As most cricket fans attention has recently focussed on England’s disappointing performance in the Ashes series, Clumber Park Cricket Club are celebrating a record breaking season. Not only have the club managed a first for the Bassetlaw and District Cricket League, with three teams promoted in a single season, but it has also scooped the prestigious The Wisden Cricketer / Hunts County Club of the Year Award for 2006.

This has been a remarkable turn around for a club, who in 1999 had 16 ageing members struggling to turn out teams to play social cricket on Saturday’s and Sundays, into one of the most successful and forward thinking teams in Nottinghamshire. Clumber had a rich tradition of playing social cricket for over 100 years, the original estate team playing regularly from the mid-1890’s, supported by the Duke of Newcastle. During the 1930’s the cricket club flourished with the active support of Lord Lincoln himself, a gifted cricketer.

In 1946 The National Trust purchased Clumber on behalf of the nation and opened it to the public for ever for everyone. The tradition of social cricket continued and throughout the 1960s and 70s hundreds and sometimes thousands of people came to the park to watch an excellent standard of cricket. But by 1999 despite having one of the prettiest grounds in the country the club was going rapidly into decline.

Mike Beard Chairman of Clumber Park CC recalled “We only played social cricket had no money, 16 ageing members, no juniors and very little future. Other clubs seemed to have been progressing so we sat down one evening with a beer and decided we needed to change; we couldn’t let the club die. The Club set up a youth policy and things started to take off, word soon spread and youngsters were queuing to join.”

Today Clumber has over 200 junior members at Kwik, U11’s/12/13/15 and U18’s. The club plays an active part in the community and local sports programme including promoting and coaching cricket at local schools. In 2004 its commitment to junior cricket was rewarded and recognised when it became the first club it Nottinghamshire to be awarded the ECB ClubMark award, the club subsequently gained Focus Club status at Trent Bridge. The club has some 28 qualified ECB coaches including one Level 3. It enters four senior teams in the Bassetlaw and District Cricket League and on Sunday’s plays league cricket in the Newark Alliance League whilst still continuing the traditions of social cricket when fixtures allow.

Beard added, “The third and fourth teams play home fixtures away from Clumber, this year at Ranby and Worksop College, the thirds previously playing at Weston. Permission has recently been granted from the National Trust and planning consent obtained from the local authority to build a second ground close to the current ground so that all teams can play their cricket within the park. We would like to thank the National Trust for all their help and support they have given us towards realising our ambitious plans. The club has grown rapidly as a club in the last few years and we have outgrown our current facilities. Over the last couple years we have had the generous use of other grounds for league cricket at Worksop College, Ranby School and Weston but for our financial stability, club morale and identify we would like a second ground in the Park. Our Next Generation Project also includes plans for an extension to our existing pavilion with provision for changing and shower facilities, supplying electricity and improving access for all.”

The project will be the last part of the plans enacted in 1999 to develop a cricket club in Clumber that will stand the test of time, be financially sound and provide facilities for cricket to be played, taught and enjoyed for the next 100 years.

The club have started a reserve fund to contribute to the overall cost and hope to generate grant aid from a number of sources. The total budget for the new ground and the existing pavilion extension is in the region of £150,000.

Beard continued, “If anyone is able to help this project in any way, however small please do not hesitate to e-mail me at michaelbeard@btinternet.com. We are passionate about cricket in Clumber and the successful completion of the “Next Generation Project” will secure our future for years to come”.



Michael Beard Chairman C.P.C.C. Michael Barton Vice-Chairman C.P.C.C.
01909 485895 01909 500417
07855 420485 mick.barton@bassetlaw.gov.uk
michaelbeard@btinternet.com

Trevor Pressley Press Officer C.P.C.C. Website: www.clumberpark.cc
01909 474827
01909 476592
0790 2081397
trevor.pressley@nationaltrust.org.uk