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The Blaze batter set up her business Versatail following success at the 2024 PCA Futures Awards.
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Having claimed top prize at the PCA Futures Awards, in association with Lodders in 2024, Marie Kelly is encouraging others to apply this year after setting up her own business.
Versatail is a cap and hat brand for women with all hair types created by The Blaze batter encompassing magnets making it easy to take on and off no matter how you want to wear your hair.
The 29-year-old claimed a trophy and £3,000 prize money after winning the Overall accolade and the Business Impact category at the presentation day held at Lodders office in Birmingham, which she gladly invested straight back into the business.
“The initial prize money went into protecting the brand and my intellectual property. It means if I can partner with an Addidas, Nike or Castore, I’m legally protected and that’s fundamental to the business, having Lodders on board helping me with that was really beneficial.”
Kelly jokes she’s probably measured the size of every woman’s head that she knows in order to make the caps fit for purpose and has been testing them out on her Blaze teammates.
PCA VIDEO
Futures Month: Kelly's Versatail Venture
The Blaze batter set up her business Versatail following success at the 2024 PCA Futures Awards.
“I’ve been annoying the Blaze girls coming in with different prototypes, I’ve got them running with them on and doing some fielding and I’ve been asking questions about the fabric and the fit. I want my sizing guide to work for all women’s head sizes so I’ve been really appreciative of their support and staying patient with me through the process.”
Having suffered a few injuries throughout 2025, Kelly admits that doing work towards her new business has given her a purpose outside of cricket and hopes that the product can impact women’s cricketers in a positive manner.
“It’s been a breakaway from cricket, something else to think about when I get home instead of just cricket all the time. It’s given me good enjoyment and I’ve not been stressed by the process. I’ve been conscious of it not affecting my cricket journey and just enjoying the creativity, I used to enjoy art and design growing up, so it’s given me an outlet to do that as well.”
Kelly’s former PCA Personal Development Manager, Sophie Connor, convinced her to sign up for the Awards and despite feeling nervous when presenting, she enjoyed the process.
“I’m really glad she (Sophie Connor) persuaded me to do it. The whole day was brilliant, it was daunting when I got up to speak, I was way more nervous than anything in cricket but Lodders were great with the support and seeing that other people liked my idea and wanted to help, gave me a lot of confidence.”
Getting caps that fit and specifically caps that fit for different hair types has long been an issue in the women’s game. Kelly wanted to make a different product that could support all women and their cap wearing needs.
“You can wear your hair up or in any position with the magnets at the back. Most caps are too big for women, if you want to go and bowl you can easily take this hat off and hand it to the umpire. It’s made of recycled cotton too so it’s sustainable, I wanted to give girls something where they don’t have to compromise on functionality and it’s actually stylish.”
The 2025 PCA Futures Awards in association with Lodders has an increased total prize pot of £10,000 and Kelly wants other players to sign up to the initiative if they have been exploring their personal development.
“Just go for it, you might just get something out the day. I went in with very little expectations, I thought just being at the day and meeting people would be a cool experience and then to win it was over my expectations, things like networking are really helpful for whatever field you want to go into, cricket or beyond.”
The right-handed batter spoke to the PCA as part of the new initiative Futures Month, which enables the PCA to explore in depth stories of members that have been successful off the pitch and celebrate those members past or present trying to better themselves through their personal development.
Kelly’s success with awards ceremonies has continued winning the prestigious University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) Sports Entrepreneur Competition for 2025 and a further £50,000 prize money towards her business.
There is still time to sign up to the PCA Futures Awards in association with Lodders this year, applications close Friday 14 November.
Futures Month encompasses two flagship events with the PCA Futures Conference in association with GEDU and the PCA Futures Awards in association with Lodders.
Learn more about PCA Futures Awards and sign up by clicking here.
