Clacton Cricket Club run 2 Saturday and 2 Sunday senior teams as well as midweek colts teams, whose ages range from under 11 through to under
16. Our 1st X1 compete in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premier League, the 2nd team play in the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship
whilst on Sundays we have teams in the PDQ Cars North Essex Cricket League (1st X1) and the Two Counties (3rd X1).
Clacton Cricket Club also run a programme called "Jiminies" which caters for junior school children, who learn about
cricket by playing the highly successful and fun Kwik Cricket.
Clacton Cricket Club are always on the lookout for players of all abilities, and should you be interested in joining Clacton CC either as a
player or as a social member (Vice President) please send an e-mail via this site.
Cricket has been played at Clacton for over 100 years. The Club was formed in 1882 and played at several grounds around the area, including
Clacton Grammar School, Old Road (where the Waterglade Retail Park is now sited), Holland Road and the site at Tower Road where the Westcliff
Theatre now stands.
The Cricket Club came into its own being in 1903, having until that time been known as The Clacton Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club, but collapsed
due to the lack of local support. It re-appeared in 1918 as Clacton St.Paul's C.C.playing matches at the Old Road ground of Clacton Town F.C. an
arrangement that was to last until 1923 when the Cricket Club moved to London Road.
In 1929 the Clacton Cricket Club moved to its present home at the Vista Road Recreation Ground. Due to the enormous amount of work put in by the
then groundsman Don Mann, Clacton was awarded festival status by the Essex County Cricket Club, and the first County match was played at Vista
Road in July 1931 between Essex and Lancashire.
There were several notable performances over the years at Vista Road, including England batsman Colin "Ollie" Milburn, who, having been left out
of the test squad hit a double century in a day for Northamptonshire.
Trevor Bailey taking 10 for 90 for Essex against Lancashire in 1949 and perhaps the most remarkable of all featured Warwickshire wicketkeeper and
Captain Alan Smith (later to become a test selector) who became so frustrated at his bowlers inability to dismiss the Essex tailenders that he
took matters (quite literally) into his own hands, removed his pads and took the ball himself, banishing his bowlers to the outfield.
He promptly took a hat trick!!!!!!!
The County cut its ties with Clacton in 1966, since when the Club has grown in strength to become founder members of the much vaunted Premier
League system and has performed with distinction at this level.
The Club has had several notable players over the years including the legendary Arnold Quick and John Stuck, and in recent seasons we have
included former Essex and Worcestershire opening bat Adam Seymour and former West Indian test all-rounder Alvin Greenidge within our ranks.
Many of the current first team squad have made Minor Counties appearances for Suffolk, in both Championship matches against other Minor Counties
and also against first class counties in the Cheltenham & Gloucester one day trophy.
These players include Andy Poole, Gary Kirk, Mark Jones, Chris Swallow and Ian Morton. Also Danny Rock and Chris Seal have appeared for Suffolk
whilst with Clacton, although both have subsequently moved on. In addition to these players, David Coyle and Jamie Rock have represented Suffolk
at U19 level.
2002 has represented the Club's "finest hour". Having had the two matches against Ramsey (who were relegated) ruined by the weather, the team had
an outstanding season, eventually finishing as runners up in the East Anglian Premier League. If it had not been for the rain, who knows?
2003 saw us fail to capitalise on our 2002 performance. We drew too many games and lost games that we never should have. We were severely
hampered through injuries to Sean McKiernan which prevented him from bowling for most of the season, although he again excelled with the bat.
Gary Kirk's sickening ankle injury kept him out of cricket for much of the season. These were major factors in our inability to bowl the
opposition out. As a result we finished comfortably in mid table. We will be looking to improve on last seasons results this time around, and
with the signing of 3 seam bowlers, things look a lot brighter on the bowling front.
These bowlers are Ryan Butterworth, a Zimbabwean seam bowler and middle order batsman who replaces Sean McKiernan as our coach for the 2004
season. Ryan plays for Mashonaland and has a first class century to his name.
Nyasha Chari is a right arm seam bowler from Zimbabwe, and finally Dutch South African Ryan ten Doeschate will play when available. Ryan has
signed a two year contract with Essex, and when not required to play for them, he will be available for Clacton.
2004 again saw a mid table finish in the EAPL. Things did not go fully according to plan when Ryan ten Doeschate sustained a stress fracture of
his foot which limited him to just 5 appearances, and in two of these he could not bowl. His major contribution to the side was his magnificent
169 not out against Vauxhall Mallards which sealed a thrilling win against the defending champions, who went on to retain their title.
2005 saw us finish in fifth place in the EAPL. Ryan ten Doeschate's appearances were limited due to his involvement with the Dutch National Team
and their ultimatly successful quest to reach the 2007 World Cup to be held in the West Indies. We obtained the services of former Sri Lankan
Test player Indika de Saram as our overseas player, and he proved to be a big success. Whilst not recording a ton in the EAPL, he did register
two scores in the 90s and several other 50s. On Sundays however it was a different matter as "Sammy" put the opposition to the sword with three
centuries and some of the biggest hitting seen at Clacton since the days of Alvin Greenidge. The 2nd X1 were promoted to Division 4 of the
Marshall Hatchick 2 Counties Championship and the Sunday 1st team were promoted to the newly formed PDQ Premier Division, where we will renew
some old rivalries, most notably against Colchester and East Essex. The Sunday 1st team also won the 2 Counties Knock Out Cup, defeating Mistley
in the Final.
2006 saw an improvement on the field, with the first team finishing 3rd in the EAPL. Indika De Saram provided the highlight of the season with a
stunning innings of 179 at Vauxhall Mallards. This innings was remarkable for two feats. Firstly, Indi hit the last three balls before lunch for
6, and his innings included no less than 17 sixes! The Sunday first team also retained the Two Counties Cup, beating Bury St.Edmunds in the final
held at Mistley. In the newly formed PDQ Sunday Premier League, we finished runners up to Colchester and East Essex, by virtue of them beating us
at Castle Park and our only other defeat away at Mistley.
The 2nd X1 recovered from a poor run of results to finish a very credible 4th and the 3rd team were runners up in the Two Counties Division C
League.
On the down side we have lost the services of some prominent players for 2007. Skipper Mark Jones has departed to rejoin Felixstowe, opening bat
Trevor Moulton has joined neighbours Frinton, while Chris Swallow has joined Copdock. Ryan ten Doeschate will not play for us as he follows what
we all hope will be a highly successful career with Essex CCC. We thank Mark, Trev, Chris and Tendo for all their efforts over the years, and
they will all be assured of a warm welcome back to Vista Road at any time.
Martin Smith has now assumed the captaincy, and we have secured the services of Gareth James, a highly talented top order bat and all rounder
Chris Wright from Middlesex CCC.
|
