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Stocksfield Cricket Club was formed in 1920; at least
that was the year in which it moved to its present ground. Prior
to this cricket had been played on what is now the children’s
play area at Guessburn in Stocksfield, organised by the Church
choir.
Before then
cricket was played across the river at Bywell. In 1891 a report
in the Hexham Courant states:
"On an
extraordinarily fine day in July, Bywell Cricket Club held its
annual picnic. Over 2,500 people paid for admission to the
cricket field and this included a considerable number of
cyclists, arriving from all the clubs in Tyneside and Newcastle.
Following a programme of sports, tea was provided in three
marquees. So much food was consumed that seven bread-cutters
were kept employed preparing the sandwiches. The Wellesley
Training Ship Band from Blyth provided the musical
entertainment."
Leading players
for Stocksfield in the inter-war years were:
H.R.C. Musgrove, Percy Wing, Tommy Blythe, Eddie Nicholson, W.M.
Walker, R.W. Taylor,
Robert Rogerson, Tommy Stephenson, Bill Stephenson,
Reggie Sharp, George Ball, Ronnie Ward,
Steve Cairns, Tommy Miller.
Committee
minutes show that in 1929 subscriptions stood at 5/-
(25p) for senior members and it was "agreed to run a football
section".
The Club first
entered the West Tyne League in 1939 in the second
division, and won that division at its first attempt.
Unfortunately, on this note of success cricket had to cease due
to the outbreak of the Second World War. The minutes of the
meeting of 24th May 1940 read "After much
discussion it was agreed that the club be disbanded till after
the war".
During the 2nd
World War, the Ministry of Defence used the field for timber
storage. In periods of dry weather the compacted area of the
roadway and the place where the timber was stored can still be
seen adjacent to the square.
The Club was
re-activated in 1946 following a meeting on the 4th
of February with Mr H.R.C.Musgrave in the chair.
Charlie Symm
was captain for the next two years. The 1st Division of
the West Tyne League was entered in 1947 with
Stocksfield finishing as runners-up to neighbours, Newton, being
only a single point adrift.
In 1949
Johnson Walker took over the captaincy. In fact he
captained the side for ten of the seasons spanning the period
between 1949 and 1966. Johnson was a stylish and
effective opening batsman who regularly headed the batting
averages and was a stalwart of the West Tyne League team.
In 1967 he topped the League averages and won the
League’s Dr Clayburn Memorial Challenge Cup.
A 2nd
XI was formed in 1950. The side entered the 2nd
Division of the West Tyne League in that year but
struggled to raise a team, so a phase of playing friendly
fixtures was entered into before the side re-entered the league
in 1954. In that season the 2nd XI played 25
fixtures including friendly matches against opponents such as
Slaggyford, Edmundbyers, Allenheads and Vickers Armstrongs.
It was at this
period that Tom Wooding came onto the scene. From 1953
until just before his death in 1973 he carried the burden
of Club administration on his shoulders. As well as being
secretary and treasurer of the Club, he also served as secretary
of the West Tyne League.
In July
1954, Duggie Bell, the 2nd XI wicket
keeper, playing in a friendly match against Kirkley 2nd XI at
Ponteland, is recorded as hitting 28 in one over (6.4.0.6.6.6).
That match ended in a tie with each side scoring 93 runs, so he
definitely influenced the result.
Ladies cricket
received early support when a move was made in 1954 to
start a Ladies team. At the League Annual Dinner Tom Wooding
stated "It is time we had a Ladies Cricket Section. Mr and
Mrs Ray Lancaster have already started to get together a
team at Stocksfield and they might challenge other clubs next
season. No club can flourish without ladies, who should be
allowed to play as well as wash flannels and make teas!" Sadly
this innovation (at that time) appears never to have got off the
ground.
In 1955
the Sports Club, of which the Cricket Club was a section,
folded, with the Tennis Club subsequently moving to new premises
at Guessburn. The Cricket Club took on the Sports Club’s assets
and liabilities. In the same year, accordingly to the Hexham
Courant the Club made West Tyne League history by engaging
as coach Mr Cliff Wilson, a former first class county and
Northumberland county player. This must have had some effect
since in that season the Club won its first trophy outside the
West Tyne League, namely the Newall Cup in the Group Captain
Horne competition.
Playing
strength, in depth, was still suspect at this time. At the
A.G.M. in September 1957 it was mentioned that "the Club has the
best score box in the League but has been handicapped by lack of
players!"
In 1958
Frank Brewis performed what may be the most outstanding
feat in the Club’s history. On 28th June he took all
ten Haydon Bridge wickets for 10 runs.
The Club
entered a successful period, in terms of trophies, between
1960 and 1966. In 1960 the 1st XI
won the West Tyne League. Bowling strength was the secret of the
Club’s success. No less than five bowlers had a season’s average
of less than 10 runs per wicket. The leading wicket takers were
Frank Brewis with 50 wickets at an average of 7.6; Ken
Stephenson with 48 wickets at an average of 10.2; and
Gordon Stephenson, the captain, who took 39 for 6.1 each.
In the same
season the first trophy to be awarded by the club was acquired,
the Cochrane Cup. This was presented to the club by the Cochrane
Street Club, Newcastle in gratitude for hosting their annual
outing and children’s sports for many years. The first recipient
was Gordon Stephenson, the 1st XI captain, for
the outstanding Club performance of the season.
Club membership
began to grow in the early 1960’s and the playing
strength was increased when the nearby Mickley Cricket Club
folded in 1960. Mickley lost its team due to the
demolition of the old pit rows at Mickley Square and the
subsequent re-housing of the members and their families at West
Wylam. Several ex-Mickley players who were left in the village
joined Stocksfield.
The 2nd
XI, captained by Harry Taylor, won the 2nd
Division title in 1963, and in 1966 Gordon
Stephenson, having stepped down to captain the 2nd
team achieved the double of League title and Division 2
Knock-out champions.
In 1966
Raymond Dixon was awarded the League’s Eddie Telfer
Challenge Cup for the best League bowling average with a
remarkable figure of 4.84.
During the
1970’s the 1st XI was captained for four years by
Jim Standish and for four by Keith Brown (a League
representative player who had moved to the village from Haydon
Bridge). This era saw the inception of the National Village
Competition, which was originally, sponsored by Haig the
Distillers. The Club played in the very first competition and
has entered every year since. In the early years the competition
was allied with a national competition for throwing the cricket
ball. Ralph Stokoe, one of the Club’s strike bowlers,
reached the final of the national competition at Lord’s for two
successive years. In 1972 he threw 100 yards 2 feet 5
inches and was placed fourth (despite an injured shoulder).
In 1974
Richard Baker took the League’s George Manning Memorial
Challenge Cup for the best individual bowling performance with a
spell of 13 overs 6 runs 5 wickets against Bellingham.
Bellingham were dismissed for 32.
In 1977
Ralph Stokoe became the second Stocksfield player to take
the Eddie Telfer Challenge Cup with a season’s bowling average
of 7.68 runs per wicket.
The senior
playing strength continued to grow and in 1981 a
‘Wanderers XI’ was formed for players who wished to play only
occasional matches during the season or did not wish to be
involved with League cricket. The Wanderers XI continues to play
friendly matches on Wednesday evenings and Sundays. From it has
developed another team, which plays in the North East Midweek
League. It has also experienced success with promotions from
divisions and (in 1998) the team, under Gavin Todd’s
direction won the League Cup.
In 1982
one of the Club’s most loyal servants and supporters, Betty
Robinson, completed 25 years as 1st XI scorer. In
the same year the Parish Council bought the Cricket Field from
Allendale Estates allowing the club to negotiate a lease. This
enabled the building of a new Clubhouse to replace the wooden
pavilion. Jim Standish, secretary at the time, together
with a band of helpers, worked extremely hard to ensure this
came about.
Opened in
1983 the new pre-fabricated clubhouse had a small bar, two
changing rooms, toilets, showers, a kitchen and storeroom. It
was officially opened by a match between a Celebrity XI and
Newcastle United Football Club. This was part of a Cricket Week
during which every side in the Club, from under 13’s upwards had
a match. This proved to be so successful that it became a part
of the Club’s calendar for many years.
The 1983
season was also made memorable as, for the second time in the
Club’s history a Stocksfield bowler claimed all the opponent’s
wickets. Robbie Armstrong, the 1st XI captain,
claimed all 10 Haltwhistle wickets for 22 runs. For this he was
awarded the League’s Eddie Telfer Challenge Cup and the Sunday
Sun Player of the Month Award.
1984
saw the introduction of a Club single wicket competition. The
first winner was John Nelson who defeated Eddie
Coulson in the final. Another major innovation was the
installation of an all-weather wicket on the edge of the square.
Stocksfield were the first Club in the West Tyne area to
undertake this type of development. It also made the then annual
Boxing Day match much less of a gamble (adverse ground
conditions!).
The 1980’s
in general proved to be a fairly elusive period for trophies as
far as the senior teams were concerned. The only successes being
the 1985 victory in the West Tyne 2nd Division
K.O Cup final (captained by Trevor Walker - as Ralph
Stokoe was on holiday) and winning the League Indoor
Competitions (1985 & 1986) during the winter months. One
innings worth mentioning from the 1980’s was that of Chris
Catnach in a Crown Paints Cup match at home against
Lanercost (1989). His score of 105 not out was the first century
scored for the club since a Johnson Walker century
sixteen years earlier. It was probably an indication that the
hard work of Maurice Miller as groundsman (and president)
was beginning to pay dividends. He continued as groundsman up
until his retirement in 2000 and provided many excellent tracks.
The success of
the junior teams during this period was beginning to benefit the
club and as the 1990’s approached there was a renewed optimism.
This was reflected by the clubs first appearance in the Crown
Paints Trophy final in 1989. That team, despite being defeated
in the final, was to form the foundation for an extraordinary
period of achievement for Stocksfield C.C. during the 1990’s
(both on and off the field).
The team was to
return to the Crown Paints Trophy final in both 1991 (captain:
Colin Walker) and 1992 (captain: Clive Rogerson),
carrying home the cup on both occasions. 1992 also saw
the club win the West Tyne K.O. Cup for the first time in their
history and have their best ever run in the National Village cup
before being defeated by Woodhouses (Manchester) after reaching
the last 16. The second team, not to be outdone, also won their
division K.O. Cup under Steve Pollock’s captaincy.
If 1992 was a
good year then 1993 got even better. The 1st
XI took the League Championship for the first time in 33 years
and also went on to win a regional competition, the Vaux Labatts
Shield. Once again the seconds (captain: Chris Catnach)
emulated their achievement, winning their division to make it a
double for the club.
Behind the
scenes the club had more stability than for some time with Dave
Musgrove, followed by Colin Walker, performing the role of
secretary and with Chris Catnach as treasurer. Expansion of the
club was mooted and this dream became reality in 1995
when a new extension to the clubhouse added extra changing
rooms, showers and improved social facilities. This was the
result of the work of many members. Funds of £25,000 were raised
by all sorts of ventures. Further grants were awarded from
Sports England (Lottery) funding, the Football Trust, the
Foundation for Sport and the Arts, Tynedale Council and the
Parish Council, complimenting the members work. A superb
facility was opened in August of that year by John Wood of
Durham C.C.C.
In 1995 with
Michael Graham taking over as 1st XI captain both
the first and second teams once again won their respective West
Tyne leagues and a possible move to the Northumberland League
was suggested. In 1997 this became reality with the
club’s first team joining Division A of the Northumberland
League and the second team moving into the West Tyne first
division. Playing strength (in numbers) was high and a third
team joined West Tyne II division. Both the 2nd and 3rd
XI struggled initially, but gradually the club strengthened at
this level.
In the first
year in the Northumberland League (1997), and with Michael
Graham still at the helm, the club showed its potential by
winning the A division to enter the premier League. To back up
its potential the team also won the Barlow (League) Cup and
enjoyed a tremendous season.
Simon Wraith
took over the captaincy in 1998 but the form of the
previous season was never quite reached. Despite battling hard
the team were relegated back to the A Division. They did have
the consolation of winning the Scorpion Lager Plate (previously
the Labatt’s Trophy), defeating a number of good sides on the
way.
Steve
Christer
was elected as captain in 1999 and steered the club back
into the Premier league in his first season. A fitting way to
end a decade that had seen the club develop in a way that many
would not have believed possible at the end of the 1980’s.
The first years of
the 21st century saw the club building its strength
as some talented juniors emerged and other players joined the
club. Overseas players appeared and a couple of Australians,
Robbie Williams (off spin and bat) and Lloyd Anderson
(keeper and bat) graced the square with some hard hitting. Ravi
Sharma, an Indian State cricketer then joined the club,
complementing the growing coaching squad as well as being a
prolific run scorer. In 2002 he became the first
Stocksfield player to score over 1000 league runs in a season,
playing for the 1st XI in the Northumberland League.
Despite some good
showings it wasn’t until 2004 that a senior team next
challenged for a title. The 2nd team, captained by
Gavin Todd, had been developing for a number of years and a
useful blend of experience and youth gave the team a good
balance. The team took the West Tyne League title in the West
Tyne League’s centenary season and in doing so picked up two
individual League awards. Simon Wraith collected the 1st
Division Performance of the season for his chanceless 74 not out
against title challengers Haydon Bridge and Ian Christer
was awarded the League’s Junior Player of the Season.
In 2006 the
second and third team won through to both West Tyne League KO
Cup finals. While the seconds were defeated by Matfen the thirds
won their first ever trophy by defeating the League Champions
Newbrough under Stephen Page’s leadership. In the same year the
Mid Week League team won that league’s KO cup in an exciting
final against Beamish. Emerson Brown took the Man of the Match
trophy for a hard hitting match winning innings with only one
wicket left.
The following
season, 2007, Alex Brown returned to the club after
spells with Newcastle and Chester-le-Street in the North East
Premier League and took over captaincy of the 1st XI. They
showed good form in the league, however, success came in the Wm
Birkett cup (1st Div KO cup) when the team defeated eventual
league champions, Cowgate, in a final played at Tynemouth.
The cup was the first trophy in 8 years for the 1st XI.
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Ladies Cricket
As mentioned
previously the idea of a ladies team was floated in the 1950’s
however it is not known if this team ever started.
It was
different in the 1990’s when the club entered a team in the new
Northumberland Ladies League for the first time. They did well
and in the next few years won the League Indoor tournament twice
and the League itself in 2000. For a couple of years they
competed in the National League (North) but found the travelling
excessive. They did however win the National Div II North in
2000 before withdrawing from that league.
In that period
young players from the club showed their potential with Andrea
Hyman playing for England Under 17’s and Nicola Hawes (a
product of the junior set up) and Sarah White both being invited
for England trials.
It was not until
2004 that any further success came their way. Once again
they claimed the Northumberland League title, with the captain
Nicola Hawes leading the way with an excellent batting average
of 78. The League success was repeated in 2006 with
Nicola hitting the first century recorded by a woman player at
the club in a league match against Wylam. In the same season the
growing playing strength allowed the club to field a ladies
second team in the Northumberland League.
The 2007
Season saw the Ladies 1st team battling for the title against
South Northumberland CC 1st team. Stocksfield edged home
late in the season courtesy of a hard fought victory against
their nearest challengers to take the title for the second year
running.
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Junior Cricket
A Junior XI
(under 17’s) was formed in 1964 and has won its division
of the West Tyne League on nine occasions since:-
1970
(captained by Gavin Porteous);
1979 (captained by John Kirkup)
1984 & 1985
(capt by John Simmons);
1992
(captained by Gregor McArthur)
1995 (captained by John Maughan);
1998 (captained by Alex Brown)
2002
(captained by Andrew Wood).
2006
(captained by Martin Tyrrell)
The West Tyne
League Junior Cup has been won on six occasions:-
1985
(capt
- John Simmons)
1987
(capt - G.Russell),
1992
(capt Gregor McArthur)
1999
(capt Alex Brown).
2005
(capt Martin Tyrrell)
2006
(capt
Martin Tyrrell)
The Club’s youth
policy was extended in 1977 and a junior practice night
was introduced. This has become fixed and since the late 1990’s
the section has expanded thanks to the commitment of a large
number of volunteer coaches.
Previously,
occasional friendly fixtures were arranged at U14’s level but
this changed in 1981 when an U13 team entered the
Northumberland Eight-a-side League. Since then the U13’s have
enjoyed considerable success in both league & cup competitions.
Since the restructuring of the Northumberland Junior Cricket
League in 1995, Stocksfield U13’s have won the 8 a-side league
(1995 and 1997) and the full league (1998 and 2001). The U11’s
also experienced success in 1998 - after forming a team in 1997
– by winning the League Cup.
A number of
juniors from the club have represented Northumberland at County
level and we continue to provide players at various age groups.
Many members of
those junior sides have progressed to become successful in
senior teams. The most prominent to date being Alex Brown
who, after winning the Northumberland League bowling averages
with the 1st XI in 2000, left to play for Newcastle
(then Chester Le Street) in the North East Premier League. He
was selected to play for the Northumberland County side, taking
a wicket in his first minor counties match and represented the
county for a number of games.
ECB U13 National Finals 2001
The success of the junior sides in local leagues had never been
replicated in the county cup competitions until 2001. A quite
remarkable group of youngsters won the Northumberland ECB Under
13 competition for the first time, defeating strong teams from
Tynemouth and Ashington in the process. They progressed to the
regional finals (representing Northumberland) and met the
Scottish champions Arbroath at Kendal. A resounding win meant
they played against Keswick in the regional final (the same
day). A very close game saw Stocksfield reach the National
Finals, with their last pair at the wicket. Nail biting stuff!
Their subsequent
visit to the ECB finals, playing against the top sides in the
country, was an experience the players (and supporters) will
never forget. The facilities at Oakham School (Rutland) were
excellent and it was a marvellous tournament to play in.
Although only winning one game (out of six) the team competed
well in every game and against some clubs fielding ‘county’
sides were never disgraced. To crown an unforgettable week,
Stephen Forster came away with an autographed cricket bat
for the ‘champagne moment’ of the finals when he took a superb
diving catch at backward square leg.
For a club of our
size to reach the finals of a national competition from over
1500 entries was a tremendous achievement. The teams efforts
were recognised by Tynedale Sports Council at their 2001 awards
evening when captain Iain Jones was handed both the
Junior Team of the Year Award and then the prestigious Tynedale
Trophy for the most outstanding performance in all categories
that year.
ECB U15 Regional
Finals 2003
The Under 15’s
almost repeated their 2001 achievements in reaching the Portman
Cup regional finals in 2003. Having won the County Cup they met
Arbroath (at home) where James Prince hit a marvellous 98 not
out to send the team to the regional finals at York. Sadly, with
a couple of players missing, the team were narrowly defeated in
both play off games.
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