The History of the Club

From CrickiWiki

by Brian Mayled, August 2002.

Although established, we think, in 1875, records for BGCC are now non-existent for the early part of its history. However, the parochial nature of the village community for much of the 20th century has enabled some gaps to be filled.

At the north end of Barrow Street, close to the present drive to Redwood Farm is an area known as the "the cricket field" to ancient residents born in the parish. By all accounts that site was used up to 1939 when World War II blockades required it to be ploughed for crop production. Whether cricket was played in the village for the next six years I have been unable to ascertain, but, since the main occupation was farming, it is most unlikely, for all other able bodied men were conscripted.

When hostilities finished and the survivors returned home, the most desirable summer leisure activity was to revive the national game, for that was cricket in 1946. But where to play? The "Lord of the Manor", Major Martin Gibbs indicated his willingness for one quarter of the top field at the far end of Hobbs Lane to be fenced off for cricket, and a group led by Captain James and Mr Weadon set about making a square. For the next quarter of a century, BGCC could really claim a cricket pitch of true agricultural origin. Playing strips were definitely "green" and the outfield as unpredictable as a billy goat. Mind you, some other local club grounds were far worse.

Club membership availability also varied, even though only one team was fielded. In 1959, when I joined, we often turned out with just 9 or 10 men.

League cricket was not established until the beginning of the 70's and BGCC won the N.S.W.C.L in 1973.

Between 1946 and now the club could easily have folded on a number of occasions if it had not been for the loyalty and effort of a few dedicated members. Present day players are the beneficiaries of their tenacity and vision.