Gunnersbury Women’s Cricket Club is celebrating a remarkable milestone this year: its centenary. A gathering at Ealing Cricket Club’s second-team ground on the evening of May 14, 2025, will commemorate 100 years since the club was formed, making it one of the oldest and most significant women’s cricket clubs in the UK.
In 1925, a small group of women gathered at the then Norland Park School ground, a location now part of Ealing CC, to form a cricket club. At the time, cricket for women was not widely accepted, with many in the Victorian era attempting to stamp out the sport for women altogether. This bold move to create Gunnersbury was a pioneering act in a male-dominated world, and it sparked a movement that would change women’s cricket forever.
In its first season, the club played just two matches, but by 1926, the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA) was formed, marking the beginning of organized women’s cricket on a national level. Gunnersbury played a significant role in the growth of women’s cricket, with nine of the 27 players on England’s first overseas tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1934-35 coming from Gunnersbury.
Today, Gunnersbury is the first independent women’s cricket club in the UK, and possibly the world, to reach its centenary. Despite challenges that have caused other clubs to falter, Gunnersbury continues to thrive. With three XIs, 45 members, and a strong junior pathway developed in collaboration with Highgate Cricket Club, Gunnersbury has remained true to its independent roots. Though the club has been based at Old Elizabethans Cricket Club in Barnet since 2023, it has never abandoned its legacy or name.
One key to the club’s longevity has been its commitment to being a women-only space. As Suzi James, chair of the centenary committee, explains, the independence of Gunnersbury has drawn players who seek a dedicated women’s cricket environment free from the distractions and inequities often found in mixed-gender clubs. The club’s independence has, at times, led to struggles with finding suitable grounds, but its resilience has paid off.
The club’s history includes many achievements, including the notable involvement of England captains such as Molly Hide, Cecilia Robinson, Mary Duggan, and Charlotte Edwards. The oldest living member of Gunnersbury, 93-year-old Anne Sanders, played for England in 11 Tests between 1954 and 1969.
However, the celebration of this historic achievement is also tinged with sadness. Suzi James, a trans woman and key figure in the club, announced that she would not participate in the centenary events following the ECB’s recent ban on transgender women in recreational women’s cricket. Despite the support of her teammates, James expressed feeling disconnected from the club due to this exclusion.
Looking ahead, Gunnersbury’s centenary celebrations include a special match at Lord’s against MCC on August 8, as well as a special presentation from the England and Wales Cricket Board during the England v India match on July 19. In recognition of this significant anniversary, the club has designed a special centenary kit that pays homage to its history, featuring shirt side panels emblazoned with the names of former club stalwarts.
As Gunnersbury Women’s Cricket Club celebrates 100 years, its achievements reflect the resilience and determination of the women who have contributed to its legacy. Though the landscape for women’s cricket has evolved over the decades, Gunnersbury remains a beacon of pride and progress, ensuring the history of these trailblazing women is never forgotten.
