Taunton School has announced that its elite partnership with women’s cricket team Western Storm has been agreed for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Western Storm are the current champions of the Kia Super League and will be looking to retain their title when the league begins next month.
The school is keen to develop and inspire young female cricketers with this sponsorship, with both organisations co-running community projects such as training camps.
Jodie Dibble, a former Taunton pupil and England player, played for Western Storm during their successful reign last year.
Pete Sanderson, director of cricket at Taunton, said: “This is really exciting for Taunton School. The number of girls wanting to play cricket has grown significantly in recent years and Western Storm provide excellent role models for our young talent to aspire to.”
Hayley Mortimer, director of sport at the school, said: “Our partnership with Western Storm greatly enhances the school’s sports offering and seeing our female cricketers flourish as they have over the past year has been hugely encouraging for the sport.”
Lee Glaser, headmaster of Taunton School, said: “We are privileged to continue to sponsor this elite team following their national success last year. Taunton School is flying the flag for female participation in previously male dominated sports and we are immensely proud of that.”
Bethan Collier, a Year 12 pupil, said about cricket at Taunton School: “I love cricket here. It’s more of a community, we get to play two or three times a week at all different levels and there is no judgment. We have amazing coaches and have specialist opportunities to develop. I think it is really good that we sponsor Western Storm because it gives us something to look up to. Normally we only see men’s cricket on the TV so it feels more relevant to us.”
The school recently hosted the finals for the U15s Girls Lady Taverners cricket competition, which also involved King Edwards, Bath, and Wellington School. It will also host both the U13 and U15 Chance to Compete Regional Finals for the next two years, along with the South West and Wales Regional Women’s Cricket Coaching Conference, the England and Wales Cricket Board regional festival and a series of Somerset Cricket Board matches.