Former Shepparton Youth Club United cricketer Stacey Lothian is embracing the role after trialling the position behind the non-striker stumps late last season, proving that now more than ever there are opportunities for women to be involved in cricket in the Goulburn Valley.
“It’s fantastic what Cricket Shepparton are doing, they’re doing a great job getting the youth girls comp happening and also branching away from the GMC (Goulburn Murray Cricket) to have that strong competition locally to try recruit more players,” Lothian said.
“I’ll be umpiring community level and potentially some games in the women’s comp too – I’m playing and captaining at Cooma in the GMC this season which helps regarding a conflict of interest there.”
Lothian has long been a trailblazer for women’s cricket in the Goulburn Valley, her records dating back to the 2003-04 summer.
As she has played she’s bared witness to the game’s growth for women and girls and hopes that her latest role within the sport inspires more involvement and encouragement for women to volunteer in the male-dominated field.
“Hopefully it inspires other women to have a go,” she said.
“I’ve found they’re very accepting in the lower grades where they don’t usually have umpires and have to have players fill the role at square leg and such.
“So just being there, they are happy to have you.
“I think it can show that women that feel too old to play can stay involved and shows that it can be done and there is great support from Cricket Shepparton and from the umpires association.”
