Parents' 20-year fight for professional women's cricket team
Parents who campaigned for Essex County Cricket Club to create a professional women's side said they battled stereotypes to make the dream a reality.
Dave and Pam Letch wanted better opportunities for females in the sport after their daughter first picked up a bat aged nine.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) created a top tier for women's cricket in 2025, and Essex joined, holding its first home game in Chelmsford on Sunday.
Mr Letch said it took "a lot of pushing, a lot of persuading and a lot of sweat and tears" over two decades.
The couple, from Billericay, founded Essex's women's set-up 20 years ago, but have continued to urge the club to create a professional side.
It was an idea Mr Letch came up with while coaching cricket in schools.
"I could see the ability of a lot of girls in the schools, and we pushed our daughter to play at as high a level as she could," he said.
"At that time, Essex really didn't have their own set-up. The women were playing as East Anglia, rather than Essex."
The professional women's game was expanded by the ECB in 2025 with the creation of three tiers.
It was hoped the move would see an 80% increase in the number of professional female players by 2029.
Mr Letch said he and his wife took it upon themselves to become a "driving force" for growth in Essex, but it did not come easily.
"The biggest challenges were getting females involved with the coaching system," he explained.
"Also, understanding females could play the game, that they were athletically able to play the game from a young age.
"It was difficult trying to get it through to people."
Mrs Letch said they had encountered many men who "don't accept what females can do" in sport.
The couple hoped Essex Women would inspire the next generation of female cricketers.
Mr Letch said: "Now there's a pathway from a nine-year-old playing club cricket to England women.
"That was one of the hardest things years ago for people to accept, that there was a pathway for them to follow."
Both Mr and Mrs Letch said watching the side play for the first time filled them with pride.
Mrs Letch said it was "wonderful", with her husband adding: "We never thought there would be a professional game for the girls, so it's great there now is."
Dan Feist, Essex County Cricket Club chief executive, thanked Mr and Mrs Letch after what he branded an "historic week" for the club.
He said the side's first home match of the season was "a very special occasion".
"We are extremely grateful to Dave and Pam Letch for all their hard work when initially setting up the women's team all those years ago," Mr Feist said.
"The future is very exciting for the Essex Women's team."
Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
One-Day Cup games launch new era of women's domestic cricket
Essex Women announce first professional players
ECB names counties to host women's teams from 2025
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