Play for Us

---

The club is always keen to attract new members. Our first team play to a good standard, but are light in the batting department. If you are a decent batsman and want to play cricket at a good standard, at some excellent local grounds, then please don't hesitate to get in touch.

The club is generally on the look out for new members, regardless of ability. We have three weekend teams, catering to all abilities. Umpires, scorers, and casual members are all welcome. If you would like to join our club please email Isaac Reed at iseinozz@yahoo.co.uk

Teams

---

The club has three weekend league teams. Our first and second teams play in divisions two and eight of the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship. The Sunday team plays in the Hunts County Bats Suffolk League. The club also has a midweek side playing in the Adams Harrison Midweek Cricket League and a vibrant junior section with three teams.

Youth Coaching

---

For the last seven years the club has held youth coaching sessions on Monday nights. We currently have three junior teams with many of the older members now playing adult cricket and pushing hard for first team places.

Click here for further details

Social Events and Matches

---

For many members village cricket would not be village cricket without a beer or two. IPA seems to be the brew of choice around these parts. On top of the excellent general social scene, the club arranges several social matches throughout the season, the most notable of which being the village vs. club fixture and the Presidents Day match. We also play the Tamborine team each year - a select eleven of musicians and friends. Our main fund raising event of the year is our fun day, which includes our annual egg throwing competition.

A Brief History of Brockley Cricket Club by John Reed

---

Brockley Cricket Club started in the 1920's with the advent of the charabanc and Saturday afternoons off for farm workers. The Rev Nettleship's nephew was the prime mover in forming the club. The pitch was along the Hartest road next to Clockhouse farm. In those days all the surrounding villages had teams and great was the rivalry between Brockley, Rede, Hawkedon, Hartest and Whepstead. Brockley was famous for the large number of Boreham's the side contained. On one occasion there were 10. However the star of the side was Ernie Pawsey, the village postman and black smith. The opposition used to get him so riled that he bowled faster and faster and wilder and wilder until the ball was bouncing over the wicket keeper's head and going for byes. He was a sort of early version of James McKinney. With the onset of the war the club was disbandoned.

It restarted in 1953 with Alf Bishop as captain. The ground was an old meadow behind Mr Coe's farmstead. Alf was a fearsome but indiscriminate hitter. His tenure at the crease was short but exciting. I think Alf could only have been in charge for one year before he was succeeded by Cyril Chalice whose captaincy lasted 15 years. During that time we played friendlies. It was also a period of transition as the old guard was replaced by a crop of very young, very keen, talented cricketers. A very youthful Kenny Boreham helped Brockley to their first cup final victory in the Wickhambrook Cup Competition in the early 1960's by getting seven wickets. Great was the rejoicing that night! In those days scores were low, teas were frugal, we changed in a converted chicken hut and Cyril kept the ball shiny from one game to the next by applying liberal quantities of shoe polish. I can remember Harry Rose scoring the first ever century for the club during this era. In 1963 Mr Coe sold the turf on our ground and we had to move! In 1964 Mr Francis leased us our present ground. We had to put it down to grass and made mistakes preparing the square that are still being felt today!

In 1969 Brockley entered the Suffolk League. There were only two Leagues at the time: the Premier and Division 1 with no promotion and relegation between the two. Ken Boreham took over the captaincy at the start of this more competitive era when match fees were 15p. We actually played some very strong sides during this period: Worlington, Lakenheath, Tuddenham, and Bury Railway Club all of which eventually got invited into the Premier League. In 1972 we were relegated for the one and only time in our history. We needed to win the last match of the season but Great Cornard called off. There was weeping and gnashing of teeth! However next year we won all our matches and were back where we belonged. KB's time at the helm was noteworthy for a series of wonderful cup triumphs in the Drakard and Rowntree Competitions. We can all remember Mike Beloe's triumphant on drive for six into the setting sun to win us the Rowntree Cup against the old enemy Nowton.

In 1979 Dennis Fisher began his 15 eventful years as captain. This was a period of consistent success in the Suffolk League Division 1. We were top of the league on four occasions and were the best village side in West Suffolk outside the Premier Division. In 1986 our playing strength led to the creation of a second team to play on Sundays. During these years Tony Spurling began at long last to improve the wicket with the help in 1988 of our most important purchase ever: a heavy motorised roller from Philip Drakard. It is still working! Facilities improved when three portacabins were purchased for a clubhouse and we were licensed to run a bar. Paul Martin has run the bar for the last 17 years - testimony to his great thirst! In 1987 Len Pawsey who had played for Brockley since its reconstitution in 1953 retired. How we missed him for his competitiveness, humour and character.

So finally we come to the modern era of Dean Sykes who has been captain since 1994. The most important development has been the re-organisation of league cricket in Suffolk that has allowed for promotion and relegation between the leagues. Brockley have progressed from the first division of the Suffolk McNeil league through the Suffolk Intermediate and Suffolk Premier leagues to division 3 of the Two Counties league. Rapid promotion has stimulated another huge improvement in facilities: new changing rooms, a shower block, sightscreens and finally excellent covers that make us the envy of other clubs. The last 8 years has also seen a new flush of young cricketers and the gradual demise of the stalwarts from KB's time.

Facilities

---

Club House
Home and Away Changing Rooms
Hot Showers
Licensed Bar
Sight Screens
Artificial Wicket
Roll on Covers
Two New Fixed Practice Nets
Roll on Practice Net
Bowling Machine
Catching Cradle