Then & now: Cricket in the Vale

blackmorevaleOctober 14, 20220 Comment0

by Lottie Hayton.

The first written record of cricket dates to the late 16th century, though some sources identify earlier versions of the game as far back as the Saxon period in south-east England.
While it was originally a children’s game, as it spread across England from the 17th century it was increasingly taken up by adults. In this issue we look at some of the Blackmore Vale’s own cricketing history, with archive images shared by cricket clubs, Stour Provost and Compton House.

Photos: Compton House Cricket Club

Compton House Cricket Club, the oldest in Dorset, treasures its heritage. This extends even to the dart board, which has reportedly been in the same place since the early 20th century, when a shot was accidentally discharged creating a hole in the clubhouse, which the board still covers today.
Club Chairman Stuart Casely credits the club’s success both to its location in a comparatively dry spot (meaning fewer incidents of rain stopping play) and to a strong community spirit.
The latter survived even the Covid-19 pandemic when players and supporters rallied to ensure the club met the health and safety requirements required to open for six weeks of the 2020 season.
Compton House has made a concerted effort to focus on youth development. They are accredited to run the England and Wales Cricket Board’s All Stars coaching scheme for five- to eight-year-olds, ensuring generations to come will enjoy the sport.
One element of continuity since the club’s beginnings has been the pavilion, originally a sheep shearing shed, which you can see in the background of many of the photos.

Now well into their 153rd year however, Compton House have made plans for an exciting new pavilion, which they hope will ensure members continue to have the best cricketing experience for at least another 150 years.
You can find out more about Compton House Cricket Club online at www.comptonhousecricketclub.co.uk.

Although a younger club, Stour Provost Cricket Club is no less proud of its community spirit and has proven resilient through some tough times.
Founded by Humphrey Brown in 1983, the club played their first game in 1984 against ‘Port Rejects’ (teachers and parents from Port Regis School). It enjoyed some years of success, playing 30 fixtures a year at its height and winning a couple of local six-a-side competitions.
In 2010, when player numbers dwindled and it became clear the necessary infrastructure was lacking, it seemed the club might have played its final match.
However, in 2014, a few enthusiastic remaining members began to re-invigorate the club. After a 2019 memorial match in honour of Ivor Jones, treasurer, club secretary, and the driving force behind the club throughout the 1990s and 2000s, drew enough players to form two full teams, it was clear the club was back on track.

A photo from 21July 1984 shows the Stour Provost cricket team at their first home match

The presidents match from 1 September 1985

Stour Provost’s Dynamos, pictured in 2021

Like Compton House, Stour Provost has put a lot of effort into youth cricket, starting Dynamos cricket training for mixed juniors in 2021, which has led to a team of those juniors playing as a ‘Ducklings’ team in some softball matches this year.
Not ones to take themselves too seriously, Miles Jones, Club President, told us the club’s badge is a golden duck due to the number of ‘ducks’ (when a batsman is dismissed without scoring a single run) they get as a team.
While their focus is clearly on enjoyment of the game rather than counting runs, Stour Provost have still put in a lot of work to ensure continued growth and success.

Through local fundraising and national grants they have raised the money for new double nets, which they then built themselves.
And these investments are paying off; increasing club runs while keeping enthusiasm high, as the club continues to attract and unite players of all ages.
Only this year one of their adult players, Cameron, put on a 60-run partnership with Freddie Jones, an u10 county cricketer who has been at the club since he could hold a bat and is the first county player the club has helped train.