A History of Rockhampton Cricket Club

1872 | 1932 | After the War | 1950's | 1960's | 1970's | 1980's | 1990's |

Rockhampton Cricket Club is one of the oldest institutions in the village. The exact date of it's foundation is uncertain but historians believe it to have been sometime about or before 1872.

At that period England was cricket 'mad'; thousands of people up and down the country would spend their half-day off on saturday afternoons playing or watching the game. Inspired by the feats of the young W.G. Grace, many local Gloucestershire teams were born. Thomas Jenkins Ford of Court Farm was the great enthusiast of our village. He became the founder and first captain of the Rockhampton Cricket Club. Amongst the players who turned out for their parish side in those days we find a host of familiar names. There was:
• Ford, Jenner-Fust, Cullimore, Coates, Malpass, Pegler, Bendall, Ponting, Boulton, Smith, Pinnel and Ind.


This would have been grass-roots cricket at it's most basic. The playing area would have been considerably smaller than it is today with Withy trees and marshy patches scattered around it. The most usual method of keeping the grass short enough to play on was to let the local sheep loose upon it and no doubt there was often larger livestock leaving it's mark upon it too. The players, of which there were not necessarily always eleven, would have worn heavy working boots, light-coloured working clothes and their favourite hats or caps. Matches, which were popular events for the whole village to attend, were often of two innings per side. They played against other local village and estate teams, with whom rivalry would have been intense.

Opposition for Rockhampton was provided by the likes of:
Hill, Tortworth Park, Falfield, Oldbury, Tytherington, Eastwood Park, Old Down House, Berkeley and Dursley.

Two stories from that era give a good idea of the type of contests that the Rockhampton team enjoyed. In the summer of 1880, Mr Herbert Jenner-Fust played for Hill against Rockhampton at the ripe old age of 74. He captained his side, bowled unchanged from one end, kept wicket at the other and batted with the aid of another player to do the running for him, and with a bat which was made in 1829.

Six years later in 1886, the Rockhampton bowlers had their greatest day when they dismissed the Sharpness side for just one run. And that run was a wide!

Sid Malpass recorded figures of 7 for 0.

1892. The cricket club was forced to draw stumps temporarily. The loss of key players and the subsequent lack of success had seen enthusiasm wane dramatically. No doubt it was assumed that it would all start up again in a few years time. In fact the village had to wait for forty years for the common to be used for cricket again.
In the meantime a ladies hockey team briefly flourished on the common.

1932. Rochampton and Hill Cricket Club was re-established. With the help of a scythe, a mowing machine and a larget concrete roller, three young villagers, Bert Gough, Frank Child and Francis Ind, spent many hours getting spent may hours getting the ground back into shape.

A small shed was built in the paddock across the road to hold the equipment and a fence put around the pitch as protection. Scores were posted on the tree in the corner of the pitch and teas were provided by Mrs Child in Green Farm. For away fixtures of the usual mode of transport was by bicycle, with various bits of kit strapped to the handlebars. One can only imagine what a dangerous procession they must have formed on the way home.

Between 1939 and 1946, no cricket was played on the Common. The Second World War had removed most of the players and concentrated other's minds on more serious matters.

Once peace was restored the Cricket soon resumed. It was still very much a village side. The locals and occasional guests within the team would have widely different abilities and ages. The club colours were chosen as musk-yellow and white, in honour of the Berkeley Hunt, of which Bert Gough was a very keen follower.

It was not until 1948 that John Lanham scored the first recorded 50 for the club. In the same year John Pritchard took nine wickets against Wotton. But Rockhampton did not have everything it's own way. It also recorded it's lowest ever score. Dismissed for 4 by Dursley Seconds.

1952 Rockhampton suffered it's worst season.
• Played 22, lost 20.
• Annual subscription was 5/- (five shillings)
• Match fee was 6d (sixpence)

1956 Teas were being taken in the village hall, but most of the honours continued to be taken by the opposition. The famously short-sighted John Tully was both Captain and Wicket Keeper. Between 1953-1967 he was captain for eleven seasons and vice-captain for the other three.

1963. A wooden pavillion was built in it's present position on the common. Scores were now posted on the picket fence outside. The teas were taken inside.
• Annual subscription was 6/- (six shillings - 30p in today's money !!)
• Match fee was 1/-

1965. The withy trees and long grass that for so long had intruded onto the outfield were finally removed. A fence, to stop the balls from disappearing quite so easily into the rhine that formed the boundary, was erected about the same time. Players still turned up for matches already dressed to play, but they did so now in cars and from further afield.

1968. The first end of season Presentation Dinner was held. It was decided to award an annual Clubman of the Year trophy. The inaugural winner was Mike Savery.

1969. The Committee laid aside it's religious reservations and agreed that cricket matches could be played on Sundays for the first time.

D. Walters scored the first century for Rockhampton and the team total passed 200 for the first time.

1971. Brian Cullimore of Yew Tree Farm was elected President of the Club.
Playing strength and numbers had undergone a slight decline in the previous couple of years. The club needed to change to attract more members.
Subscriptions were £1 per year
Match Fees 50 pence

1982. The Pavillion was extended to include toilets, proper changing rooms and showers. A licensed bar was opened and subs increased to £7.50. The first club cricket tour was organised; a weekend in Worthing.

1983. Rockhampton entered a team in the Stroud League, Division 4. To accommodate increased membership a second team was started up. Both playing and social membership was on the up. As well as cricket, darts and cribbage teams were formed.

1983. Centenary Celebrations were held (13 years late!). The main event was a match against Gloucestershire C.C. XI, featuring Jack Russell, Bill Athey, Kevin Curran, Tony Wright and David Graveny. A six-a-side competition was held for local clubs.
• The Second XI joined Stroud League Division 6.
• The First XI won Division 4 and promotion.
• An extension was built onto the pavillion to provide new toilets and a larger lounge area.
Fitted seating was also installed.

1986. The first Youth team was started at Under-18 level.
Jim Salt scored a record 185 not out v Mangotsfield, including 15 sixes.
In the same match, Rockhampton totalled over 300 for the first time.
Richard Jones became the first player to score 500 runs and take 50 wickets in one season.

1987. Bert Gough stepped down as Club Chairman after 50 years of service.

1988. The concrete practice net was built. Terry Fletcher and Colin Houghton shared a record partnership of 260 v Rangeworthy.

1989. The First XI won Stroud Division 3 and promotion.
• John Osborne became the first to score a League Century (135 v Duntisborne)
• Jeremy White became the first to score over 1000 runs in one season


1990. An extension to the changing room was built.
• First XI won Stroud Division 2 and promotion
• Second XI won Stroud Division 5 and promotion
• An Under 13 team was entered in the Bristol Youth League

1991. The Under 17 and Under 15 teams joined the Bristol Youth League.

1992. A Third XI was formed and entered into Stroud Division 6.
Annual subscription was £25
Match Fees were £2

1994. The First XI won Stroud League Division 1 for the first time.

1995. The Club purchased the Boundary field for £13,000 in order to develop a larger second pitch. The field was drained and appropriate grass sown.
• The First XI won Stroud Division 1 for the second year running

1996. First and Second XI's were accepted into the new GCA County League.
The first game of cricket was played on the uneven Boundary Field pitch.
Irvin Gale became the first player to score a double hundred for the club. His 215 v Westbury on Severn was made at the Boundary Field.
The Sports Council awarded the Club a grant of £85,000 towards the development of the new ground including a new pavillion, machinery, car park and services. The project to build the new pavillion (designed by architect John Evans) was overseen by Alec Hurley. The main contractor was Geoff Fisher of GAP Supplies, Thornbury.

1997. Work began on the foundations of the new pavillion, the drive and car park.
Over the winter, the square and parts of the outfield had soil added to try and fill the hollows. Two portacabins were acquired to act as temporary changing rooms on site. A mains water supply was piped on.
• Subscriptions rose to £35
• Match Fees rose to £2.50
• First XI won Division 4 and promotion
• Second XI won promotion to Division 1
• In the autumn, the Club President Brian Cullimore sadly passed away.

1998. By the start of the season, the basic shell of the building had been completed with cold water and one toilet available. Showers still needed to be taken at the old pavillion. Further work on the pitch had largely flattened the square and greatly improved the outfield.
• First XI won Division 3 of the County League and promotion
• Third XI won Division 2 of the Stroud League and promotion
• Catherine Tyler became the first woman to represent the club in a senior league side

1999. The new pavillion at the Boundary Field was completed.
It was officially opened by David Passmore, Sports Presenter of BBC West, at the start of a week of celebrations.
• First XI won Division 2 of the County League and the Citizen midweek league

Back to TOP