2026 proved to be another successful and memorable season for Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club’s senior men’s sides, with more silverware and further progress made across the club.
The 1st team enjoyed an excellent campaign, securing promotion to Division 1 with a game to spare after a strong and consistent season. Promotion had been one of the club’s main aims for the past three years, so to finally achieve it was a fantastic accomplishment and something everyone involved with the club can be extremely proud of.
There was also silverware to celebrate in July, as the 1st team lifted the Bradford Cricket League T20 Group B trophy, a trophy the club has never won previously.
The 2nd team, having earned promotion in 2025, consolidated their place at the higher level with a 9th place finish. As a result, Hunslet Nelson will head into 2027 with both first and second team competing in the second tier of the Bradford Cricket League, another significant milestone for the club.
It highlights just how much progress has been made in a relatively short space of time.
Only a few years ago, the 1st team were battling for survival in Division 2, while the 2nd team were competing in Division 3. Since then, the club has continued to move forward each season both on and off the field.
There were several outstanding individual performances throughout the season. Sam Thewlis and Ibrar Younis played major roles in the 1st team’s promotion campaign, with both taking more than 50 league wickets apiece while also contributing important runs with the bat.
Overseas player Luke Ajani also had an outstanding year, scoring 1,061 runs across all competitions and playing a key part in the team’s success.
The club continues to grow and move in the right direction. With two promotions and three trophies secured over the past three seasons, there is plenty to be proud of at Gipsy Lane.
Attention now turns to 2027, with the hope of building on that progress and making it another season to remember for Hunslet Nelson.
The summer of 2026 will be remembered as a landmark season for Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club’s women and girls, with record participation and outstanding achievements.
The junior girls’ section has flourished, with a fun atmosphere at every training session and the club’s first girls-only match held at Gipsy Lane.
The club’s commitment to developing girls’ cricket has been clear all summer — the all-female coaching team have supported more young players to discover a love for the sport. Parents have praised the supportive and fun environment, and the girls themselves have shown huge improvements in confidence, teamwork, and skill as well as forming new friendships.
The HNCC women’s team has enjoyed one of its most successful summers yet.
The Leeds East Division 1 softball festival proved to be a tough day as Nelson only had seven players due to injury. This did not dampen the true determination of the team who were narrowly defeated in the final by 13 runs.
The team came back strong from this experience and went on to secure the league title for the first time, ending 15.5 points clear of second place.
Their progress has inspired younger girls and strengthened the pathway from junior cricket into the senior game.
Looking forward to next year the club are continuing to grow the women’s section by introducing hardball, and they would love to welcome more ladies to join the team and grow women’s cricket at Hunslet Nelson.
The combined success of the women’s team and the girls’ programme has created real momentum at Hunslet Nelson. The club is committed to keeping that energy going through winter and into the 2027 season by continuing to grow opportunities for female players of all ages.
Indoor training begins on Sunday 8 November and all players, new and returning, are invited:
– Girls (softball) up to age 13: 9am–10am
– Women and girls aged 14+ (softball and hardball): 10am–11am
Sessions are fun, friendly, and perfect for developing skills ahead of the 2027 season. No equipment is needed. Just turn up and give it a go.
If you’d like more information, please get in touch at hunsletnelsoncc@gmail.com
This post was written by Alastair Finn and Lynsey Ryder
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