Early Club Cricket - Caught In TimeBy Mick Bailey

About the year 1874 a number of keen cricketers in the village summoned a meeting, and decided that a club should be formed which should be known as Barrow Victoria.

The early details are of particular interest because they give a clear idea of the troubles which beset the officials of the various local clubs at that time.

The financial question was always one of serious difficulty, for times were hard, and few of the members had ready money to spare. Certain equipment had to be purchased, and a ground rented, and the committee evolved an ingenious plan for gradually raising the necessary cash. Every player agreed to hand over to the treasurer each week, summer and winter, the modest sum of one and an half pence (equivalent of 0.62 of a penny today). In this way the financial resources of the first Barrow Club, were slowly built up, and it was found possible to start operations.

They were fortunate in obtaining headquarters without the payment of any rent. At that time a man known in the village as ‘Matey’ Hall lived in a small cottage on the site of the present Church rooms. At the back was a small washhouse which he generously agreed to lend the club for their meetings free of charge.

‘Matey’ Hall was by profession a greengrocer, and the only stipulation he made was that he might be allowed to have a fruit stall on the ground while a match was in progress. Informal suppers were also held after each summer in the washhouse to celebrate the triumphs of each season.

The first club ground was in a field immediately adjoining the cemetery on its southern side. In the first season matches were played against Barkby, Hathern, Shepshed, Quorn and other village teams in the district.

In those days, before any form of competition had been introduced, matches were often played for the stake of the cricket ball (not a cheap item) used in the game. After the match the two teams would ‘repair’ to one of the village inns for a convivial evening, which would begin in the following curious way. The ball having been ‘carefully washed’ was placed in a large jug, which was then filled with ale. Every member of each team then drank from the jug until it was empty, whereupon the ball was formally handed to the captain of the winning team. There are no records how often these balls were reusable after this ceremony and what state they were in!!

The club did not remain long on their first ground which was very unlevel, and totally unsuitable for cricket. They moved back nearer the original ground of years previous to Mill Lane, and here in 1878 a memorable match took place against the ‘Clowns’ a group of comic acrobats who toured the district annually giving performances and playing the occasional game of cricket.

Their cricketing abilities were of no mean order and playing in an infinite variety of costume on their delight of taking a wicket by all manners of capers, tumbling about the ground in all directions they made it difficult for the spectators whether they stood on their ‘heads or their heels’. It was usual that a celebrated cricketer would turn out for the clowns to boost the attendance of spectators and the gate keeper. It may well be understood that when this weird cricket team played at Barrow the village turned out in strength to see the match.

Still unhappy with the facilities the club moved ground twice in the early 1880’s playing on a meadow behind New Street called the Open Close, and then they ‘removed’ to the field where the Humphrey Perkins School now stands.

Here Charles Wright, brother of Fred Wright, a well known county fast bowler played a famous innings of over a hundred for Barrow Victoria against Quorn. Charles was a Malster and cricket professional who also played for County representative teams. Two of the legends of the game, W.G. Grace and the Australian fast bowler F.R.Spofforth dismissed both brothers in separate matches. Fred in 1878 when Grace caught him in the first innings and his brother G.F.Grace bowled him in the second for a duck. Charles in 1880 when the Australians toured England and Spofforth bowled him also for a duck.

Charles in all Leicestershire games 1879 to 1892 scored 310 runs for an average of 22 including three 50’s with his highest score against Bedfordshire of 86. He dismissed five batsmen at 22 a piece delivering 236 balls, with 2 for 16 being his best bowling analysis against Uppingham Rovers. In the field he took 5 catches.

Junior cricket was first recorded in 1874 and the scores of the match against local rivals Quorndon are shown below from an old newspaper cutting of that year. This fixture was played for many years with further scores published recording close encounters, unfortunately there are no other junior scorecards against any other local teams from this period traced to date.

With the season fast drawing to a close next years ‘Caught in Time’ articles starting in April 2010 moves on with the formation of Barrow South End, Adult School, Grammar School and Church teams of the early 20th century.

Again any photo’s memorabilia and comments are most welcome especially on this period; please text or call me directly on my mobile (07944) 967670.

Mick Bailey

August 2009