**Denmark Cricket Club Returns to A-Grade Competition for 2025-26 Season**
The Albany and Districts Cricket Association (ADCA) A-grade competition has received a significant boost with the return of Denmark Cricket Club to the top flight for the 2025-26 season. This decision was confirmed in July at the ADCA Annual General Meeting, where Denmark flagged its intention to field an A-grade side for the upcoming season.
The Magpies, Denmark’s cricket team, have been the standout contenders in B-grade over the past couple of years, capturing two of the last three premierships. However, they have not competed in A-grade since the 2019-2020 season, having withdrawn from the top level at the end of that campaign.
Guided by former first-grade player Campbell Robertson, the Magpies are set to make a highly anticipated return as part of a six-team A-grade competition. Robertson has been the driving force behind the club’s move back up and explained the motivation behind the step.
“The last four seasons we have had strong results in B-grade, but we have some good young players and a great club dynamic, so it’s time for a new challenge,” Robertson said. “The young players need experience of A-grade, and I think we could have lost them to other clubs this year if we had stayed put. It will be good to give them a pathway in the sport at their home club.”
Although it has been five years since Denmark last played at the top level, Robertson promised the side would be competitive this season. “I know we weren’t competitive in the last season we played A-grade, and that remains in the memory of a few of the players, but we have spent three seasons being the side being chased. It will be great to face some new challenges,” he added.
The reigning premiers, Mt Barker, will be joined by grand finalists Railways, as well as Royals, Collingwood Park, Manypeaks, and the Magpies, in the expanded six-team A-grade competition.
The new A-grade season is set to begin on October 18, with the Magpies hosting grand finalists the Tigers in their opening match. The game will be played on synthetic turf at McLean Park.
Several A-grade matches will be played on synthetic surfaces this season, due to Turf East being under repair early on, which has temporarily left the competition one ground short. Despite this, Denmark will have the advantage of five home games to start their campaign. Robertson acknowledged the pros and cons of this arrangement.
“The association has been great to allow us to play at home, and some of the games would be on a hard wicket anyway,” he said. “But it’s a turf competition, and we were looking forward to that.”
In addition to their A-grade return, Denmark will field both B-grade and C-grade teams this season.
The B-grade and C-grade competitions will each feature seven teams, as they did last season. Narrikup will field a team in both minor grades, while the Bulls will not have a C-grade side this season. Meanwhile, Albany Sharks will enter their second season, maintaining the seven-team lineup.
The upcoming season promises exciting cricket action across all grades, with Denmark’s return to A-grade adding a fresh dynamic to the competition.
https://thewest.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/adca-2025-26-denmark-challenge-young-players-with-step-up-to-a-grade-as-stage-is-set-for-six-team-competition-c-20150459