Women’s softball cricket has proved to be a big hit at Whitstable Cricket Club.

Sessions started on August 11 and they have been held every Friday since, the last of this summer’s female-only classes taking place this week at the club’s Belmont ground.

Whitstable’s opening evening helped dozens get involved - and even more have since.

Former Kent skipper Dave Fulton, their 2nds captain who is also involved in coaching at Whitstable, said: “We have got girls playing in our junior set-up but we have not got a women’s section.

“I think we had 25 turn out at the first session and, last Friday, there were in excess of 30. They love it. It’s softball cricket.

“We work them hard for an hour - but most have a drink after. This Friday is our last one and then we’ll see where things are at.

“We will see what they want to do with it. It’s exciting.

“A lot of them are parents or partners of players, although some are completely new to the club. It’s all part of growing the club and growing the community.

“There’s a lot of talent.”

Other Kent League clubs, including St Lawrence & Highland Court and neighbours Chestfield, 2023 Kent Women’s softball cricket East League champions, already have established women’s teams in the area.

Fulton said: “St Lawrence have been quite big on women’s cricket for a while now.

“But there’s no point in all the women being at one club - because they then have no one to play against!

“If we can grow our women’s section, that would be important because women’s cricket is growing bigger and bigger.”

Left-arm seam bowler Alexa Stonehouse, 18, has already come through the ranks at Whitstable CC. She was again with Trent Rockets at this year’s Hundred competition.

But Whitstable’s women’s sessions have attracted those slightly older, as well as more youngsters.

“There’s a real mix of ages,” added Fulton. “I’m not saying any of the girls necessarily have aspirations to be the next Alexa Stonehouse.

“Some of them are around their 60s and some are 15 or 16. It’s more social.

“We have music going and different people connect their phones to the speakers each week.

“The atmosphere is fun and lively but there’s some good cricket being developed.”

For the men, a topsy-turvy first campaign back in the Kent League Championship culminated in a seventh-placed finish for skipper Sam Denly’s 1sts’ side.

Fulton reflected: “We wanted to keep the roll going and get promoted again. But between myself and Sam Denly, we accepted we weren’t good enough for that.

“It felt about right where we finished. We did win our first two games - but then lost six on the bounce.

“That was a test of the group and the leadership.

“We knew we were better than the cricket we were playing. But we didn’t panic and we had a few senior ones turn up, which was important.”

While it was a summer of consolidation for the 1sts, the 2nds and 3rds gained promotions, as experienced heads like England over-60s all-rounder John Butterworth and Fulton complemented the efforts of the club’s talented younger generation well.

“He played in the Grey Ashes this year and is still one of the most flexible in the side,” Fulton noted of Butterworth.

“I like to think I set a good example in the 2nds as well.

“We have got a lot of good youngsters. I tend to go at six or seven and only come in if needed.

“As it turned out, that was quite a bit so it was to show I could still play a bit.

“Hopefully, there’s enough in the second-team at some point so that I can retire!”

Whitstable 3rds came top of Division 11 Shepherd.

For the 2nds, runners-up behind Minster 2nds in Division 5 Hurricane, they went up thanks to a play-off Final triumph over second-placed Division 5 Spitfire side Gravesend 2nds at The Mote in August.

Fulton explained: “We had ourselves and Minster at the top of the division. If we didn’t beat them, we knew we might have to settle for second. They chased down our target at their place eight down.

“We said ‘Let’s make sure we have everyone available that Saturday’ and we had pretty much everyone to choose from. It was 35 degrees, which was quite interesting!

“We were probably the better of the sides - no disrespect to Gravesend - and we were just delighted that we managed to get over the line.”

Another success story from the club is that of Jaydn Denly, son of first-team captain Sam, who has now represented Kent at first-team level.