175 Years of cricket at Bridgnorth 3 of 6

3. History - The Roaring '20s


Cricket, like the nation, made a recovery after the war. By 1921 Bridgnorth CC had twenty-one fixures, jumping to forty by the end of the decade. Games were still played on Thursdays and Saturdays, and Bank Holiday fixtures became more popular. The Thursday side was populated by a number of shop staff, as Thursdays were given as half day closing in the town.

Such a growth in interest in the sport required able men to organise and oversee, and the Committee was constantly changing as the workload told on the Secretary and Treasurer. A new President came to the helm, William Lascelles Southwell, who's family had a long standing relationship with the Club and town.

Record keeping was vital for those interested in the tradition and heroes of the Club and this has been invaluable. Minute books were immaculate, the local press reported much of the on-field activity and men who have only recently departed start to appear. This provides the author with the challenge of presenting, in a history such as this, the salient points of interest in the Club's journey.

The post-war years saw the members restoring the ground to a cricket pitch after conflict ceased. The President paid for marl to dress the square in 1922, and the outfield was mown regularly, despite the process taking two men and a horse two days to complete. Monies were spent on the ground and equipment used on it, but the Treasurer reported "very few members take an interest in the ground, treating themselves as gladiators with the arena prepared for them". This remains the consistent gripe of groundsmen to this day!

A new innovation for the decade was the District Knockout, borne of a meeting in 1922 that saw the idea to raise funds and scout for talent. Teams were charged to enter, were allowed to field a Bridgnorth player, and had some fanciful names. The novelty of the game, initially with each innings lasting an hour before the twenty-over format was established, saw large crowds gather especially for the later rounds. As many as 600 watched the finals in the later years of the decade.

In the '20s, the Gough family arrived. Father James worked on the ground, and his four sons all played. Albert, some claim, joined as a professional, Bill played in the 1st XI as an all-rounder, alongside Arthur who kept wicket. Youngest brother Ernie became a regular in the 2nd XI. The family would have a major influence in the coming seasons, and James' grandson Phil retired in 1990, ending a family run of 66 years.

Syd Richards remained a force at the start of the decade, and lead as captain by scoring regular runs and claiming wickets. Gilbert Ratcliffe produced spells of "unplayable bowling" and also proved handy with the willow. The Gough brothers performed consistently, with Albert twice passing 1000 runs in the season, the first occasion in 1928 being the first time a Bridgnorth player had achieved the feat.

Slow-left-armer Edgell 'Edgie' Piper proved effective after joining in 1922, and in 1930 took a record 115 wickets in the season. In early 1928 a thirteen year old prodigy from Bridgnorth Grammar School played his first game for the 2nd XI, scoring 33 against Blakenhall. Cyril Washbrook would continue his cricket education at the Club until 1933, before embarking on a successful career with Lancashire County Cricket Club and England.

Away matches took players some distances, with a double-header played against Cheltenham CC in June 1924. The decade also saw the Club entertain a District XI annually and raised funds for the Bridgnorth Infirmary.

The Dinner Dance, to recognise the achievements of the Club and players, began in the '20s and soon became the highlight of the autumn. Second XI cricket became far more organised at the end of the decade as the Club hierarchy saw the benefits of a side to bring on the youngsters of the town.

Bridgnorth Ladies Cricket Club held its first AGM in 1929.