Archive - Thursday, 1 May 2003


Find by date

Other ways to search

Also look for

Never miss anything again. Sign up for our RSS news feeds and Newsletters.

Long established cricket club looking to the future

CIRENCESTER CC was founded in 1842 and a number of historians firmly believe that Cirencester was the birthplace of cricket in the Cotswolds.

There is no doubt that, even if it is not the oldest, it is certainly one of the longest standing clubs in Gloucestershire and has now been playing on the same beautiful ground in Cirencester Park for over 160 years.

Cirencester has a long cricketing tradition with one of England's pre-war greats, Wally Hammond, educated at the local Grammar School.

Another Gloucestershire and England star from the same era, Charlie Barnett, ran a fishmongers' shop for many years in what is now 'East' in the West Market Place.

In the August of 1879, Cirencester Park hosted a County match between Gloucestershire and Surrey when the incomparable W G Grace took 15 wickets for 116 for the home county.

The Cirencester club itself has a splendid history and, for much of its life, the club's First XI has played at a very high level.

In recent years, though, playing fortunes have declined while the ancient clubhouse has fallen into poor repair.

However, the club is now totally focused on looking forward rather than into the past and a spirit of revival to build a broad-based, vibrant and successful future is now in full swing.

Over the past couple of years, the club has put in place a revitalised committee that is looking to involve a wider community in both its on and off-the-field activities.

Under the highly skilled stewardship of young groundsman Dan Robbins and with excellent support from Lord Apsley and the Bathurst Estate, the ground is looking superb and in better shape than for many years.

The long, dry, warm spring should mean that early season wickets are hard and much faster than usual.

Club members are working hard to maintain the fabric of the clubhouse and a major project has been launched to restore and redevelop it to meet the requirements of such a large and vibrant club.

Pre-season activity both on and off the field has been underway for some months.

The club is planning for a record number of young cricketers to beat last year's 78 youngsters, both girls - who are very welcome - and boys.

An improved coaching and team management structure has been put in place, a much larger programme of matches has been arranged for all age groups and new practice and playing equipment has been acquired.

Last season, the U15s finished joint top of the Cotswold league - as did the U14s - while in the County Cup they lost to a very strong Cheltenham side in the second round.

The U13s won the Cotswold League, finished runners-up in the County Cup and lost in a close game in the final of the Poulton six-a-side tournament.

And the U11s finished joint top of the Cotswold League, which was very creditable as it was the coaches' policy to enable as many players as possible to have a game.

This season's objective for the juniors is to improve on this fine performance and extend this success into senior sides.

Both First and Second XIs are looking to stop their run of relegation and, hopefully, start to bounce back up the pyramid.

The Third XI had its most successful season ever in 2002 and the key role played in this by some of the younger players generates great hope that the club's successful youth programme will start to make a significant contribution to the regeneration of senior cricket in 2003.

To optimise the chances of senior success, external coaches are being engaged for some practice sessions to provide players with the maximum opportunity of improving their game.

After many years without proper practice facilities, generous support from local organisations and the England and Wales Cricket Board means that the club starts the 2003 season with two semi-permanent artificial surface nets and a portable net for use on the square.

The club has five qualified coaches, two of whom are aged under 19 and graduates of the youth programme, who wish to help local youngsters as well as make a significant contribution on the field.

With three competitive Saturday teams, a friendly team on Sundays, an evening league team and the very large junior section, Cirencester CC welcomes new players, both young and experienced.

The club also needs help on the field with umpiring and scoring and off the field in other ways. The clubhouse is open to all every Saturday afternoon and many Sunday afternoons and weekday evenings throughout the summer.

There is no more idyllic setting to watch cricket than Cirencester Park and the club invites visitors to come along and enjoy it. The massed ranks of the juniors practising on Sunday mornings is a fine sight.

If anyone would like to join Cirencester CC or help in any way, please go to www.cirencestercricketclub.co.uk/contact (which provides the contact details of all club officials) or phone club chairman Brian Hudson on 01285 653762.