Emmbrook Ladies Paint the Town… Brown (and Make It Look Good)
There are pre-season preparations… and then there is what unfolded at Lowther Road on Wednesday evening.
While most cricket clubs spend their run-up to April discussing nets, niggles and whether last year’s whites still fit, the Emmbrook & Bearwood Ladies opted for a rather more… decorative approach. Bats were abandoned, balls ignored, and in their place: sandpaper, paintbrushes and a level of determination rarely seen outside a cup final.
Under the watchful eyes of newly appointed hard-ball captain Nicci De Bromhead and softball skipper Lucy Prismall, the squad traded cover drives for coverage—of the varnish variety. Benches were sanded within an inch of their lives, chairs received a glow-up worthy of a home makeover show, and hanging baskets were planted with the kind of care normally reserved for slip catches in a tight chase.
Guiding this transformation from “weathered pavilion chic” to “country garden centre catalogue” were groundsman Matt Moss and the ever-dependable roller maestro Bob Ridgway, who, for once, had to accept that not everything could be flattened into submission.
The result? Lowther Road now looks less like it’s survived a long English winter and more like it’s ready to host one.
Of course, beneath the paint-splattered camaraderie lies serious cricketing intent. The Ladies head into the new season fielding two sides: a traditional hard-ball team for those who enjoy the classic contest, and a softball setup that promises entertainment, energy, and just enough chaos to keep spectators on their toes. Two formats, multiple teams, and no shortage of enthusiasm.
The action begins on the road at Yateley on 26 April, before the home faithful get their first glimpse of the revitalised surroundings (and, presumably, the freshly painted seating) against Wokingham on Sunday 3 May. For those who prefer their cricket served midweek, a Thursday evening clash with Crowthorne & Crown Wood ensures there’s no easing gently into the season.
And if all this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, the Ladies are actively recruiting. Age, experience, and ability are very much optional; enthusiasm is not. Prospective players are warmly encouraged to head down to Lowther Road, take in a game, and perhaps test the structural integrity of those newly painted benches. The bar, it should be noted, will be open—purely for hydration purposes, of course.
Alternatively, enquiries can be made via ladies@emmbrookandbearwood..co.uk
Paint may dry, bu
t this season promises anything but.
