NEXT year marks the 150th anniversary of Colwall Cricket Club. Club president Adrian Berry takes us on a whistle-stop tour through its history and reveals the events in store to mark the big year

COLWALL has been one of Herefordshire’s leading cricket clubs for much of its existence.

At present the club has four adult teams, a women’s team and a thriving junior section including both boys and girls who all play in relevant local competitions in both Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

On Tuesday evenings throughout the summer the CLOGS (Colwall League of Gentlemen) play social cricket against local teams whilst enjoying the odd pint or two!

Furthermore Colwall has been host to the National women’s cricket week since 1927.

 

In 2020 Colwall won the coveted National Village Cup

In 2020 Colwall won the coveted National Village Cup

 

In 2020 Colwall won the coveted National Village Cup at Lords the home of cricket and back in the 80s it was victorious in the Three Counties League which included city and large town clubs from Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Gwent and Worcestershire.

Colwall 1st XI plays in the Worcestershire Premier League while the other three adult teams are represented in both Worcestershire and Herefordshire competitions.

Colwall has also hosted Herefordshire Minor Counties matches plus in the past Worcestershire 2nd XI fixtures as well as many benefit matches for Worcestershire players.

Its most famous son was Henry Horton who played for both Worcestershire and mainly Hampshire during the 1950s and 1960s.

Many Colwall players have represented Herefordshire and Worcestershire teams over the years.

Under the stewardship of Chairman Kim Berry and his very active committee over the past five years the club has become a thriving part of the community with a very large section of social membership who support the club in many ways.

The 150th anniversary is being celebrated by a Cricket Festival which will begin with a prestigious fixture on Friday, July 15, versus the MCC on the club’s main ground, widely recognised as one of the most scenic venues in English cricket.

The match will start at 11am and tables may be booked at our celebratory lunch with great boundary views. Further details will be released in the New Year.

The toss will be made by Colwall’s oldest living member, Phil Berry, who at the age of 93 still takes a keen interest in the club when he is not playing lots of golf at The Worcestershire!

At approximately 6pm. the whole of the club’s membership will be invited on to the main ground for an aerial memorial photograph using drone technology.

In the evening there will be a celebration party for over 300 members and guests in a marquee positioned on the Ghost Meadow ground.

Ticket details will be announced soon and the evening includes a live band, DJ and street food plus a bar.

The rest of the cricket festivals details are set out below and they include events for all sections of the club

Friday, July 15: CCC v MCC (11am start)

Tuesday, July 19 (evening): Chairman’s XI v CLOGS (Colwall League of Gentlemen) Wednesday, July 20 (evening): CCC Ladies XI v Invitational XI

Thursday, July 21 (evening): Juniors Team(s) v Dads and Mums Teams

Friday, July22: Fun Junior 150th cricket day.

Sunday, July 24: Gary Haynes and Gerard Flint Memorial Match

July 25-29: Junior Cricket Camp at Colwall CC (details TBC).

The penultimate event is tinged with sadness but will be a tribute to Gary Haynes who sadly passed away in 2020 at a relatively young age.

Gary was one of Colwall’s finest cricketers and arguably one of the best spin bowlers to grace cricket grounds in the Midlands and Wales.

We will also be remembering Gerard Flint who also died in 2020. Gerard was a Colwall stalwart of over 20 years and one of the hardest hitters of a cricket ball in his time.