Bowdon Cricket Club 1856 – Present
Bowdon expanded rapidly in the 1850’s from a rural village to a suburban town, as the construction of the Manchester to Chester railway allowed easier access to Manchester. The location of the railway line combined the prevailing wind taking the smoke from Manchester’s factories to the North East, meant that North Cheshire quickly became a desirable residence for the wealthy of Manchester’s cotton boom. Large houses were built to accommodate these families and their retinue of servants.
In 1856 a group of young men who played informal games of cricket amongst themselves, on Rose Hill. They decided to form themselves into a club and the resulting subscriptions allowed them to rent and prepare a field in Winton Road (where the Tennis club is today) to practise. A couple of fixtures were arranged for that summer and on Saturday 24th August 1856, the following eleven:
G Mitchell, Joseph Harwar, Frederick Jackson, Edward Challender, Richard Harwar, Stephen Plews, Isaac Warburton, J M Fothergill, William Lycett, Robert Barlow and Henry Miller won at Sale (whose best 2 players were barred from playing).
The club continued to progress and in 1860 engaged its first professional in W Iddison, and in 1865 was able to rent the South Downs Road ground from Lord Stamford, where the club remains today. The opposition by the necessity of transport in those days were all close to the railway lines and included Urmston, Northwich, Trafford, Broughton Park, Rusholme, Cheetham Hill. There were many games against the Manchester Cricket Club, whose home ground was Old Trafford.
Many features of the club remain to this day, the club crest was established at this time, as well as the motto ‘Semper Paratus’ (always ready). The club colours of Oxford blue, Cambridge blue and Cheshire Regiment cerise, are also still used.
The clubs iconic pavilion was built in 1874, and although the interior has been renovated many times, the façade remains today, as it was built. The pavilion was inaugurated by playing a celebration match between the married members of the club and the single ones, (the married men won.) [The pavilion was situated in Victorian fashion facing the North East away from the sun, to prevent the gentleman receiving a sun-tan that would suggest they had been labouring in the fields. Many generations following have disagreed with this decision.]
The club proceeded serenely, with talented players often performing well, and when in trouble bailed out by James Brelsford, who began his 45 year association with Bowdon as a professional, before becoming an umpire, the club steward and groundsman.
In 1888 the often harmonious and occasionally fractious relationship began with Bowdon Hockey Club, who after a year playing on Green Walk, became tenants of the Cricket Club by renting the South Downs Road outfield in the winter. Many players represented the club at both sports
The club celebrated its golden jubilee in 1906 in good health, the Club a leading member of the Cheshire cricket scene, supplying a number of players to the Cheshire team, the president James Fildes presented the batting cup that is still presented today.
Like every organisation the Club suffered in the 1st World War, and were keen to resume in the summer of 1919. The inter-war years continued with the Club playing in the Manchester Association, and able to produce, and attract cricketers who played at the highest level of Cheshire cricket.
A key moment in the Clubs history quietly took place in 1939, when Helen Bickham, bought the South Downs Road ground from Lord Stamford, and presented the land to the Club in memory of her brother Ernest Bickham. The Club remain eternally grateful for this act of generosity.
The 2nd World War finished with Bowdon beating Timperley on VE Day, and Bowdon continued playing its cricket within the Manchester Association. In 1962 the Hockey and Cricket Clubs merged to form the Bowdon Cricket and Hockey Club, and were shortly joined in 1969 with the squash section.
The Club proved its ability by winning the Manchester Association Championship in 1971, and then in 1974 as the county boundaries changed, and the parish of Bowdon found itself part of Greater Manchester, Bowdon Cricket Club left the Manchester Association, to join the Cheshire County Cricket League. A group of 12 prominent clubs from 3 different Associations, who combined in the intention of raising cricket standards within Cheshire.
Bowdon quickly took a shine to the new League by winning the title in its second year in 1976, this showed the strength of the side that would take the club to probably in its finest hour, by stepping out at Lords for the Final of the National KO in 1977. Sadly events conspired against the Bowdon side of Tony Dawson, D Parker, D Bailey, Steve Murrils, Simon Milner, P Howard, John Savin, Paul Allott, John Riley (c), G Swann and Phil Blakeman (wk), as the weather only allowed half the match to take place, and then in the rearranged match at Edgbaston opponents Southgate proved too strong. Amongst the Bowdon team was a young Paul Allott who would go on to have an illustrious career with Lancashire and England.
The club won the Cheshire Cup for the first time in 1980, by overcoming the dominant Cheadle Hulme team of that era. The title was shared in 1983 with Alderley Edge, and in 1989 it was won outright by an excellent side led by Tony Dawson. This team was described by Neville Walton, a stalwart member of the club for 70 years from the 1930's onwards, as the finest Bowdon team he had seen.
The format of the County League began to change in 1993 as 10 new clubs joined and the pyramid structure in Cheshire cricket began to take shape, with the necessity of promotion and relegation.
The modern era for Bowdon cricket began with Alan Farrow becoming chairman, in the early 90's, combining with Jon Grays captaincy of the 1st team. Alan Farrow as a player in the 50's and 60's made the absolute most of his talents to turn himself into a 1st team player, he took that attitude into a successful business career. Despite his untimely death in 2002, his influence on Bowdon sport remains and can be seen to the right as well as the left of the Main drive.
The club recorded a hat-trick of League titles in 1996,7 and 8, with the Cheshire Cup won in 1997. Steve Bramhall replaced Jon Gray in 1999, and the success continued with titles in 2000, 02,03 and 04. The Cheshire Cup was won in 2003 and 2004, and the League Cup in 2000, 02, and 04. The club became the second to complete the treble in 2004.
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