When Sophie Luff first played for Somerset back in 2009, little did she think that 15 years later she would be announced as the club’s first full-time professional cricketer - writes Richard Walsh.

"It’s an unbelievable feeling – it’s a bit of a full circle moment because when I first appeared for the county, playing cricket full-time just wasn’t an option.

"Having been born and grown up and played locally, I feel part of the set-up, so to be representing Somerset as a fully professional player is really exciting."

Since making her Somerset debut, Sophie has spent many years as a schools coach, involved with Chance to Shine and other initiatives, as well as playing for her home county, Western Storm and more recently The 100.

In fact, she has been one of the leading lights in the development of women’s cricket in recent years.

"The way the women’s game has moved forward is a massive opportunity for those young girls just starting out and for our Pathway players.

"The opportunity to sign as a professional cricketer aged 18 or 19 is now an option and there is a lot of support and resources available to them."

Sophie went on: "Somerset have been brilliant – bidding for us in the first place and making sure that we are here and have settled in really nicely, and Jamie Cox coming in as CEO has been right behind us.

"As Western Storm, we didn’t have a real home, we were just a group of cricket players, a cricket team, whilst here at Somerset County Cricket Club, we are a part of a huge organisation which the girls are getting to appreciate.

"Somerset is home to me – and there’s a feeling when I drive through the gates here, especially on a match day, whether I’m coming to play or commentate on the live stream.

"It’s a very welcoming place to play and train and I think that the girls have all felt that in the first couple of weeks."

So what does being a full-time professional mean?

"We train four days a week and at this time of year there is a lot of physical preparation.

"The mornings are spent in the gym or out running and a lot of our skill time is in the afternoons, so I feel we are getting a good balance.

"We have got a lot of young players and we need to up-skill them quickly, so they are getting a lot of contact time.

"Even though it’s only November and the new season is still a way off, it is important that we start now and we are putting in a lot of resources.

"We will go into a much more skills-based period this side of Christmas with lots of balls being bowled and hit and then we will ramp it up after the break when it will be scenario-based to make sure that the girls are attuned to the game.

"I feel it’s a real privilege to turn up to work every day and do something that you absolutely love, I still can’t quite get used to it."

The T20 Blast fixtures will soon be out which is exciting because we will know who and when we are playing and that will create a lot of energy.

Hopefully, we will hit the ground running when the season starts.

"I will be nervous – I always am playing here as a home girl and always feel very well supported but that also adds a little extra pressure.

"I am really excited and want to get out there and wear the Wyvern out on the pitch as well."

Sophie added: "I feel like I have seen it all having come from amateur to professional and it’s been great to have played an active part in the journey of women’s cricket."