Fleur Orford.
Fleur Orford has just turned 17 and is cricket mad. She joined Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club in 2018 after playing for her school team, and is now going from strength to strength in the women’s softball and hardball teams. Like many, she desperately missed her cricket during lockdown and wanted to fill the gap. So the opportunity to do the umpire stage 2 qualification online came at just the right time
“It just seemed like a really good chance to broaden my knowledge of cricket, and obviously because the club offered it to us, it seemed like something I should try and get a new skill.”
Fleur is full of praise for the mentors on the course who made the sessions very interactive. She said it really opened her eyes
“You learn the laws of cricket in a lot of detail, it’s just amazing how one word will change everything, for example just the word ‘wilful’ will change the whole decision. It makes me realise how skilled the higher level umpires really are!”
Although Fleur says she is the youngest ‘by quite a way’, she has been warmly welcomed within the umpire networks. She is now keen to get some match experience, and will initially be offering her services for Yorkshire U11s and U13s girls matches.
Good luck Fleur!
You can read more from our Women & Girls' cricket blog - Shining the Light, by clicking HERE.
Story by Katie Stewart
k.stewart@yorkshirecb.com
@katieycb
Please contact Katie with your stories!