ADCA 2025-26: Denmark challenge young players with step up to A-grade as stage is set for six-team competition

The Albany and Districts Cricket Association A-grade competition has received a major boost with Denmark returning to the top flight for the 2025-26 season. The move was made in July at the ADCA annual general meeting, where Denmark Cricket Club flagged its intention to field an A-grade side for the upcoming season. The Magpies have been the standout B-grade side in the past couple of seasons, winning two of the last three premierships. They have not played A-grade since 2019-2020, withdrawing from the top grade at the end of that season. The Magpies, guided by former first grade player Campbell Robertson, will make their highly anticipated return to A-grade as part of a six-team competition. Robertson has been the driving force behind the step up and he said the club might have lost players had they remained in B-grade. “The last four seasons we have had strong results in the B-grade but we have some good young players and a great club dynamic so it’s time for a new challenge,” he 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 played at the top level he 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 so it will be great to face some new challenges,” he said. Reigning premiers Mt Barker will be joined by grand finalists Railways plus Royals, Collingwood Park, Manypeaks and the Magpies in the expanded A-grade competition. The new A-grade season will start on October 18, with the Magpies playing at home against grand finalists the Tigers. The game will be played on synthetic turf at McLean Park. There will be several A-grade games played on synthetic this season, with Turf East under repair early on leaving the competition a ground short. The Magpies will in turn get five home games to start their new campaign, which Robertson said had pros and cons. “The association has been great to allow us to play at home and some of the games would be on a hard wicket anyway,” Robertson said. “But it’s a turf competition and we were looking forward to that.” Denmark will also field both B-grade and C-grade teams this season. Both the B-grade and C-grade competitions remain at seven teams like last season. Narrikup will field a team in both minor grades while the Bulls don’t have a C-grade side but Albany Sharks will go again in their second season to make seven.