A brief history of Stokenchurch Cricket Club

Origins


Stokenchurch Cricket Club was formed in about 1860 although cricket was played on the common for a long time before this. The first square was laid out by George White.

At one time there were five cricket sides playing in the village; two Methodist sides, one Congregationalist, one from C.R Bates factory and the village side.

The first pavilion was built in 1910 and to commemorate the occasion a match was played between F W Fane's XI and Stokenchurch Cricket Club. F L Fane who had captained England during the 1907 tour to Australia scored 101 not out in the game. This pavilion was situated in the North West corner of the ground close to the present practice nets.

In days past the club won the Wycombe League Cup on five or six occasions.

The club colours are Oxford and Cambridge Blue and Cerise as shown here and the club logo is a typical Buckinghamshire chair which, until recently were still made in the village.

In 1966 the second pavilion was replaced with a newer building. This was funded with help from the National Playing Fields Association.




The building was later extended and although satisfactory at the time, was no longer providing adequate facilities to support club cricket in the 21st century.




The club was a founder member of the Trinity League in 1978 and in 1994 moved into the newly formed Cherwell League

More recent history

in 1999, after a few years hiatus, we resurrected the junior teams, starting with U13's and progressing through the age groups. Many of these players now play regularly for the 1st XI and a number have gone on to represent the County at various age groups

In 2001, with the help of a Sports Council Lottery grant we were able to build the present pavilion. this building was officially opened in July 2001 by Ian Gould (now an elite panel umpire and once of Middlesex and Sussex)



The basis of this application was an exciting and ambitious Sports Development Plan. This included training members to become qualified coaches, restarting the junior sections, forming close links with Stokenchurch Junior School and improving the practice facilities.

In 2002 Mohammed Salman scored 205* in a Cherwell League match against Stanton St John, in a team total of 316-4 off 42 overs, a Stokenchurch record "Sal" then went on to play ODI and Test cricket for Pakistan.


In 2003 we hosted our first international match when the MCC ladies took on the touring South Africa Ladies in August.



In 2004 the ground was flooded by a tremendous thunderstorm - 24 hours we were back playing!



In 2004 Hasnain Raza scored a then Cherwell League record of 1232 runs at an average of 137, including 6 100's


In the autumn of 2005 the top of the square was taken off and relaid - fortunately the grass soon grew and we now have an improved playing surface



By 2006 we were entering 4 ages groups sides in the County competitions at U11, U13, U15 and U17

In 2006 the U17's won the Mid Bucks League and followed this up in 2007 by winning both the Mid Bucks League and the Buck County Championship




In 2007, thanks in part to the generosity of the Parish Council, we purchased a bowling machine, and this equipment is now regularly used for junior, and senior practice. We supplemented this with a mobile net to allow more realistic practice sessions on the square




Also in 2007 Stef Read took the remarkable figures of 10-13 (18-10-13-10) to single-handedly beat Bicester and North Oxford, these figures are a Cherwell League record for all divisions

In 2008 the club were invited to provide the cricketing expertise for an episode of ITV's Midsomer Murders to be filmed at Wormsley. Filming was carried out over 4 days in August 2008 and the episode "Secrets and Spies" was first shown on national TV in July 2009 with many players and family featuring prominently in the programme, including a speaking part for Gary Pound



In 2009 we replaced the existing practice net with a new facility and we now have 8 ECB qualified coaches at Level I and II

The club record partnership of 237 was set in August 2009 by Arshad Latif and Joe Brown during a win in the annual Parish Council Centenary Shield match against Ibstone




In 2014 the U13s reached the final of the County Cup beating major clubs such as Buckingham Town, eventually losing a hard fought final to Chesham.
Significant numbers of this team have quickly progressed to Adult cricket and are putting personal bests week after week. With teams down to U10 the future is looking promising.


Cherwell League batting and bowling performances are shown on the records page

The Future?

Nobody of course knows! But our aim is to continue the development of young players, ensure the 1st XI is playing consistently in the top part of the Cherwell League and to raise the standard of the 2nd XI so it becomes a much better proving ground for 1st XI cricketers here and beyond