Sibton Park Cricket Club

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.133
longitude= 1.0866
official_name=Sibton Park Cricket Club
shire_district= Shepway
shire_county = Kent
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Folkestone and Hythe
post_town=

A brief history of Sibton Park Cricket Club

In 1897 Captain John Howard bought Sibton Park House and its surrounding estate. He was the owner of Chartham Paper Mills and a Member of Parliament. Records show that cricket was played on this ground in the 188os but the Club was formed under the patronage of John Howard in 1903. Cricket has been played continuously since then with the exception of the period during the two World Wars. In the 1930s, cricket weeks were held at the Park, marquees erected and this became very much a part of the social life of the village and the surrounding area.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLUB
After the second World War the club slowly developed though funds and resources were scarce. The Club has always relied on the help of Club members. The skills of the Club members have been put to good use in improving the ground and pavilion facilities. After the war a small wooden pavilion with no electricity, mains water or mains drainage. Regular improvements have progressed to the purpose-built brick pavilion that we enjoy today. Much of the work was carried out by Club members.

CRICKET
In the 1960s it was decided that the Club could field an occasional and XI. A little later, the most important development in the Club occurred when a Colt& section was started (the first in the Shepway area). The Club now fields two Saturday and two Sunday sides with mid-week cricket and Junior cricket in several age groups. The 1st XI has just gained promotion to the 1st Division of the Kent League and the and XI was promoted to the znd Division in 2003. Likewise, the Colts have succeeded in a number of Competitions at their age groups. Whilst there is no room for complacency it is encouraging that the coaching over the years has yielded success. Many of those playing League cricket have progressed from the Junior Section.

Recent development

In 1998 a brand new net practice facility was built with two full sized double nets (with help from the National Lottery). The winter of 2000/2001 saw the ground and pavilion under several feet of water for six months. Despite the view of many, the pavilion was completely re-furbished and cricket was played on the late May Bank Holiday. The following Autumn, through the work of members, a comprehensive drainage and pumping system was installed to prevent this happening again. In 2003 the Club celebrated its Centenary with a Cricket week—the highlight an excellent game against the MCC.

In 2004, the club became the first sports club in Shepway and only third cricket club in Kent to be awarded the ECB and Sport England Clubmarkcite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Kent Clubmark Clubs
work =
publisher = Kent Sports Development Unit
date =
url = http://www.kentsport.org/clubdevelopment/mark_clubs.cfm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-09-06 ] and in 2006 became one of the county's first Focus Clubscite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Kent cricket Clubmark clubs
work =
publisher = Kent Cricket Board
date =
url = http://www.kentcricketboard.co.uk/clubmark-accredited-clubs/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-09 ] . [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = KCB County Focus Club Map, March 2008
work =
publisher = Kent Cricket Board
date =
url = http://www.kentcricketboard.co.uk/focus-clubs-in-kent/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-06-06 ] In 2007 the ground was extended to accommodate a larger Junior section and the new Girl's Section.

References

External links

* [http://sibton.cc Sibton Park Cricket Club website]
* [http://sibtonpark.play-cricket.com/home/home.asp Play-cricket results site]