Somerset Women Secure Tier 1 Status
Somerset County Cricket Club has been selected as one of the eight counties to have secured Tier 1 status ahead of a revamp of the domestic women's game from 2025.
Since 2020, the women’s game in England and Wales has differed from the men’s in that teams have represented regions as opposed to individual counties – with Somerset being a partner of the Western Storm alongside the likes of Glamorgan, Somerset and Gloucestershire.
These regional teams compete in the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and the Twenty20 Charlotte Edwards Cup, with city teams competing in The Hundred, and the counties competing in the Women's Twenty20 Cup.
Under plans for 2025, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that counties would be invited to take over and rebrand one of the existing teams, with those eight securing tier one status to compete in women’s T20 and 50 over competitions going forwards.
These professional sides would benefit from investment of £4m to £5m a year from the ECB through to 2028.
The remaining counties - and National Counties such as Cumbria, Cornwall and Wiltshire – would then be able to fill tiers two and three, comprising of semi-professional and amateur slots, with no relegation or promotion across the initial four year term.
After the applications closed in March, the ECB has now confirmed that Somerset has been chosen as one of the eight counties that will host a professional women’s team alongside Durham, Essex, Hampshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Warwickshire.
Glamorgan and Yorkshire will then take tier one status from 2027 when it expands to ten teams, with the aim being to expand further to twelve teams by 2029.
“We are delighted to have been given the opportunity by the ECB to play a leading role in the growth of women’s cricket,” Somerset CCC Chief Executive, Gordon Hollins said. “I am extremely proud of all the staff at Somerset CCC, past and present, who have done so much to promote and develop women’s cricket over several years. I would also like to thank the Executive Team who worked so hard to compile our submission earlier this year.
“The growth of the women’s game is an integral pillar within our Club’s strategic plan, as Somerset seeks to inspire the South West through cricket.
“Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Devon, Cornwall, and Wiltshire, all have a critical role to play going forward, as we embark on a journey which ensures the South West is a region that leads the way in the growth of women’s cricket. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with them going forward.
“We will now take time to study the terms of the award before creating a robust implementation plan which will allow the Club to deliver its ambitions in women’s cricket, while maintaining our position at the top table of men’s cricket.
“It is important amidst the excitement, to allow players and coaches, men and women, the opportunity to focus on the season which is now under way.”
Vertu Motors is proud to be front of shirt sponsor for the current Somerset Women’s team, which competes in the Women’s Twenty20 Cup.