After living and playing rounders in Yorkshire, Alice Broad relocated to Manchester with an unwavering passion for the sport. With no rounders teams for her to join, Alice was determined to keep playing and took the initiative to set up a local team. One year later, Alice’s dedication has led to the creation of six rounders teams in Greater Manchester, with plans underway for a league in 2025.
We put some questions to Alice to find out what motivated her, how she actually set up a team from an initial idea, what support she was given along the way and her hopes for the future of rounders in Manchester.
Where does your passion for rounders come from?
Back in 2022 my wife (Dani) and I left the big smoke of Manchester for new pastures and moved to West Yorkshire to be closer to family. With no friends in Yorkshire, I decided I wanted to join a local sports team. After some research the nearest sport I found was a women’s rounders team. I hadn’t played rounders since I left school so I thought it would be good fun. I joined the local team in Eldwick and after the first session I was hooked! Everyone was so friendly and I loved meeting new people and being part of a team sport. I was then introduced into the world of competitive rounders; I had no idea that there were leagues of women playing each other up and down the country.
After playing in the West Yorkshire Rounders League, I realised how much I enjoyed the sport, the people and everything else that goes along with rounders.
Please share what inspired you to set up your own rounders team and what initial steps you took to make your idea a reality?
Unfortunately life in Yorkshire didn’t work out for us so we packed our bags, with my son and heavily pregnant wife and moved back to Manchester. It was so hard saying goodbye to the friends I had made through rounders. My original team, Eldwick, will always hold a special place in my heart (unless we ever play against them that is!).
Back in Manchester I was keen to join another rounders team. After exhausting all avenues to search, I had to accept that there were no teams local to us. Because I wanted to play rounders so much, I came to realise that I would have to set up a new team myself. Dani and I printed 20 flyers and handed them around our local area in Stretford, and we made a few posts on social media to raise awareness. The first session we had 45 women turn up. I couldn’t believe it! The Stretford team grew and grew and after our first competitive game against a mixed gender team, all of the ladies were hooked too.
At this point we wanted to join a league, so I went back on the hunt to find a league who would allow us to take part, again there was nothing in our area. The only option was to create more new teams across Manchester to form our own league. A few ladies from the original Stretford Rounders Team kindly helped by coaching the new teams.
- Mali & Choyce created Swinton.
- Danni Young created Prestwich.
- Dani Broad created Urmston.
- Katie Frost, Hattie Cant and Sunny Rafiq created Hulme. Hulme has folded.
- Rachael Prince created Chorlton.
- Alice Broad (that’s me) created Sale.
From May – July 2024 the Stretford ladies ran the teams; taught the new players the rounders rules, coached the sessions, and supported the players to find a new leader who would take over and run the team moving forward. Without these amazing ladies from the Stretford Rounders Team stepping up to create the new league teams, we wouldn’t have got this far.
By the end of June, it was time for the Stretford ladies to pass over the bat to the chosen leaders of the new teams. Each team had a new captain(s) that would take over the organisation of their team permanently. Again, they had been thrown into the deep end of the world of rounders but have been doing a fantastic job.
Additionally, what were the biggest obstacles you faced, and how did Rounders England support you in overcoming them?
The biggest obstacles are the logistics of setting up a league. Everyone loves playing competitive rounders but the admin and hard work that goes on behind the scenes is overwhelming at times. Luckily, I got support from Rachael Lomas from Rounders England who helped me get 20 women qualified as Level 2 Umpires, ahead of the 2025 league starting.
I’ve also had rounders expert Claire Prendergast from the West Yorkshire Rounders League supporting me by answering the 101 questions that I send to her daily! Without both their help, I don’t think I would have been able to create the league. Thanks as always.
What more can you tell us about the teams and the women that are playing rounders regularly in Manchester?
Currently we have six teams with roughly 20 women per team, who are training weekly to get ready for the start of the league. I’m currently working behind the scenes getting all the rules in order.
We have a mini tournament taking place in Manchester on Saturday 14 September which will be the first time all six teams come together. It will be a great opportunity for the women to meet each other and will give them a taste of things to come, ready for 2025 when the league commences.
“It’s been so much fun to rediscover my love of rounders and get some much needed exercise, but even better to meet and get to know the lovely women I play with. We have a laugh and are really supportive of each other.” Swinton Rounders Team
“I feel so lucky to have joined this amazing group of women and it’s given me far more than I ever could have imagined. Every week we have such a laugh – it’s the perfect way to get the body and mind moving and a bonus to be connecting with like minded women. Go Urmston Mad Batters.”
“I would like to mention my wife Dani. I may be the face of the league but she is certainly the brains behind it all. Without Dani pushing me to start up the team we wouldn’t be one year down the line with six teams and a league underway. She is such a supportive partner and we make a great team. However, in our house it’s like City v’s United when it comes to rounders. The competition is on! Stretford Rounders Team
