Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club
Since 1862
As with many old village cricket teams, it is hard to establish exactly when the modern cricket club was founded as cricket within the village has slowly evolved and developed over hundreds of years. Although there was a Sawbridgeworth side for many years before, the foundation date of the Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club is set at 1862 as this was the first year that a proper club was set up. The modern club has derived from this 1862 club.
The ancient game of cricket probably originated as a childrens' game in the forest clearings of The Weald, southern England, where it was first taken up by adults in c.1600. The game spread slowly, but by 1724 had reached Essex when eleven gentlemen from Chingford took on Mr Edward Stead's eleven, and was first mentioned in Hertfordshire when a team called Essex & Hertfordshire played London Cricket Club at Epping Forest "for £50 a side" in 1732. Cricket was played just six miles west of Sawbridgeworth in 1737 when Stanstead Abbotts took on the Corporation of Hertford. It was first recorded in Harlow in 1774 and in Bishop's Stortford in 1825. Although no evidence has survived, it is reasonable to assume that cricket was being played in Sawbridgeworth in one form or another by the mid-eighteenth century, probably informal games amongst children, as well as one-off games against neighbouring villages. Cricket in those far-off days would seem almost unrecognisable to the modern game; the "bat" resembled a hockey stick until c.1745 as until then the ball was rolled rather than pitched to the batsman, after which bowling was underarm and then round-arm until 1864 when overarm bowling was legalised. The pitches were mere clearings or meadows, often on village greens.
The earliest surviving reference to organised cricket in Sawbridgeworth is from 1851, when the village side played two games against Moor Hall, at Moor Hall, near Harlow. The first game was played on Tuesday 3rd June, 1851 and Sawbridgeworth lost the game by 99 runs; Pratt top-scored with 13 runs, and W. Gee took 5 Moor Hall wickets. Some of the names on show, such as Brace and Silcock, were to be associated with Sawbridgeworth for many years to come. Cricket in 1851 was very different to the modern game: overs were comprised of four balls, bowling was round-arm or underarm lob and there were no boundaries: the batsman ran until the ball was retrieved, wherever this may be from. In this first game, one Moor Hall player got off the mark with a '9' and followed this up with an '8''! Players are likely to have worn top hats, with little protective clothing. Fielding was sedate as it was unfashionable to dive around the field (and difficult in a top hat!), and batsmen played within their crease, mainly for self-preservation, but also as moving aggressively down the wicket was considered unethical! A return match was played three weeks later, which Sawbridgeworth won by 5 wickets and Pratt scored the first known 50 for the village. A further fixture was played against Moor Hall in 1852.
This is a portion of the scorecard from the first known Sawbridgeworth match, played in 1851.
Sawbridgeworth cricket was played in this rather piecemeal manner for many years until the Sawbridgeworth vicar, Reverend Arthur Drummond Wilkins, decided to form a new club. Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club was formed in 1862 by Rev. Arthur Wilkins, who was "desirous of encouraging manly exercises amongst his Parishioners, which might also counteract inclinations towards idleness - public-house frequenting etc.". It was initially formed as Sawbridgeworth and High Wych Cricket Club, although the latter part of the name was quickly dropped. Rules were drawn up by a committee of clergymen and schoolmasters, and all was set in motion.
Great St Mary's Church and the local school provided the focus for the early Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club in 1862
The pitch for the first few weeks was granted by Edwin Hurst on "a field well situated between the Parish and the District." The first known match for the new club, as reported in the Herts and Essex Observer, was from a match played at Sawbridgeworth on Monday July 28th 1862 against "Eleven players of Bishop's Stortford." Sawbridgeworth won by 67 runs:
The probable first match for the new club, Monday 28th July 1862.
From August 1862 the club's home ground was at Rowney Mead, near Rowney Farm, a pitch granted by Mr Beale B. Colvin, the owner of Pishiobury. Four matches are known to have been played in this watermark season, and all of them were won by Sawbridgeworth: two victories over "Eleven players of Bishop's Stortford" and two victories over Bishop's Stortford Cricket Club. As well as the success on the field, practice games were well attended, and Reverend Wilkins's expectations in the formation of the club were most satisfactorily realised. Subscriptions were 2/6d for clergymen per quarter, 1/-d for adult members and 3d for schoolboys. The club was initially created for the schools and choirs of Sawbridgeworth but it was proving so prosperous that on 29th September 1862 a meeting at the National School in Sawbridgeworth decided to admit other members. The enthusiasm of Arthur Wilkins had transformed cricket in Sawbridgeworth, and turned its players into one of the best sides in the locality.
The next summer, 1863, was also very successful. Five of the six games played were won, including victories over Bishop's Stortford, Farnham, Moor Hall and Harlow, and the two undoubted stars of the team were the Brace brothers, S. Brace and T. Brace, who scored runs and took wickets freely. The wicketkeeper, John W. Truswell, would in later years become the first known Club Captain. The season finale involved a "Married v. Single" game at the Rowney Mead home ground, followed by a lavish dinner and entertainment at the White Lion Inn.
In 1864, Beale B. Colvin died, and the club subsequently lost its ground. This, coupled with the club President, Rev. Arthur D. Wilkins, moving away to Surrey and then Dorset, meant that the club went into sudden decline. For about the next ten years the club had no home, and there was just the odd away fixture, such as at Matching Green in 1874. Many Sawbridgeworth players were forced to play their regular cricket at other clubs: John W. Truswell, D. French and William A. Prout regularly played for High Wych, Matching Green or Moor Hall.
Sawbridgeworth cricket teethered on the brink in this fashion until it was revived in 1877 due to the kindness of a Mr Frederick G. Unwin, a solicitor who lived at Roselands (now called Sayesbury Manor), off Cock Street (now Bell Street) in providing a ground. This new ground was Town Fields, and the club has played there almost continuously ever since. The ground provided the club with a renewed focus, and several fixtures were played in this year. The first reported match at Town Fields was a Sawbridgeworth Juniors game against Harlow Juniors, a game in which the "singularly unfortunate" home side was bowled out in its first innings for just 4 runs! (this set a record low at the new ground from which the only way was up!). It was also in 1877 that another team, the "Sawbridgeworth Clown and Comical Cricketers" played two games against Gilston. The Sawbridgeworth side was in "full costume" and perhaps this was the primary reason for Gilston achieving an easy victory.
By 1889 the club had a full season of fixtures against teams such as Hockerill, Harlow College, Bishop's Stortford High School and Parndon Hall. Two years later, the club played some games against the ladies of the village, which appears to have upset many club members - one irate member wrote to the local paper denouncing the players as "allowing their afternoons to be wasted by ridiculous matches with ladies" and that "the stride to off ... plus a little squeal ... do not add much to the grace of the "soft" sex."! Batting averages from the local paper show that in 1894 the major Sawbridgeworth players were W. Morris, E. Spells and an eighteen year old Harry Boatman. The club colours had been set as dark blue by this time.
From 1895, the club played at Pishiobury Park, on the northern edge behind what is now East Park - the ground was "generously donated by F. W. Buxton Esq." The next season, the club became part of the Sawbridgeworth Recreation Club, and was renamed the "Sawbridgeworth Recreation Cricket Club", playing in colours of chocolate with amber piping for a year. The captain was the Rev. Hermann Coldwell with a future club legend, Harry Boatman, as vice captain. The donation of the ground was enough to persuade the club members to nominate Mr Buxton as their President! The 'pavilion' at Pishiobury was a bell tent, and one of the early rules insisted, 'no bad language be used and no intoxicating drink allowed'.
An early picture taken at Pishiobury Park c. 1900
In 1897 the club reverted back to its dark blue colours and original name of Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club. The club still played at the northern edge of Pishiobury Park, which remained the home ground until 1908. It was in 1897 that Harry Boatman commenced a run of eleven consecutive years as club captain. Since that era, the office of club captain has been held more widely, a statement more of the changes in the general environment in which the game is played, than a reflection upon the club and the game of cricket in particular. Sawbridgeworth won the West Essex District League Championship in 1900 for the first time, playing against teams such as Elsenham, Harlow, Stansted and Takeley. Other clubs to show on our fixture cards at this time were Epping, Hoddesdon, Hockerill and Burnt Mill.
In 1909 the club moved back to Town Fields and during the Great War the entire Town Fields ground was dug up, with the exception of the cricket square, to enable vegetables to be grown. After the war, it took a while for the club to get going again and Sawbridgeworth Joinery Works, which fielded two sides, was the only opportunity to play cricket in the town. In 1922 Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club was reborn when cricket members characteristically chose a ground beside the Hand and Crown, until a local benefactor, Sir Arthur Cutforth, thought it time that the club return to its rightful place. Through a newly formed sports association in 1921, Sir Arthur presented the ground to an alliance of cricket, tennis and bowls sports clubs. The cricket club resumed residence at Town Fields in 1924 and has played there ever since.
Players gather in front of Sir Walter Lawrence's newly built clubhouse on Saturday May 3rd 1930. This match, against Matching Green, was Harry Boatman's last.
At approximately the same time, the club received considerable help from Sir Walter Lawrence, an eminent businessman in the field of construction and house building (he owned the Sawbridgeworth Joinery Works) and who from 1934 presented the Lawrence Trophy for the fastest First Class hundred of the season, still awarded each year. Sir Walter later became President, and the family crest of the orthodox cross and two panther heads became the motif on the club colours. His son, Pat Lawrence, whilst Club Captain, donated the Captain's Cup in 1936, which is awarded annually to the player who has shown the most special distinction in the field of play.
Sir Walter's Lawrence's interest in the cricket club was of benefit in establishing the first pavilion here at Town Fields in 1930. His company built the pavilion (which is now part of the changing rooms) for the sum of £300; Sir Walter personally matching the funds actually raised by the club membership. It contained two rooms each 12 feet by 8 feet for the two teams to change in, plus a main room 20 feet by 12 feet to provide "teas and sustenance" for the players. Sir Walter had his own ground, at Hyde Hall, to which he invited many eminent invitation XIs to play against his own side.
All cricket was only played on Saturdays until after the Second World War, when a full Saturday and Sunday fixture list was provided. The facilities at the club were extended through the generosity of the Pyle family, who built the tea pavilion, which was opened in 1952. Their support was extended throughout the next years through both Phil and Pat Pyle, both of whom played for the club. Phil paid for the laying of a cricket square at the football club to provide a third/fourth home ground as we were now running four sides on a Saturday.
Prior to 1964 players would drink in the King William IV pub after a game, but in this year the tea pavilion was altered to house a small bar so the profits went to the club. The 1960s saw a sea change in the club moving away from playing Hockerill, Rickling Ramblers, Quendon Hall, Epping, Dunmow etc to a fixture list which was the same as that of Bishop's Stortford, who were the premier side in the area at that time. The fixture list included Southgate, Loughton, Buckhurst Hill, Ilford, Woodford Wells, Colchester and East Essex, Hertford, Berkhampsted, Bedford Town and Orsett. This was largely due to the increased strengths of the sides; the First Eleven boasted at least seven players who had Minor County or County Second XI experience. In 1965 came the first cricket week and in the following year we became the first club side in three years to beat the Essex Club and Ground team which included Keith Boyce, a future West Indian Test bowler.
The 1965 side during cricket week, in front of the old tea pavillion which had been built by Arthur Pyle.
Families and the continuity they provide have played a major role in the club's formation. Many fathers and sons have played for and served the club in a wide range of capacities. The current Club Captain, Tony Marshall, is the son of a former team captain - Rick Marshall. Various generations of Boatmans, Punchers, Pyles, Felsteads, Birchs, Leveys and Burrells have served the club with distinction in many diverse ways. No doubt, all of us associated with the club can recall with great pleasure and some nostalgia names of men we have played with and against on the cricket field at Sawbridgeworth.
Junior teams had been fielded sporadically over the years, the first time in 1877 and then again in the 1930s, but in the late fifties a new junior section was set up by Barry Bousfield and Stanley Mansfield, which helped provide the strong 1st XI of the 1960s. This tradition is carried on today by the club chairman Andrew Meadmore and ably assisted by Chris Pask, Carl Waring and many others.
The club was a founder member of the Herts League in 1974 and won the 1st XI championship in 1984. The 1st XI came very close again in 1986, when Bishop's Stortford just beat them to the title in the last round of games. Sawbridgeworth having won their game, then went to witness the conclusion of Bishop's Stortford's game where car headlights were alleged to be trained on the field of play to allow the local rivals to complete their win.
By the mid-1990s playing membership had declined slightly, but the club has since expanded quickly to become one of the biggest amateur clubs in southern England. In 2003, the club enjoyed its best-ever season on the field, The 1st XI recorded an unprecedented double, winning the Saracens Herts League Division One championship and the Becker Transport Cup while the 2nd XI also gained promotion after finishing third in Division Four. The 3rd XI finished in ninth position in Division Nine but only after extending their unbeaten league sequence to 28 matches, a club record.
Sawbo after winning the Becker Cup in 2003.
Recent years have witnessed many ground improvements at Town Fields. The clubhouse was completely knocked down, rebuilt and extended to be opened for Cricket Week in 1987. The former pavilion, which now serves as the changing rooms, was doubled in size and reopened by the Mayor of Sawbridgeworth in April 1992. A permanent artificial surface was provided for practice nets in 1989 and in early 1997 changes to the bowling green resulted in the removal of the slope in the outfield at the bottom of the ground. Most recently in 2006, the clubhouse was extended to create a new kitchen, and a second ground was unveiled at Leventhorpe School.
These ground developments have helped the club become one of the most picturesque grounds in the county and one of the more popular to visit. Development of the clubhouse has allowed the club to provide an extensive social programme that is a major support to the cricketing activities here; activities range throughout the winter and climax with a Mid-Summer ball for over 350 people, which is the major black tie event to be held in the locality. Sawbridgeworth is now one of the top cricket clubs in southern England, fielding six league sides on a Saturday and having almost 300 playing members.
Sawbridgeworth cricket has provided much pleasure and enjoyment, not only to its members but also to its visitors and opposition over the first 146 years. A reputation for humour and treating those two impostors, success and failure with the same attitude helps reinforce the notion that cricket is only a game - but a very serious game. Come and help us enjoy it.