History of Club - Caught in Time

NEW ARTICLE MAY 2010!

Last year a selection of the earliest recorded Cricket articles in the village were published on the web site under the ‘Caught in Time’ banner. Previous articles on village cricket history were first published in the local newspapers in 1934 followed by two short updates one in 1979 and the last for the Village Millennium book ‘Barrow in the 20th century’ in 1999 which is also printed in full on the village web site under Sport/Cricket. I had the privilege to research and write the last two updates and hopefully the web site is providing a useful interactive medium for all contributions going forward. Our journey started in the middle of the 18th century when the game was first recorded in the village. Unfortunately there was little chronicled until the latter quarter of the 19th century where Barrow Victoria was the village team, reaching the so called ‘Golden Age’ of three separate village teams playing regularly.Junior Cricket the lifeblood of every club was first recorded in the late 1800’s alongside many senior inter-village single wicket competitions and bank holiday fixtures that had been played annually for many years previously. Barrow Victoria became Barrow South End in the latter years of the century and was instrumental in forming the North Leicestershire Cricket League (NLCL) in 1895. League Cricket became in vogue. Barrow South End and later Barrow Adult School joined the fledgling league with some success.

By the end of the first decade of the 20th century only Barrow South End played league cricket and after the first world war Barrow Town (BTCC) was formed from the old South End members and has continued ever since. Three lean decades followed and with no permanent ground, league participation was fragmented until the early 1950’s when both a decent squad of players and a much improved new facility began the rebuilding process and eventually saw a new and extremely impressive wooden pavilion purchased. Disaster struck when fire destroyed this fine building in 1968 losing considerable playing and ground equipment plus historical memorabilia. The sterling work the club’s officials and members had started some years previously was increased and within twelve months for the first time in the cricket history of the village, the club purchased land on Nottingham Road and work commenced immediately to provide basic facilities and playing conditions that came into force in May 1970. Over this decade there was considerable success on ground improvements and with a new generation of young local players achieved a record breaking treble in 1978 being Champions of the Division 1 & 5 plus league Cup victory, beating the previous class of 1906 league double of that momentous year as Barrow South End. Leaving the NLCL in the early 1980’s the club finally joined the Leicestershire County League. The 80’s and 90’s continued with progressive improvements to the ground and positive results on the field with another record, a quadruple (two league championships and two cup winners) then another treble, including a buoyant junior programme which augured well for the new millennium.. The Loughborough Charity Cup, local evening league and cup success were very evident, only recently recording three consecutive knock out cup championships (2006-8). Obtaining accreditation as a focussed ECB club and Clubmark came in the early years of the 21st century coupled with a long term strategy of development and continuous improvements both on and off the field with key emphasis on the all important junior process.Success and Failure have come in equal measures and this year’s ‘Caught in Time’ articles will be of that so called ‘Golden Age’ between the years 1890 up to the Great War of 1914. I am particularly interested in locating the original photo of the Barrow South End first XI championship side of 1906 and one of the prized gold medals that were presented to all members of the winning team. If you have or know of anyone who could help please text my mobile (7944) 967670. A ‘milestones’ chapter will eventually follow as we build and recall the fine achievements of past generations whether player, official or supporter in acknowledging the many league championships and cup winners, but above all the rich heritage that is cricket in Barrow-upon-Soar. Barrow Town Cricket Club played its first league games on our own Nottingham Road ground during early May 1970 forty years ago where two tracks were cut out from the future square that were affectionally named ‘Sunset Strip’. These tracks were by no means the cultured manicured wickets we enjoy today, far from it, with the occasional plantain and other wonderfully evocative sounding weeds all the opposition of those times promptly, if they won the toss, ‘invited’ us to bat!!!. n fact the field was primitive and facilities at best basic, clumps of coarse grass and cut scrubland formed the outfield and with no running water we had to fetch supplies from the brook which had a rather large natural inlet onto the outfield then. The brook was conveniently damned at times to allow filling an old tin bath in the back of a similar old van to transport the contents and be bucketed or water canned onto the two strips. It really was like rolling mud as the season progressed with the occasional bristle of green ‘something’ poking out by the end of that first season. Thankfully we confounded the doubters, scored fairly well and only narrowly missed promotion to the top division from the most talented and dedicated local young players of the era. Happy days!!!

The ground as we shall see from 1970 bears no resemblance to today, being transformed into one of the leading facilities in the County and witnessed by far the most successful period in the villages’ cricket history on the field so far. Once again one only has to look at the tremendous ongoing ground force work and facilities improvements made over the past 12 months, the pavilion and patio changes alongside the end of season land drainage process, that has been an instant success over a wet and cold winter, to understand the club’s commitment to maintain and continuously improve in all aspects as befitting its Premier league status.

That Premier league status was further enhanced last year in one of the tightest finishes to a season for many a year with any one of three teams including Barrow that could win the championship on the last day. Albeit the game against 2nd place Loughborough Town was easily won. Lutterworth became champions by also winning comfortably their last fixture. The winning margin over twenty two games just three points. The second XI in any other season would have gained promotion as runners up into division 4 except for league restructuring, resulting in only one team gaining promotion. Finally we must record the Junior side winning the under 15’s Northern district final and only just missing victory in the county semi final on the last ball, truly a superb all round year for this group of talented youngsters, one that augers well for the future.

Enjoy the season

Mick Bailey

May 2010

In this section our club historian Mick Bailey looks at the history of Barrow Town Cricket Club. The club is 90 years old in 2010 and before then we hope to have articles and material that traces the origins of the club. We hope you enjoy this look back to days gone by. In the meantime please take a look at the photos below of recent success enjoyed by the club. The pictures show sides that won the Joe Orton Cup in 2006 and 2007. Also shown is the 2ndXI which won the League and the Cup in 2005.