THE Birkenshaw Blue Dogs rounders team was set up by local women who wanted to “do something for us” in a male dominated sporting community.
Today the multi-generational team has more than 25 members, including mothers and daughters - and it shot to the top of its division during its first season. Now the team has landed a kit co-sponsorship boost from Drighlington business, Inspectas Property Compliance.
The rounders team was formed by parents of Birkenshaw Blue Dogs rugby players and other local women. Captain Cat Shepherd-Holland, who recently spoke about the team with Batley and Spen MP Kim Leadbeater at a Rounders England reception in Westminster, said: “We launched last summer after realising that lots of women would love to get involved in something sporting.
“The Blue Dogs do have female rugby teams but we felt rounders was a more inclusive choice for a brand new ladies sporting team - and who doesn’t love rounders?
“What’s been fantastic is how women of all ages and abilities have joined us and how we’re uniting generations - we’ve got a mother and daughter on the team, grandmas, teenagers and people who’ve had little sporting experience in the past. To start with nothing except a small team of amateurs and then win our division during our very first season and exactly a year after our first training session is just incredible and a real testament to the camaraderie, commitment and team spirit of our fabulous players.”
The team’s quest for growth and inclusivity came to the attention of property compliance experts at Inspectas. Formed 10 years ago by asbestos removal specialists Birkenshaw-based Matthew Fahy and colleague Craig Candlish, Inspectas recently moved its 50-strong team into offices on Bradford Road, Drighlington.
Said Matthew: “Being local, I heard about the newly formed Birkenshaw Blue Dogs rounders team and after chatting with colleagues, we agreed we wanted to support their growth and development. We know how hard you have to work to set something up from scratch - that’s exactly what we did with Inspectas - so our hope is that by becoming a co-sponsor of the team’s kit, we’re helping to boost pride in their identity and elevate their profile and visibility as an established team within the West Yorkshire Rounders League.”
He added: “The ladies’ meteoric rise through their very first season is reflective of their grit and their team spirit. We’d like to wish them all the very best of luck as they move into and through division four!”
The Birkenshaw Blue Dogs are seeking new players to benefit from the friendship and physical and mental wellbeing of the sport, as the team continues local league and friendly games, training at Tong High School and playing matches across the region. Cat added: “Rounders was something we didn’t know was missing from our lives and now we’ve found it, the support of sponsors like Inspectas gives us not only the resources but the confidence to keep on going, growing and benefitting from this fantastic sporting community that we’re so excited to discover!”
* For more about joining the Birkenshaw Blue Dogs go to Instagram @birkenshaw_bluedogs_rounders or facebook.com/people/Birkenshaw-Bluedogs-Rounders-Team
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