ASHLEY CRICKET CLUB

A brief history of Ashley Cricket Club

This section compiled with the help of "Ashley Cricket Club; A History 1888 - 1988" by GF Turton and numerous minute books dating from 1890.

Click HERE to see a history of the clubs officials through the years

1888 – Founded. Ashley village comprised a small cluster of cottages close to the Greyhound Inn, a row of railway cottages together with the recently erected St. Elizabeth’s church and the school, built in 1850. The club rented a field from a Mr. Norbury. First recorded match played at Timperley. Ashley were 40 all out in pursuit of Timperley’s 46. In the first season 13 games were played of which 6 were won and 3 were drawn. Toft, Mobberley, Lymm, Tatton and Dunham were amongst the opposition.

1890 – Moved to current ground, “the Railway Field”, rented from Mr Erlam who offered the two acre field for an annual rent of £6, with the option of grazing cattle thereon. An offer of £8 with no grazing was accepted by the landowner for exclusive use of the ground.

1890 – Match reports appeared in the Altrincham & Bowdon Guardian detailing two games against Tatton. Click here to read them.

1890 – First recorded AGM held the Village School room on 29th September. The Treasurer reported a balance of 11 shillings and thruppence.

1891 – Square extended to 51 by 41 yards.

1892 – Mr J Cater Owen provided the club with a tent which may have served as a pavilion for a number of years. Mr. Hiles donated a flagpole.

1892 – On 11th June eleven gentlemen of Ashley played against eleven ladies of Ashley. The men batted with broomsticks; they also bowled and fielded left handed. The ladies “had the assistance of Miss Mabel Bentley of Knutsford, one of the best lady players in the County”. Miss Bentley took 16 wickets in a two innings a side game.

1894 – Opponents included Chelford, Brooklands, Fulshaw and Bowdon.

1895 – Letter received from a firm of solicitors suggesting the club may be contravening The Highways Act by wheeling bicycles down the path to the ground.

1897 – Of the 12 games played 5 were won and 2 were drawn.

1899 – Hockey played at Ashley

1900 – President, Rev G Birtwell and 5 other Vice Presidents resigned from the committee. The General Meeting was held in November in the Greyhound Inn.

1901 – The “tent” was broken into and a number of unspecified items were stolen.

1902 – A professional concert party, “The Merrions”, were engaged to entertain the members at The Literary Institute (later part of the now defunct Stamford Hall) at a cost of £18.

1903 – C Disraeli MP invited to become Patron. 1st and 2nd XI batsman and bowler of the year to receive 5/- prize; if funds allowed it the fielder of the year to also receive 5/-

1904 – Club colours agreed. The square was re-laid in part. C Disraeli MP is deleted from the list of Patrons.

1906 – Annual dinner held at the Greyhound Inn. Tennis played at the club. Throughout the year 32 committee meetings were held, a Mr Davenport attended 28 of them.

1911 – Village fete held on the ground on 15th July. Admission 3d before 5pm, 6d after 5pm. The club now owned a horse which was used for mowing and rolling.

1914 – Ground enlarged by 6 yards. A pavilion fund was started. Rent increased to £10 per year.

1915 – At EGM the Secretary revealed that fixture secretaries from numerous clubs had written to say that owing to the War their membership had been greatly depleted and they were obliged to cancel all their fixtures.

Wed 16th 1919 – Ashley CC reconstituted. During the coming season the club would play 16 games; 6 were won and 10 lost.

1920 – New pavilion erected by Mr. Collier at a cost of £79.

1921 – Local Member of Parliament Major Hamilton became a Vice President and paid a subscription.

1922 – A 2nd XI is formed, playing midweek or away games. The club had 48 playing members. The drainage had been troublesome for a number of years and the surface drains were cleared out. A horse was still on the ground staff.

1923 – C Vickers takes a hat trick and 4 wickets in 5 balls. T Rowlands scores the first recorded club hundred.

1925 – A Mr. Gill wanted £33 for cutting the long grass around the ground. A fee of £25 was eventually agreed on. The tea pavilion was demolished.

1929 – The club now owned a petrol mower.

1930 – Only 2 matches were won. The clubs holds its first tour, during Whit Week to Wirksworth. J K Allen scores a then record 511 runs.

1931 – Of 20 matches 6 were won and 11 lost.

1934 – 11 out of 23 matches were won. A new ladies pavilion was erected. A match levy (6d) was introduced. H Wood scores 516 runs.

1935 – K Allen and G Jackson put on 199 for the 1st wicket, opposition unknown.

1936 – Ground enlarged by a further 28 yards.

1937 – F Goodacre took all 10 wickets against Mobberley.

1938 – After an approach from Altrincham Cricket Club the following was resolved, “this committee is in principle opposed to the idea of a League or Association.” Alistair Carmichael completes 4 successive innings of 50 or more.

1939 – 10 Ashley members serving with H.M. Forces were made Honorary Members and were given preference for games when they were on leave. TocH Hockey club rent the ground for £2 10/- and 7/6 per game.

1943 – The club joined forces with Bowdon Vale to turn out “an Eleven” and this association continued until the end of hostilities. V H Howe took 9 wickets in one match.

1946 – One Ashley XI played this season.

1947 – Sunday cricket played for the first time. A limit on membership is placed at 45. Prospective players would have to attend nets and appear before the committee; they would then be told the likelihood of them gaining a respectable number of games.

1948 – The club advertises for a groundsman in the Altrincham & Bowdon Guardian, J K Stockton apllies for the position.

1949 – A Brown (106 @6.66) and J N Allott (103 @ 7.64) both take over 100 wickets in all cricket

1952 – Tea pavilion purchased from Garswood Tennis Club, who played near Princess Parkway, for £90. J N Allott took 6 for 0 against Prestbury.

1953 – A catering secretary was appointed.

1956 – Ashley agreed to join a proposed Cheshire Cricket Association if and when it was formed.

1957 – Ashley became a founder member of the Cheshire Cricket Club Conference. Its aim was to preserve traditional friendly cricket. To placate those wanting league cricket complete with points a knock out competition with limited overs was formed to be played in the evening.

1958 – The club declined to join the Cheshire Cricket Association, organised for competitive cricket.

1960 – A President’s Match against Urmston was staged mainly as a reunion of past members. An advert was placed in the Altrincham Guardian inviting applications for membership. Eloquent appeals to take charge of the emptying of the toilets fell on deaf ears.

1962 – Calor gas lighting installed in both pavilions. Our current landlord, Mr Brooks purchased Tatton Estates. No sale of the ground was possible neither would a long lease be offered. The sale of intoxicating liquor was also ruled out. We were assured there was no likelihood of the club losing the ground.

1963 – A junior section was formed under the guidance of Stuart Naylor and Bert Pendlebury. The club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a dinner at the Unicorn Hotel in Altrincham with Mr Cyril Washbrook (Lancashire and England) as the principle speaker. A Presidents Match was held with two professional league players, Bob Bartels and Lou Laza and D Millner of Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

1964 – The Chant Trophy, a rose bowl donated by Mr Chant for meritorious service to the club disappeared, as did Mr Chant.

1969 – Mr E A Coupes passed away and left £2,000 to the club in his will. He would walk from his home in Sale to watch Ashley when in his seventies. His umpiring abilities were often called into question and with reluctance he was asked to stand down. His dignified acceptance of this request came with the remark that his eyesight not being all together what it was.

1970 – The club joins the Cheshire Cricket Association.

1973 – A six would now be awarded if the ball fell in or cleared the gutter. Previously the ball had to clear the hedge or one of the pavilions.

1974- The Cheshire Cricket Association decides that games will be played on an overs basis as opposed to time cricket.

1975 – Outline permission was received to install a bar. The club won the Cheshire Association knock out trophy beating Runcorn in the final.

1977 – The committee instructed all team captains that it was not club policy to run out the non-striking batsman without warning being given. A bar is installed in the pavilion.

1978 – The club joins the Cheshire Cricket League. Under 18’s win Cheshire Cricket League Trophy defeating High Lane.

1979 – A 28 year lease agreed with Tatton Estates, enabling the club to approach Macclesfield Council for a grant to help with the cost of a new pavilion.

1985 – A club tours takes place to Warwickshire. The club was relegated into Division Two.

1986 – On the 3rd July the committees of Ashley and Old Alts CC meet to discuss a possible merger.

1986 – At a meeting held on 25th July the club resolved to amalgamate with Old Altrinchamians Cricket Club. The position of Chairman was created, Peter Birtles was elected to the position.

1987 – 3rd XI created.

1990 – 1st XI loses only one game and go through the season without being bowled out; they are promoted as champions to Division 1. A new pavilion is discussed at the AGM.

1991 – Club is reprimanded for fielding only 8 men in the first 2nd XI game of the season.

1992 – An application for the funding of a new pavilion had been turned down by the Sports and Arts Foundation.

1994 – Relegated to the 2nd Division. One of our 3rd XI opponents complained to the league that we were fielding ineligible players; they were later reprimanded for the same offence and they had 77 points deducted. Grant funding secured for the new pavilion. Steve Tyrrell scores a league record 1037 runs, including 5 centuries.

1995 – AGM held in the new pavilion funded in part with the help of Macclesfield Borough Council. Roger Arnoll retires (for the 1st time). 2nd XI wins the knock out competition.

1996 – 2nd XI wins the league championship. They win 9 of the last 11 games.

1999 – 1st XI shares the league title with Bollington. Roger Arnoll returns to playing.

2000 – The club tours are revived; this year the team visits South Wales losing to Ammanford and beating Dafen.

2003 – The 2nd XI travelled to Malpas with only 7 players. Ashley hosts a Cheshire Cricket League representative fixture.

2004 – The 1st XI is denied promotion to the 2nd Division. The annual tour this year is to Devon.

2005 – The 1st XI wins the 3rd Division championship. Ashley are awarded Club of the Year at the annual league dinner

2006 – 1st XI promoted to Division One as runners-up. 2nd XI wins the Twenty20 cup and promotion to Division A as runners-up.

2007 – The club enters an Under 9s team into the Cheshire County league and an under 13s team into the South Manchester Junior Cricket League; the Under 13s reach the semi final of the League Cup.

2008 – 4th team created, which will play in the 4th Division of the Cheshire County League. Another junior side, at Under 15 level, joins the South Manchester Junior League.