How It All Began: The Broadettes Journey

Let's face it, The Broadettes have become an entity. A gathering of enthusiasts brought together by the love of cricket and one fantastically talented man...

HAHA! Just kidding. I'm talking about this guy of course:

So, how did it all begin? The Stuey love? The combining of womanly forces in their appreciation for all things crickettey? Read on to find out as Jay Geeganage and I take a walk through the past 5 years of Broadette-dom in Q&A form...


Suz asks Jay: Remember the myspace days? Is the myspace Broad page still around?


Jay replies to Suz: haha of course I do. The good times! That's where we initially got in contact too eh? Yes, the myspace Broad page is still up and running, although I hardly update it anymore. It's all about facebook and twitter these days.


Suz says: Brilliant news that the myspace site is still active! Can you give us a link please? For anyone who wants to pay a visit to see where the Broady love all began for the Broadettes. Or, if you were a Broadette way back then you can stop by for a bit of nostalgia! Those were the days eh, Jay? So glad I met you way back then through the hotness of one great cricketing chap.


Okay, next question. Do you remember that ATA Q&A with Stuart Broad where I burned my pizza just so I didn't miss a question?! Did Stuey answer any of your questions, if you recall? That was well fun, from what I remember.


Jay says: Here's the link to the Broadettes Myspace if anyone wants to pay a visit: http://www.myspace.com/stuartbroadofficialfans


Oh yes.. I do remember the ATA Q&A with Broady and you burning the pizza because of the excitement! Had to get up at 4:30am just so I didn't miss the live Q&A session! Haha! And yes he did answer one of my questions - which was about something Micheal Vaughan had said about him. Don't remember the question though, sorry. It was how I initially got in contact with Broady; something I won't forget. The Broadettes who joined the Q&A that day are good friends now, which is brilliant!


Suz: Thanks for the link! I didn't know you got up at 4:30 in the morning! Now that's dedication. What fond memories. Anyway, my next question progresses from way back then. When did you start up the Stuart Broad facebook group? And how many admins were a part of this endeavour?


Jay: We started the Stuart Broad Facebook group back in 2008. We had four admins: Clare, Hamshany, Ameera and I, who are still a part of The Broadettes. We got to know each other through other FB Broad groups people had running at that time and realizing we shared the same interests and wanted to promote Stuart, we started the group. We vowed to keep the group going, updating members on the latest news regarding Broad and the England team. So far we have succeeded and we have gained so many members over the years. The support has been amazing!


Suz: How lovely. I know Stuart has an official facebook of his own for fans now. Does the Broadettes facebook still get new followers though? I presume there must be as everyone loves the Broadettes!


So, on from facebook came twitter next! I remember you asking me what the name of the new twitter account should be. I think it was a toss up between BroadyFans08 and Broadettes08 and you went with TheBroadettes8, which totally rocks! What was it like when you realised TheBroadettes8 twitter was being followed by the big guy himself?!


Jay: Amazing! It was the best feeling ever when Stuart followed us! Knowing that the big guy himself was following made us realize we're supporting the right guy. He loves interacting with his fans which shows that he keeps his feet firmly on the ground and is very much normal despite the fame and recognition that comes with being one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment. So it was brilliant knowing that he's making an effort to keep in touch with his fans.


And yeah we still get new followers. Probably because people can express their love for Stuart and how much they appreciate him on there knowing many fans out there would agree with them. It's also one of the best places to get in touch with Broad fans all over the world. Even though Stuart's got an official fan page himself, fans can only comment on pictures and links they put up. In our group, fans can leave wall posts. So posts regarding Broady's appearances on tv shows etc can also be shown.


Suz: So true what you said about The Broadettes facebook group. Fans can connect better on there than they can on his official page. Not saying him having an official page on FB is bad, or anything! lol. It's fab! It's great that he interacts with his fans online a bit.


Talking of which, HOW BLOODY INSANELY PLEASED WERE YOU WHEN YOU SAW THAT STUART WAS FOLLOWING YOUR OWN PERSONAL TWITTER ACCOUNT?!


Jay: I was so much in shock, I couldn't believe my eyes. I kept staring at it for like 5 mins straight, refreshed the page over and over thinking it'll disappear every time I did so but it didn't, haha. He's been amazing over the years. Really sweet to us. So when he started following me, I wasn't surprised of how nice he's being. It was extra special because he started following me without me asking him to do so. I was and still am very happy.


Suz: You deserve it, Jay! You've been his number 1 supporter for years. A long time without actually seeing him in person, so what was it like when you actually did see him play live, was it last Sunday?


Jay: Thank you. That's nice of you to say so. Yeah, I got to see him on May 20th after 5 long years! It was brilliant! I just couldn't believe it. And the fact that he performed so well on that day was the icing on the cake for me. He's a talented lad. A legend in the making in my opinion. Getting to witness the historic moment when he completed the Lord's Test Treble and became the first cricketer to do so after Sir Ian Botham, was amazing! He's going to break many more records in the future. I am certain of it!


Suz: Your confidence in his talent is catching! That's what I love about the Broadettes, it's the spirit of the game, the thrill of supporting the players!


Now that we have The Broadettes blog it's a new venture into supporting this legend in the making. It's so great how all the Broadettes and Stuart Broad fans have come together around the world for their love of the dude himself and cricket!


Thanks so much for participating in this interview with me, Jay. It's been fun reliving The Broadettes progression over the years. And hopefully there will be more to come! You'll be attending Broad's charity game in a few months time, right?


Jay: Yes, I am attending the 6-a-side charity cricket tournament this year held by The Broad Appeal. Liz and Robyn (two of the Broadettes) are also attending. We think it is brilliant that Stuart and his family have put so much effort into raising awareness of MND and raising funds to find a cure for this horrible disease. If anyone would like to know more about The Broad Appeal they can visit the following site: http://www.thebroadappeal.org/


We have to support our boys through thick and thin. We've got to have faith in them. We have an incredible amount of faith in Stuart and so far he has not let us down, and nor will he in the future.


The response to The Broadettes blog has been incredible and it's all thanks to you, Suz! Thank you for starting it up and helping us manage it.


Thank you for asking me to do this Q&A for your blog, Suz. It's been fun reliving all those fond memories over the last 5 years. Cheers! x


Suz: Thank YOU for answering all my questions, Jay! And thank you Broadettes and Broad fans around the world for contributing your support of cricket and Stuart Broad on all the Broadettes social sites!


Lastly, what would a blog post be without a lolcats?

Now THAT is an appeal ;)

Broad Completes Lord's Test Treble & Makes History

by Jay Geeganage

It was not a particularly sunny day at Lord's yesterday as we sat there in the freezing cold, bundled up ready to be entertained by the magnificent England cricket team who are currently No.1 in test match cricket.

Proceedings started off slow during the morning session, but fireworks started to go off right after lunch as Broad bagged 3 more wickets to add up to his already existing eight wicket match haul.

He became the 4th cricketer in the history of cricket to have made a century, obtain a fiver-fer and then complete a 10-wicket match haul at Lord's; Stuart also became the first Englishman after Sir Ian Botham to have done this - to have made it on to all three honours boards at Lord's!

I am so happy that I got to witness this historic moment at Lord's, the home of cricket! What an achievement!

I am so proud of him and I bet you, all the Broad fans out there, are as well! He is, like I always say, a legend in the making! x

Broad’s Seven Wicket Extravaganza

by Jay Geeganage

http://goo.gl/rHjLB

Stuart’s international career has been like a rollercoaster ride huh!? You know how you go up forever and then come down in an instant to go back up again in the next few seconds; that’s what his career has been like. Luckily the ride has mostly been up than down which is what every cricketer or any sportsman can ever dream of.

What a year it’s been for him!! This time last year against Sri Lanka, Stuart was struggling to get wickets by bowling short and was known to be taking the role of the enforcer. Now look at him!

He did not start off Day 1 of the first Test against the West Indies as impressively as one would hope for but as the day progressed, he was hitting the right lengths and creating opportunities; opportunities that were appealing to the batsmen who couldn’t help but nick the ball to the slip fielders :). Before long, he had taken 4 wickets. Didn’t stop him there though as he went to bag a couple more by the end of day’s play.

Broad’s six wicket haul at Lord’s made him the fifth Englishman to feature on the Lord’s honours board for both batting and bowling accomplishments. For those who are wondering when he got a ton – In 2010 (Aug), Stuart made a century (169) against Pakistan to go on the honours board at Lord’s for the first time in his career, surpassing his father Chris Broad’s score of a 162.

As six wickets were not enough *wink*, Stuart went on to bag the wicket of Shannon Gabriel, first ball of Day 2, taking his career best bowling figures up to 7-72 and he’s currently on a hat-trick. Doesn’t stop there, mind you! Whilst all this was happening, he also reached his 150 Test Wicket milestone :)

http://goo.gl/90HjG

What a fantastic day full of excitement for this young lad! Stuart was magnificent on the field. Proud is merely another word that exists to describe my emotions. It has been fantastic to see him grow as a cricketer over the last few years, and long may that continue! He’s proving that pundits and critics who don’t believe in him are wrong. Way to go Broady!

Before signing off, I have to say, we are so proud to call ourselves fans of a cricketer who does his job because he loves it, who strives for improvements regardless of how good he is and who still sticks to his roots and has his feet firmly on the ground despite all the recognition and fame that comes with being the fantastic cricketer he is.

Well done, Broady! x

5 of 5 Stars to Stuart Broad Bowled Over - Review by Jay

From amazon.co.uk

Product Description


'Stuart Broad's magnificent spell of five for thirty-seven in the final and decisive Test against Australia at the Oval won him the man of the match award and proved a major contribution to England regaining the 2009 Ashes. Stuart ended up as England's leading wicket taker in a series which had also shown him to be a highly accomplished batsman.
Stuart is the son of Chris Broad, himself a former England opening batsman in an Ashes winning series, and Stuart has clearly inherited his father's natural ability. In BOWLED OVER - AN ASHES CELEBRATION he refers to a promising cricket career at school, his development as a player at county level with Leicester and Nottingham and to his early games for England. But first and foremost this lavishly illustrated book is devoted to the ultimate and thrilling success of the England team that beat the Australian side. Stuart describes the highs and lows of this, his first Ashes campaign, which ended so triumphantly. His achievements allied to his competitive character and youthful good looks have already made him a hugely popular figure with the cricket public.


About the Author


Stuart Broad was born in 1986. He is the son of former England opening batsman Chris Broad. Stuart was educated at Oakham School before starting his professional cricket career for Leicestershire and then moving to Nottinghamshire. A right-arm seam bowler and a left-handed batsman, Stuart Broad made his England debut in 2007. Broad proved to be an invaluable member of the victorious England 2009 Ashes squad, and he won the Man of the Match award in the decisive fifth Test at the Oval.

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Stuart Broad and Paul Newman have done such an incredible job describing pivotal moments of the 2009 Ashes series. Once you start reading the book, you get lost in the vivid descriptions of those moments. It is very well written. You can just visualize every ball being delivered, the way it spins (in slow motion I should add – yes a little dramatic there), every run being scored, wickets falling OR tail-enders holding on tight to save the team from a defeat against their rivals! IT’S ALL THERE!

My personal favourites were the behind-the-scenes moments described. They are in such great detail adding more drama and tension to the moments. It seems like you are there, literally, like a fly on the wall. These are the moments we as spectators of the game don’t get to experience. We don’t get to see the stress the team and staff experience, or the things they’d do to get their mind off the pressure building up in critical moments. For example, the last few minutes in the Cardiff Test match. The Panesar-Anderson partnership towards the end froze me to my seat, my butt was numb at the end. Not a pretty picture. Apologies.

Anyways, you can relive it all! It’s an awesome read! Well described as I mentioned earlier and a book worth having in your library You also get to know a little bit of how the mind of Stuart Broad works. Need I say more? Are you a cricket fan? Read it. You’ll enjoy it!

Book Review by Jay Geeganage Copyright © 2012

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More reviews to come! Especially after Broady's next book release! :)

Get Broad's 2009 Ashes Book at Amazon

Introducing the Broadettes South Africa correspondent, Broadette...

Ameera

HI! I'm Ameera Conrad; actress, singer, writer, Broadette. There're other things that I do which are slightly less significant, but also a big part of me.

Something that is significant is that I am the SA representative for the Broadettes - so whenever England is down in Cape Town (my hometown) I'm at Newlands spreading some Broady love! The last time they were here, in fact, I got to work in the England WAGs' suite as a hostess, which is why I support the WAGs as much as the players.

My first experience with the English cricket team was way back in 2004, when they toured South Africa. I went to the Johannesburg test (which I think England may have lost?) and lucky me (at the time this would be sarcastic) my ticket was somehow in the middle of the Barmy Army's block. I was surprised, to say the least, and a bit scared. Honestly, I'd been a victim to the anti-England propaganda, and had half expected to be murdered (which, I guess, some of the people who had trekked from England for the tour could also say). Anyway, I found myself sitting behind a gentleman with no other name but 'Cat' written on the back of his England ODI shirt, and he introduced me to the wonders of the English team. Freddie Flintoff, Michael Vaughn, Ashley Giles - all names that I'd come into contact with, having grown up in a family of cricketers - were shown to me through the eyes of an avid supporter. I was hooked. At the end of the test, I thanked Cat for educating me and he gave me his England flag, with cigarette burns in its corner, so that I "would never forget my love for English cricket" and, clearly, I never did.

Since then, I've had the same English flag and it's been to every England game - including the T20 World Cup, where my two best friends and I left school early to see them play (in our horrible, brown school uniforms). I will always support English cricket, and we can all thank Cat for that.

Wanna learn more about me?
@ameeraconrad on twitter