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 |
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2010 |
Tony Allen |
Sam Griffiths |
Danny Hackett |
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2008 |
Paul Bozward |
Dillon Wellor |
Jimmy Edgar |
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2006 |
Dillon Wellor |
Gary Starkey |
Rob Wright |
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2004 |
Simon Smith |
Tony Allen |
Geoff Topham |
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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 |
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Will Wood - 200 Vs Barton 2nds (1998 )
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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 |
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* (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
