Kemsing Cricket Club is a traditional family club at the heart of the community with over 200 members. It was founded more than 100 years ago and the club is now one of the best village teams in the West Kent area.
They proudly provide opportunities for all ages and abilities, from under 5 to 75! They have five senior teams, including a very popular women’s softball team, seven junior teams from 9 – 15 years and participate in 10 different leagues and competitions throughout Kent every season.
The club have steadily improved playing standards over the last five years, which clearly shows in the 2024 league rankings, with five of this year’s 1st XI squad being juniors at Kemsing and the ever-expanding and improving Colts Section is the club’s crowning achievement for our volunteers and many of our sponsors.
A fast-growing and increasingly successful ladies section has been an important step for the future of the club, this continues to deepen ties to the local community. The doors remain open to players of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities.
Kemsing Colts
The club are incredibly proud to have 17 Kemsing Colts playing at district level, but without the necessary upgrades to the Club offering, attracting and retaining future talent will become more difficult with the larger Sevenoaks clubs absorbing the majority of the intake.
Kemsing would love to be able to develop these players even further to County level and they strongly feel it is in everyone’s interest to maintain smaller clubs to promote competition, choice and diversity. A key aim is to keep young players in the sport and support their journey into a lifetime of enjoying adult cricket.
Women and girls cricket
As a club Kemsing are committed to supporting women and girls in cricket. Established in 2021, the Kemsing Belles Softball team has grown not only in numbers but in confidence and skill too. Part of the Kent Women’s Softball Cricket League for 2024, the team took part in both competitive and friendly local festivals and single match fixtures. The focus is on fitness and fun, no judgement, and no pressure to play in the matches if you don’t want to, the softball game is for absolutely everyone from 12 upwards, regardless of skill level, fitness or age.
In the junior section, girls and boys play as equals, starting with softball and moving to hardball at 11. In the last two years there has been a significant increase in girls joining the junior section through ties with other local sports teams and schools and they very much hope that a full girls section could be created within the next two years.
Having both a women’s softball team as well as the traditional hardball format ensures there is a route to support the continuation of sport into adulthood. Initiatives focusing on encouraging women and girls to take up the sport, providing them with quality coaching and facilities, and to create a sustainable and inclusive environment where cricket can flourish, are all part Kemsing’s development plan.
Development plan 2025
To maintain and improve their current standards, Kemsing Cricket Club urgently needs an all-weather outdoor practice facility. Their existing grass square is deteriorating due to the growing number of players and increased match demands. Without a dedicated training facility, they are unable to offer hardball coaching or small group development sessions, limiting the ability to develop players, especially juniors. This lack of year-round training has led to the loss of talent in the past.
The installation of nets will provide increased training and social opportunities for both players and non-members. Players will have access to the facility during school holidays, weekends, and after school, helping to increase activity levels, playing time, and confidence.
Once the club’s target for the nets is achieved, they will look to action their ambitious five year development plan.
- You can help Kemsing Cricket Club by visiting their crowdfunding page at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kemsing-cc-nets-project or by scaning the QR code below.
