150 Years of Gloucestershire CCC
1870-2020
Neville Cardus, the doyen amongst cricket writers, asserted that ‘there is no summer in this land without cricket’. This may be contested by those who deplore the game for it has often been said that you ‘either loath or love the game’.
However, for me and all lovers of the ‘Noble Game’, the invasion by CV19 has dealt the game a savage blow. So it was a tonic to be able to see some live Test cricket last week, albeit played behind closed doors. Then last weekend saw the emergence of no less than 300,000 club cricketers across the land of all standards, engaged in sporting rivalry again.
As a staunch supporter of Gloucestershire since the restart of cricket in 1946 it is a source of immense pleasure and pride for me that the county will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its foundation during this year.
Above all, the glory of the county has lain in the many memorable performances of its great cricketers – W.G. Grace and his brothers, Jessop, Hammond, Parker, Barnett, Goddard, Russell and many other fine cricketers - and not forgetting the many brilliant overseas players, Procter, Walsh, Zaheer Abbas and Marshall amongst others who have adorned the game within the county and beyond.
In the age of Grace in the seasons of 1876 and 1877 in an embryo county championship the team were the uncrowned champions. They won no less than 12 of their 16 matches played and were undefeated. However, since its establishment in 1890 the title of county champions remains an elusive goal. The county has been so near yet so far - being the runners-up in 1930, 1931, 1947, 1959, 1969 and 1986.
However, for those of us who were lucky enough to be present at Lord’s will always hail the extraordinary successes of the team in the One-Day finals from 1999 to 2004. The team were crowned champions on no less than six occasions and justly earned the accolade One-Day Cup Kings.
The Exiles, the supporters of GCCC will be celebrating and acknowledging the achievements of the club over past 150 years. Its magazine, Outside-edge, will be issuing an on-line edition for the first time in the autumn. Hopefully in the much revamped championship that will commence in August the team will enjoy success and make 2020 a memorable season
Memory added on July 4, 2021
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