History of Bathford

Thanks go to Derek for this, there will be more to follow if we can track down any further correspondence and pictures.


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The Early Years: 1920's - 1963

The team played at the Crown Field during the 1920's and 30's, as Bathford Cricket Club. There are no tangible records to confirm this, but many local residents can remember their relatives playing in those times.

The club was reformed after the war in 1947 as a successor to the Shockerwick House Cricket Team. This was a team comprising of Estate workers and Bathford villagers. Games were played on the meadow by the By brook, just below the House. The use of the meadow was granted by the Morley family, proprietors of a nationally known hosiery company, who owned Shockerwick House at the time, (its now a retirement home).

The club moved to the Crown Field in Bathford in the early 1950's. The ground was shared with Avonvale Rugby Club and leased from Eric Beazer, a local farmer. The club played at this venue until 1959. A dispute with the farmer over the size of the playing area resulted in the club moving to its present location; the village recreation ground.

A new square was laid and cricket continued until 1963 when the club ceased due to the perennial problems of player shortage and lack of finance.



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Bathford Cricket Club (1969)

The Bathford Cricket Club was reformed in 1969 as a seperate entity from the previous club and is officially known as Bathford Cricket Club (1969). A second team was formed in 1984.




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The North Somerset Weekend League

The spread of league cricket meant that it was decided to join the North Somerset Weekend League, a local league centred on teams in the W. of Bristol, Chew Valley, E. Mendips and Bath area.

In 1978 Bathford CC started their League Cricket career in Division 4 of the NSWL, and enjoyed some success being promoted in 1981 to Division 3 and as League Champions to Division 2 in 1983. Promotion to Division 1 in 1985 (as Div. 2 runner up) was followed by playing for a number of years in the top division of the NSWL against teams such as Bath Exiles, Lower Weston Sports, Barrow Gurney, Bishop's Sutton, Headley Park and Saltford.

Eventually, however, a combination of the limitations of playing a 40 over 'Sunday League' game and the difficulties of travelling across Bath to Bristol and Western-Super-Mare, in ever worsening traffic, led us to leave and join the Wiltshire League.




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The Wiltshire League

We joined the Wiltshire League in 1993 in Division 9, and were Division champions that year, infact the Wiltshire League was so impressed it promoted in to Division 5 for 1994. Promotion into Division 4 was achieved at the end of the 1994 season and Bathford have remained in Division 4 until 2000 when the first XI achieved their highest league placing, of 2nd in Division 4, and were promoted to Division 3 for 2001. There they played until 2003 where they suffered relegation and returned to Division 4. However, our place in Division 3 was regained for 2007, where we finished "close to" mid table.

The second team also play in the Wiltshire League and gained promotion for 2008 to Division 6 (of 7) at the end of 2007.




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We hope for continuing success for both teams, and that whilst playing to win, we will play the game in the spirit intended.