Ask Gemma Pugh what it used to be like when the kit bag came out before a match, and the answer tells you everything about what women’s cricket in south Wales has been missing.
“Teenage girls are often so self-conscious about what they look like,” she says. “Until now, we had been using hand-me-downs from men’s teams so when the kit bag came out, the younger girls would be racing to get the kit with the smallest t-shirts that fitted better, as the big, baggy tops were so uncomfortable.”
That changed this season with the formation of Western Steel — a new women’s cricket team combining the talent of Briton Ferry Steel Ladies and Carmarthenshire Ladies, competing in the South Wales Cricket Premier League with a second team in Division One.
Western Steel is the first women’s hardball cricket team in Carmarthenshire and south-west Wales to play in kit designed and made specifically for women — purpose-built clothing from Maiden Cricket, a brand founded by teenage sisters Honor and Cat Black who were frustrated by the same ill-fitting kit their players had endured for years.
Pugh, who co-manages the team, said having kit with their own name on it would change more than just how the players look.
“It seems crazy that we’ve waited this long to have our own kit for women — one that fits properly, has our own name on and will make us all feel a lot more confident and proud to be out on the cricket field,” she said.
The team spans players aged 13 to over 40. One of Western Steel’s bowlers is a fashion designer in her day job, and worked directly with the Maiden team to create a design that reflects the combined squad’s ambition — described as daring, stylish and practical.
Karen Hughes, who has coached Briton Ferry Steel Ladies for eight years and is now co-manager of Western Steel alongside Pugh, said the merger represented a significant moment for women’s cricket in the region.
“The merger of Briton Ferry Steel Ladies and Carmarthenshire Ladies marks an exciting new chapter for women’s cricket in Wales,” she said. “The squad has expanded with several new players joining ahead of the campaign, creating a strong and competitive group for the year ahead.”
The timing is significant. Next month, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup comes to England and Wales — bringing elite women’s cricket to the doorstep of a region that is only now building its own competitive women’s game. The tournament has already broken records before a ball has been bowled, with ticket sales surpassing 145,000, making it the highest-selling Women’s T20 World Cup in history. Warm-up matches will be held at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens from 6 to 10 June, giving Welsh fans the chance to see the world’s best players before the main event begins.
Women’s cricket has grown significantly in Wales in recent years, with Cricket Wales expanding the girls’ league structure and the number of teams entering women’s competitions rising steadily. Western Steel’s formation — merging two existing clubs to create a stronger, wider-reaching outfit — is itself a sign of that growth.
Cricket Wales Women’s and Girls’ Lead Carl Holding, who launched the Cricket Wales Girls League and expanded women’s competitions across the country, said Western Steel’s debut was good news for the whole women’s game in Wales.
“Having their own kit, designed specifically for them, ensures they can play, and look, their best, getting into a positive mindset the moment they put it on,” he said.
Pugh hopes the visibility of the team will open a door for girls in the region who might never have considered cricket as a sport for them.
“There is still a lot to do to raise the profile of women’s cricket in Wales but hopefully young girls will watch us play and see that there’s a pathway for them to get into the game and succeed,” she said.
Western Steel’s first team is competing in the South Wales Cricket Premier League this season. Anyone interested in joining can contact the club through Cricket Wales.
