Walsall Cricket Club

Walsall Cricket Club is an amateur cricket club in Walsall, West Midlands, England, UK.

Established in 1833, it originally trained and played games in the Chuckery area of Walsall. It then moved to one at Windmill in 1847 and remained there until around 1850. The Chuckery ground became used by another team called the Tradesmen's Cricket Club. The Walsall Cricket Club stopped playing between 1850 and 1851, and reformed in 1852 when it moved back to the ground at the Chuckery. It remained there until 1909 when a new ground was opened at Gorway. The club still occupied it until 1974.

Their first and 2nd XIs currently play in the Premier Division of the Birmingham and District Premier League, of which they are a founding member. They are also one of the most prominent cricket clubs in the country, winning the national club knockout cup in 1996, and being runners-up in 1991. They play their home games at Gorway Road, Highgate, Walsall, a ground often used by Staffordshire County Cricket Club for Minor Counties Championship fixtures.

During the 1970s the Club began its rise to pre-eminence in Midland Cricket. The team won the 1st XI Championship in 1972 and 1976. 1971 saw the debut of one of the greatest servants the Club has ever had, Nick Archer, who was to become a successful captain of Staffordshire and lead the Club during the most successful period in its history.

In 1977, the 3rd XI League was formed as a result of the efforts of Walsall stalwart, Barrie Middleton, and Stourbridge's John Huband. It resulted in regular League cricket for the Youth Section of the Club. With Tom Pearsall at the helm, the Club began to develop a popular Friday Evening nets session and coaching for large number of young players.

The section flourished to such an extent that the Sunlife U15 National Knock Out Competition was won three years consecutively by the Club in the early 1980s. A large number of youths progressed through the Junior ranks into the three senior teams. So much so that the Club won the 1st Division title 7 times in the 1980s and 1990s and finished runners up on five occasions.

The 2nd XI were even more successful gaining 8 Championships and being runners up on 8 occasions. The 3rd XI also had their successes, winning their League on 9 occasions and finishing runners up on 4 occasions.

The success of the Club during this period culminated in a memorable season, 1996, when all three teams won their respective League titles and the 1st XI won the Abbott Ale Cup Final at Lord's Cricket Ground defeating Chorley Cricket Club. This was an improvement upon the defeat to Teddington in 1991.

The Club was fortunate, during this period, not only to have the constant flow of young talent from the Junior Section but to have the services of players like Nick Archer, Steve Dean (both captains of Staffordshire), Dave Clarke and Keith Arnold, who took 435 wickets in his 8 seasons with the Club.

The reorganisation of cricket in the West Midlands county towards the end of the 1990s has given the Club has encouraged the club to remain as a pre-eminent club in the area. The Club has purchased the cricket ground from the Borough Council and the committee are looking for ways to develop the Club and its facilities to match any ground in the area.

Walsall won the 2006 Birmingham League, for the first time in 7 years.

Junior Teams U15's and U13'sThe Under 15's during the 2007-2008 season were very successful. With a few players playing county. The Under 13's would and probably should have won the league but rain dashed their hopes. With Bronze eventually winning. The Under 13's have many county players such as Akhilesh Mullay and James Middleton. During the 2008-2009 season however 5 boys did the trial for county. Their names were Hari Pai, Michael Lockett, Jordan Stynes. Daniel Betty also did the trial but was diqualified as he was a year younger.

External links

* [http://www.walsallcricketclub.com Club Website]