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  About Elford Cricket Club
Page last updated: August 25, 2014 17:44
 

About Us

Elford Cricket Club is situated 4 miles north of Tamworth in the south Staffordshire countryside. Established in 1950, the club has been playing competitive league cricket since the early 90s when it joined the Burton & District Cricket League. The club also has a side in the Sunday Lichfield League. 

 The 1999 saw the construction of a new Tool shed and Score box as well as the refurbishment of the outside of the existing pavilion. The introduction of the building has brought far more of a presence to the club as well as smarting up the whole cricketing arena. However the 2000 season saw Elford's greatest achievements on the field as the 1st XI were promoted alongside the Sunday XI. The newly formed Wednesday side won the Midweek league 2 without even losing a game! The 2001 season however was a little more down to earth as the all the sides consolidated their positions.

The 2003 saw the first team finally relise their potential as they won promotion to the premier league, as Division 1 runners up to Barton.

Elford Records

Club Information

Formation of Present Club 
1950
Colours
Navy / Sky / Navy
Ground
Brickhouse Lane, Elford
Joined Burton League
1996 (Reformation)
Badge
Oak Tree & Eel
President
- - -
Chairman
Paul Bozward
Treasurer
Dave Philpott
Groundsman
Rob Drabble
Secretary
Clare Higgins
Saturday 1st XI
Steve Prichard
Saturday 2nd XI
Rob Drabble
Sunday XI
Sam Leech

League Positions

YEAR

SATURDAY 1STS

SATURDAY 2NDS

SUNDAY XI

2013

(WCL5) - 5th

(WCL 5a) -  9th

(LDCL 2) - 1st (C)

2012

(WCL6) - 3rd (P)

(WCL 6a) -  1st (C)

(LDCL 3) - 2nd (P)

2011

(WCL6) - 4th

(WCL 6a) -  9th

(LDCL 3) - 8th

2010

(WCL5) - 10th (R)

(WCL 5a) -  9th (R)

(LDCL 4) - 2nd (P)

2009

(WCL4) - 10th (R)

(WCL 4a) -  9th (R)

(LDCL 4) - 6th

2008

(WCL3) - 10th (R)

(WCL 3a) -  10th (R)

(LDCL 4) - 6th

2007

(WCL3) - 3rd

(WCL 3a) -  8th

(LDCL 3) - 7th (R)

2006

(WCL2) - 11th (R)

(WCL 2a) -  12th (R)

(LDCL 3) - 4th

2005

(BDCL Prem) - 9th

(BDCL 2) -  10th

(LDCL 3) - 4th

2004

(BDCL Prem) - 9th

(BDCL 3) -  11th

(LDCL 2) - 8th (R)

2003

(BDCL 1) - 2nd (P)

(BDCL 3) -  6th

(LDCL 2) - 6th

2002

(BDCL 1) - 4th

(BDCL 3) -  8th

(LDCL 2) - 8th

2001

(BDCL 1) - 7th

(BDCL 3) - 7th

(LDCL 2) - 5th

2000

(BDCL 2) - 4th (P)

(BDCL 3) - 10th

(LDCL 3) - 2nd (P)

1999

(BDCL 2) - 9th

(BDCL 3) - 10th

(LDCL 3) - 6th

1998

(BDCL 2) - 6th

(BDCL 3) - 8th

(LDCL 2) - 7th (R) 

1997

(BDCL 2) - 4th

(BDCL 3) - 10th

(LDCL 1) - 9th (R)

1996

(BDCL 2) - 6th

(BDCL 3) - 10th

(LDCL 2) - 1st (C)

(BDCL) - Burton & District Cricket League / (LDCL) - Lichfield & District Cricket League


Captains

YEAR

SATURDAY 1STS

SATURDAY 2NDS

SUNDAY XI

2014
Steve Prichard
Rob Drabble
Sam Leech
2013
Paul Baldwin
Rob Drabble
Sam Leech
2012
Paul Baldwin
Rob Drabble
Sam Leech
2011
Paul Baldwin
Rob Drabble
Danny Hackett
2010
Tony Allen
Sam Griffiths
Danny Hackett
2009
Tony Allen
Paul Baldwin
Danny Hackett
2008
Paul Bozward
Dillon Wellor
Jimmy Edgar
2007
Rob Collett
Gary Starkey
Rob Wright
2006
Dillon Wellor
Gary Starkey
Rob Wright
2005
Ant Wright
Malcolm MacDonald
Rob Wright
2004
Simon Smith
Tony Allen
Geoff Topham
2003
Simon Smith
Tim Whitehouse
Geoff Topham
2002
Ben Hughes
Dave Riley
(team)
2001
Ben Hughes
Dave Riley
Danny Haines
2000
Ben Hughes
Dave Riley
Danny Haines
1999
Ben Hughes
Dave Riley
Danny Haines
1998
Ben Hughes
Roger Randall
Mark Twomlow
1997
Ian Gray
John Pickering
Mark Twomlow

Records

Highest Total (Warwickshire League)

313 - 4 Vs Ambleside  (Home) 2006

Lowest Total (Warwickshire League)

 51 Vs Haunchwood     (Home) 2009

Highest Total (Burton League)

315 - 5 Vs Walton  (Away) 1997

Lowest Total (Burton League)

 19 Vs Uttoxeter     (Away) 1993

Highest Total (Lichfield League)

319-0 Vs Whittington (Home) 2005

Lowest Total (Lichfield League)

 41 Vs Great Wyrley (2004)

Highest Total Against (Warwickshire League)

329 - 8 Vs Pakshaheen  (Away) 2008

Lowest Total Against (Warwickshire League)

 45 Vs Warwick 3rds     (Home) 2011

Highest Total Against (Burton)

 315 - 0 Vs Birch Coppice   2000

Lowest Total Against (Burton)

 23 Vs Swadlincote            1995

Highest Total Against (Lichfield)

 335 - 6 Vs Lichfield           1997

Lowest Total Against (Lichfield)

 49 Vs Great Wyrley          1996

Highest Personal Score
Will Wood - 200 Vs Barton 2nds (1998 )

SATURDAY 1ST XI

Year

Batting

Bowling

2013
Paul Baldwin
N Robinson
2012
Rob Collett
P Baldwin
2011

Rob Collett

D Haines

2010

P Jones

L Allsopp

2009

P Baldwin

Rob Collett

2008

Rich Collett

M Stone

2007

R Bostock

A Wright

2006

Rob Collett

D Haines

2005

Rob Collett

A Wright

2004

S Smith

Rob Collett

2003

S Smith

G Allen

2002

S Smith 

G Allen

2001

G Allen

B Hughes 

2000

B Found

 R Drabble

1999

G Allen

R Drabble

1998

B Found

R Drabble

1997

B Woodall *

R Drabble ?

1996

B Found

 B Woodall*

* (Division 2 winner)


SATURDAY 2ND XI

Year

Batting

Bowling

2013
D Hinks
L Allsopp
2012
S Griffiths
S Hollingsworth
2011
C Griffiths
S Hollingsworth

2010

S Godsmark

R Drabble

2009

S Griffiths

S Griffiths

2008

S Griffiths

P Baldwin

2007

E Dodd

D Weller

2006

E Dodd

R Drabble

2005

D Hackett

E Collett

2004

D Able

D Able

2003

M Prince *

T Whitehouse 

2002

E Dodd

T Allen

2001

B Aubury

T Whitehouse 

2000

E Dodd

D Haines

1999

D Riley

A Wright

1998

D Riley

M Hodgkinson

1997

D Riley

M Hodgkinson

1996

D Riley

 J Pickering

* (Division 3 winner)


SUNDAY XI

Year

Batting

Bowling

2013
TBC
TBC
2012
D Hackett
L Allsopp
2011
D Hackett
L Allsopp

2010

D Hackett

P Baldwin

2009

D Hackett

P Baldwin

2008

M Stone

T Allen

2007

D Hackett

D Haines

2006

R Wright

A Wright

2005

J Harvey

T Allen

2004

???

???

2003

B Hughes

D Hackett

2002

T Allen

J Boden

2001

G Allen *

 A Wright

2000

G Allen

 A Wright

1999

G Allen

A Wright

1998

G Allen

G Allen

1997

M Twomlow

G Allen

1996

B Woodall

 B Woodall

1995

M Twomlow

S Found

1994

E Dodd

R Rowe

1993

M Twomlow

B Woodall

1992

M Brandon

Woodall /  Harcombe

1991

B Found

C Floyd

(* Division 2 winner)


Highest Partnership by Wicket (all teams)

Wkt
Batsman 1
Batsman 2
Score
Versus
Year
1st
Simon Godsmark
Dom Hinks
218
Bulkington 2nds
2013
2nd
Simon Smith
Simon Carlin
227
Appleby Magna
2003
3rd
Malcolm Prince
Gaz Allen
218
Woodville 2nds
2001
4th
Rich Bostock
Rich Collett
177
Bulkington
2007
5th
Rob Vickers
Gaz Allen
98
St Matthews
2001
6th
Rob Vickers
Danny Haines
139
Blakeways
2001
7th
Rich Colllett
Ant Wright
91
Erdington Court
2007
8th
Simon Smith
Gaz Hughes
125
Packington
2003
9th
Ben Woodall
Craig Harcombe
91
Draycott & Hanbury 2
1997
10th
James Boden
Ant Wright
66
The Gate Inn
1999

Elford History

Norman Barrett suggests in his "Chronicle of Cricket" that the earliest known reference to the game can be traced back to the year 1300. It is, of course, obscure how the early cricket was played but subsequent mention in northern France of "Criquet" and "Croquet" certainly point towards a game played with bat and ball. It is interesting to note that it was not until 1875 that the third stump was introduced in the wickets, and early pictures of the two-stump version look remarkably like today's croquet hoop.

The village of Elford by comparison, has a well-documented history that precedes "the Conquest". Many are the famous men who have visited this parish down the centuries including a future King of England, famous Victorian novelists, and even the Merry Men of Sherwood are known to have frequented these parts. In researching the history of Elford Cricket Club, to hope that somewhere lies a scoreline that reads: -

W Thompstone caught W Scarlet bowled R Hood …106

is obviously pushing the bounds of possibility too far and we have to wait until 1852 before our first documented account of the Village Cricket Club emerges.

By 1852 cricket on the wider scale was well established. The Marylebone Cricket Club had been formed 65 years earlier, round arm bowling was introduced in 1827 and an England XI had been playing country sides for a number of years. On the other band W G Grace was only a boy of four when Elford CC was formed, first class cricket in Australia was only one year old and no England team had yet toured overseas.

The Rev Francis Pajet; Rector of Elford 1835 - 1882, was a forthright, formidable Victorian who did not spare feelings ~ his proclamation of The Faith- He was also a caring, knowing man who recognised the benefits of honest recreation. In his annual St Thomas Day address, in 1852, he explained his desire "to help improve the labourers condition, raising the tone of his character, and finding healthy and harmless amusement for his hard earned leisure hours and that I will now recommend to your notice the "Rules of our Cricket Ground".

What these rules were and where the Club played we cannot be certain. However, if Elford was similar to many villages, the game would have been introduced by the Squires family of which .The Rev Francis Pajet was a member, and played close to the Hall on Estate land. It is believed that the clubs first ground was on the present cricket field but in the early 1930's the club moved to the Park, on Home Farm or more specifically as our President points out, in the field known as the "Night Cow Pasture".

From 1852 onwards there were regular references to the Clubs' Annual General Meeting being held and always with the same observation - "The Rules and Subscription will be the same as the previous summer!"

In those early days there might well have been several illustrious players on view. The Rev Francis Pajet was well connected. He was closely related to the Duke of Suffolk whose family home was a Beaudesert, Cannock and his two cousins Lord Alexander Pajet and Lord Henry Paget who lived there. Both played for the England XI and it does not seem to be stretching the imagination too far on this occasion to think of these England players visiting their cousins and indulging in a local game of cricket.

No other references to the Club have as yet emerged from the 1860's to the end of the First World War. From 1916 onwards, we are, of course, in the realms of living memory and there is no doubt that Cricket was being played in the Park between the two Great Wars. Whether the Club had enjoyed an unbroken run of activity since its inception is impossible to say and certainly there would have been a diminishing patronage from the Hall as part of the estate was sold in 1919 and the remainder gifted to Birmingham City Council in 1936.

As the war effort demanded more and more attention, less cricket was played and during the latter years of the conflict and up to 1948 the Club ceased to play.

David Wain