has also honoured 23 women, who have made exceptional contributions to cricket, by electing them Honorary Life Members.

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint with her honorary membership pass The first nine Honorary Life Members were elected on 16 March 1999 and included: former England Women’s world cup-winning captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint; Diana Rait Kerr (Curator of the MCC Museum from 1945-1968); and Sheila Hill, who umpired the first women’s World Cup Final.

Heyhoe-Flint, who was elected to the MCC Committee for a second stint on Wednesday 1 October, said:

"MCC could not have done more to accommodate women and change its constitution to allow women to become members.

"Women have been included at all levels of a Club that has embraced the concept of female membership."

MCC Women on tour

In total there are currently 62 full, 272 associate members and 389 candidates.

Like men, women have to wait approximately 18 years after nomination to assume full membership.

As the MCC Women’s playing programme expands, there is even greater opportunity for women to register as playing members and secure full membership after completing nine games in three years for the club.

MCC Women have an ever-growing fixture list. In 2008 they played 25 matches against a range of school, university, club and international opposition and also toured the Channel Islands.

England's Caroline Atkins batting for MCC England cricketers that have turned out for MCC Women this year include Claire Taylor and Caroline Atkins.

Atkins benefitted from MCC’s decision to be one of the first organisations worldwide to make female cricketers professional.

In 2003 she joined the staff as an MCC Young Cricketer, paid by MCC to learn the game and undertake coaching courses throughout each summer.

Her game developed rapidly whilst on MCC’s books and she is now reaping the rewards, having scored 145 for England Women against South Africa at Lord’s earlier this year.

Charlotte Edwards in the Long Room at Lord's Atkins’ England captain and ICC Women’s cricketer of the year Charlotte Edwards sits on the MCC Young Cricketers sub-committee.

There are now six female MCC Young Cricketers. One of them, Beth Morgan, will represent England in the forthcoming ICC Women’s World Cup.

MCC also fund other young female cricketers in the form of a £30,000 investment in the Loughborough University Centre of Cricketing Excellence women’s side to provide them with coaching from ex-England bowler Graham Dilley and top-quality nutritional, psychological and technological support.

MCC investment

Keith Bradshaw, MCC Secretary & Chief Executive said:

Bradshaw: Women's cricket making 'great steps forward' "From a standing start MCC’s drive to bring more women into the game both at Lord’s and further afield has made good progress.

"With the number of women playing themselves into Club membership and the increasing professionalism of the women MCC Young Cricketers, women’s cricket at Lord’s has made great steps forward in just ten years.

"The consistently high number of internationals that come out of Loughborough UCCE also shows that MCC’s investment is promoting success at the very highest level."