Welney & Welney Croft Cricket Clubs
Home Page
page created Feb 2008; amended/updated Thursday, 08 December 2011
| CLUB PAGES |
| Home Page |
| History & Achievements |
| Stats & Records from 1960 |
| Welney CC 1990-1998 |
| welney Croft CC 1999-to date |
| Welney Croft CC, 2000 to date Fixtures, results, reports, averages |
| 2012 |
| 2011 |
| 2010 |
| 2009 |
| 2008 |
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| 2005 |
| 2004 |
| 2003 |
| Versus a 1st Class County Team |
| 2002 |
| 2001 |
| 2000 |
| The Club's pages are designed and maintained by Peter Cox and hosted by The Welney Website |
The present cricket club in Welney is known as Welney Croft CC and formed as recently as 2000, but its pedigree can be traced back at least 127 years. Exactly how long the game has been played in this area, that is in the organised form under MCC rules, is uncertain, but the Parish magazine as long ago as 1884 recorded that a Welney team played against both Outwell and West Head (Stow).
However, a club hasn't been in existence continuously since then. No games were played during the 1st and 2nd World Wars, but whether the club was simply dormant or closed down is not known; but in 1981 it did officially disband. A new club was formed later, but it too was disbanded in 1998. For the purpose of this page, and the history and records pages,
A minutes book dating back to 1905 and other archive material has enabled Tony Smart to compile a comprehensive chronological listing of events associated with cricket in Welney. (see History link on left)
The Clubs have had some memorable moments. In 1923 it achieved nation-wide fame by ‘skittling’ a side out for no runs; in 2002 it hosted a match with a first-class County side which included two ex-England test players; and it can claim a connection with possibly the most famous English cricketer of all time. (See links on left)
The Club's home ground since 1971 has been Welney Playing Field. Previously, six other grounds have been used around our small village, and there have been eight regular meeting places – the Cherry Tree Pub, Three Tunns Pub, Lamb & Flag Inn, William Marshall School, Odd Fellows Hall, the Parish Hall, Welney FC Hut (Back Drove) and the present Playing Field Pavilion.
With such a long history, it is not surprising that there have been some ups and downs over the years. In 1981 Welney Cricket Club was disbanded, and it was not until 1990 that it re-formed with a new all-weather pitch laid at the Playing Field. However, after only another eight years, in 1998, the Club was again disbanded, rather abruptly and without funds, and the all-weather pitch was removed.
In 1999, a meeting was held in the 'Three Tunns' to re-form the Club again. Appeals were made to former players for funds and over £600 was raised enabling new equipment to be bought and several matches to be played. The following year, 2000, the Club was re-named ‘Welney Croft Cricket Club’ at the AGM held in the Lamb & Flag Inn, and a full fixture list was arranged. (The Old Croft River is an ancient river running through Welney).
The 2011 season was marred by a high number of matches being cancelled by the opponents, often at short notice, and at the folowing AGM it was decided to join a league where cancellations are rare due to penalties. For 2012 the Club joined the West Norfolk Division of the Mid-Norfolk Sunday Cricket League, with 14 league fixtures. To maintain a full 22-match season, 8 friendlies are also scheduled, including the two cup matches.
The current Officers (first elected in 2002) are: President, Ray Kent; Chairman and Club Captain, John Loveday; Secretary & Treasurer, Tony Smart. (For 2008, John Loveday will supervise wicket preparation and grass cutting, with help from Duncan Hobbs and Peter Scot, and Philip Singleterry is the Assistant Secretary.
John Loveday
Chairman & Captain
work: 01354 610353
home: 01354 610492
Tony Smart
Secretary & Treasurer
tel: home 01223 312373
Ray Kent
President
tel: 01485 535108