09/10/2026
Former England international Bev Nicholson to chair Women’s Premier League Management Team as YW&GCL clubs choose to join together for 2027
Yorkshire Premier League North (YPLN) is delighted to announce that all five clubs in the Yorkshire Women’s & Girls Cricket League (YW&GCL) have chosen to join its Women’s Premier League for the 2027 season.
Sessay Emeralds, Sheffield Collegiate, Saxton Ladies, Wrenthorpe Ladies and Doncaster Town Women will join an already successful Women’s Premier League, whose existing clubs have helped establish a strong and competitive women’s cricket programme within YPLN.
Their arrival brings further playing strength, a proud history of developing talent and a prime opportunity for incoming and existing clubs to build on that success together.
Arguably one of the strongest women’s cricket leagues, the YW&GCL joins a respected and established league organisation with the administrative strength and ambition to support continued growth.
The five clubs have chosen to take this step collectively, preserving the competitive relationships and high standard of cricket they have worked hard to develop. Following their successful T20 collaboration with YPLN in 2026, the move extends that partnership to longer-format cricket and brings the 40-over game into the YPLN Women’s Premier League.
YPLN’s newly created Women’s Premier League Management Team will be chaired by former England international Bev Nicholson. Her experience of representing England brings a valuable perspective to the role, placing knowledge of the game at its highest level at the heart of preparations for this new chapter.
The Management Team is continuing to develop the structure for the 2027 Premier League and the ever-growing softball divisions, with further details to follow once arrangements are finalised.
Bev Nicholson, Chair of the YPLN Women’s Premier League Management Team, said:
“The Women’s Premier League already has strong clubs, talented players and much to celebrate. Welcoming these five clubs gives us a tremendous opportunity to build on those foundations and create an even stronger competition together.
“I would particularly like to thank Alice Johnson and the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation team for all the work they have put into getting the YPLN Women’s Premier League off the ground. Their commitment and support have been instrumental in establishing the competition and creating the foundations on which we can now build.
“Our Management Team wants to support cricket at every level, from players enjoying their first experience of softball to those competing in the Premier League. There is a great deal of experience and enthusiasm across our clubs, and I am excited about what we can achieve together.”
Each of the five incoming clubs brings something distinctive:
• Sessay Emeralds have roots in women’s cricket stretching back to the mid-1970s. Reformed in 2014, they have achieved national junior titles, repeated appearances in the latter stages of the senior National Club T20 competition and six Yorkshire league titles. They join as the 2026 league and County T20 Cup champions.
• Sheffield Collegiate have progressed rapidly since launching women’s softball cricket in 2019, developing senior and junior teams. Their women’s first XI finished runners-up in both the 2026 40-over league and County T20 Cup, with a strong contingent of junior pathway players.
• Saxton Ladies, established in 2014, have built a successful side combining experienced cricketers with talented county age-group players. Their record includes a young player winning the national ‘THE 1’ competition in 2022.
• Wrenthorpe Ladies bring decades of commitment to girls’ and women’s cricket, with more than 70 players progressing into representative cricket. Their tradition of player development has included welcoming internationals Beth Mooney and Aaliyah Alleyne to mentor younger players.
• Doncaster Town Women have grown from beginners to South Yorkshire champions and established YW&GCL competitors. The 2026 County T20 Plate winners continue to expand opportunities through women’s hardball, softball and junior cricket.
Peter Watson, Chair of the YW&GCL, said:
“We are delighted to announce that all teams currently in the Yorkshire Women and Girls Cricket League (YW&GCL) have chosen to join the Yorkshire Premier League North (YPLN) family for the 2027 season.
“Following a short format (T20) collaboration with the YPLN in 2026, we are confident that this is the right time for YW&GCL clubs to take this next step together of playing long format cricket within the YPLN pyramid too.
“YPLN provides an excellent administrative structure, significant opportunities for growth within the women’s game, and importantly it delivers the introduction of the 40 over format to the YPLN Women's Premier League.
“YW&GCL clubs entering the YPLN together guarantees the continuation of both a high standard of play and the genuinely competitive environment which the clubs and their players deserve.”
The combination of YPLN’s existing top clubs and the incoming teams creates huge anticipation around the next stage of the Women’s Premier League, strengthening competition and widening opportunities for women and girls across Yorkshire.
