The Club owes its inception to the rivalry between tradesmen, the then prevalent enthusiasm for cricket of the Wiseton Estate employees and, not least, to the benevolent patronage of the owner of the estate. For some years before 1877 the gardeners had regarded themselves as the elite of the estate workers - a status hotly disputed by the, grooms. The latter used to hold impromptu games of cricket in the stable yard, and it was they who issued a challenge to the gardeners to a game of cricket. The term they used was "a real cricket match", and it was to be played on the Park Field at Drakeholes. The challenge was accepted and no doubt much banter took place as to who was going to get knocked all over the field and that certain bets were made as to the result. The game actually took place towards the end of June 1877 and amongst the small number of spectators was a small boy, son of the owner of the estate, his name was Joseph Laycock and he was already passionately fond of cricket.
In the event the gardeners beat the grooms but, whilst the result is unimportant, the match led to a whole series of games between the various staffs employed on the estate. Teams were made up by trades and in the team raised by the indoor staff was a girl, a "lower-stairs" maid whose name, unfortunately, has not come down to us. It was not unknown for women to take part in cricket matches but this was the first time it had happened at Wiseton. The owner encouraged these matches and it is safe to assume that, had there not been this early encouragement, the tender plant of cricket at Wiseton would have withered and died.
The Park Field at Drakeholes was flat and reasonable as a cricket field by the standards of that time. The outfield was kept close- cropped by the grazing of sheep, whilst the actual playing pitch was cleared of droppings before a match, trimmed up with a scythe, then rolled. Since A those taking part in these matches were Wiseton employees who lived in the estate houses a cricket club may fairly be said to have started at Wiseton in the year 1877. Matters continued thus each season with what might have been called "inter-staff" matches at various intervals. There were no set fixtures, for employees could be called away to duties at house parties, or to travel with the family to their holidays in the North. As far as 1 have been able to discover only one match was ever played against an "outside" team and this took place in August, 1883 when an eleven from nearby Everton arrived to play the combined Wiseton team at Drakeholes. Wiseton were successful by one wicket but acrimony, 1 was told, crept into the match over an umpiring decision and the fixture was not repeated for many years.
In 1889 Joseph Laycock, who had watched the Grooms versus Gardeners match twelve years earlier, decided to become responsible for the estate cricket and to put it upon a proper footing. In November, 1889 he made his decision known at a meeting he called of the foremen of the various trades employed. He said that, although matches played between staff could continue, his team would always have priority in the use of the ground. He added that, although he intended to raise a team composed of good local amateurs and some of his cricketing friends from school and college, he would expect to have two or three of the better Wiseton players on hand to fill vacancies caused by any absentees. He commenced by making the large field adjoining the garden at the rear of the Hall into the cricket ground. Some years ago, Mr. Charles Walker, an old Wiseton employee then eighty-seven years old, told me that he remembered the setting out of the new ground. Work started, he said, in IM and was completed in 1894. By that time permanent groundsmen had virtually hand-reared the turf on the square, the outfield had been cut lawn-smooth, and a pavilion and score-box had been built. A few years later cricket matches had become one of the social events on the Wiseton calendar whilst the match against Wiseton was regarded as one of the more important fixtures on the list of many fine teams up-and down the country.
From 1895 until 1914 the Club ran two eleven's for Mr. Laycock always arranged a large number of fixtures. He had engaged the services of two full-time professionals; one of them, F. Guyler, was employed as the permanent groundsman which position he held for many years. The other, W. Walker came for the summer seasons only. During these nineteen years it is said that Mr. Laycock was spending in excess of £2,000 per annum on the cricket ground and the matches. Those with strong stomachs may care to estimate that sum in today's cash terms. The result of all the lavish care and attention to the ground was spectacular, and the square was reputed to be so level and true that a cricket ball could be rolled on its seam from one end of the wicket to the other without deviating. House-party cricket was very much the fashion during these years and this usually meant three-day matches and from accounts given in the local press these must have been very colourful affairs. Of the quality of the opposing teams there can be no doubt; the Army and Navy sent teanis as did the Royal Artillery, Nottinghamshire, Derby- shire, Northumberland and Durham, and Lincolnshire. Each year Lord Roseberry brought a strong team which consisted of players of the calibre of Lockwood and Hitch, both of Surrey and England, Trott of Middlesex and Australia who was a first-rate bowler and one of the hardest hitters in the history of cricket, Foley and Rawlins of Middlesex, plus half-a-dozen very good amateurs. No wonder that his team was always difficult to beat! Whilst mentioning first-class players 1 must not omit Harry Elliott who started off as a groundsman at Wiseton and ended up playing for England. He was seen and recommended to Derbyshire by Sir Archibald White, a former captain of Yorkshire. Elliott first played for Derbyshire as their wicket-keeper in 1920 and played 194 consecutive matches for them before playing for England in 1927. His last cap was obtained playing against the West Indies in 1933-. Harry Elliott died as recently as 1976.
After the 1914-1918 war a knighthood was conferred upon Mr. Laycock and he became Sir Joseph Laycock, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.
Cricket began again at Wiseton in 1920 and the team continued to flourish. Celebrated players came willingly to play either for or against Wiseton, and Service teams were particularly keen to get asked to come along - hence the quotation at the head of the first page of this work.
This was the time that Sir Joseph put up his celebrated challenge in the pavilion, and here I reproduce it in full:-
COPY FROM BOOK
This, remember, was in the halcyon days when a sovereign was real gold and £10 would be the equivalent of, say, £50 today?
Colonel Laycock was kind enough to write of an incident which took place on the field just after the notice was put up:-
"It was an Army versus Navy match; two county players, Sir Timothy O'Brien, batting at the Park End and Major John Hopley at the House End, came together with just two balls left in an over. Sir Timothy hit the first ball for six - it landed over the sunken fence full toss onto the croquet lawn going first bounce through the billiard-room window - LIO! The second ball he hit even harder sky-high between mid-off and cover over the trees onto the road eventually rolling into the canal. What a .fantastic hit! Major Hopley proceeded to keep the tempo going during the next over - the first ball he hit full toss through a pavilion window at the front and the ball, for good measure, broke a rear window on its way out - two windows £10, a total of £20 in three balls. There were many players who tried un- successfully to "get a window", amongst them Aiden Crawley - an Oxford "blue" and a player who had had a trial for England".
The ground itself had been kept in immaculate condition even through the difficult war-years. When the wicket had been laid down tons of marl had been laid down and rolled in the centre of the field whilst the boundaries were expanded to county-ground standards. Just how good the pitch and ground were was made clear when Warwick Armstrong, the Australian captain brought some of his players up to Wiseton. They told Sir Joseph that the pitch was a tot better than several of the county grounds they had played upon. This too was the opinion of the Derbyshire players when, in June, 1931, they came to play Wiseton. The, accompanying photograph shows several well- known players with Sir Joseph who has Lord Lincoln on his right
In May, 1934 the full Nottinghamshire team played a two-innings match against Wiseton and, after a hard game, they won by three wickets.
Thus the years drifted by, one season followed another, old friends departed to be replaced by others, memories grew longer and stories told of past events became mellower and longer with every re- telling until, suddenly, the worsening situation in Europe made future cricket seem a little doubtful. This doubt had hardened to certainty by March, 1939 and in the Club Minutes is this ominous sentence: "Mr. Yarrow promised to arrange for groundsmen to do some preliminary work on the ground, but the Club would not become liable for any payment to them for work done until the opening of the season". The season never opened. The Annual General Meeting tor 1940 was due to be held on 17th April, 1940 but by this time we had been at war with Germany for eight months; many of the cricketers who put away their cricket gear in 1939 took up weapons of a sterner game and some, in the event, never played cricket again.
During the war, which was to last until 1945, some work was done on the ground by devoted members but it became more and more bedraggled and neglected as the years went by. To add to its plight, late in the war a bomber crashed on to the ground just missing the square but leaving a depression which was always observable afterwards. There is, however, a cheerful happening about this period, and 1 will include verbatim the description by Colonel Laycock:-
"The General Election had taken place and, by way of expressing his thanks to the very large number of the electorate of the constituency of Bassetlaw who had supported my brother when he stood as Conservative candidate (he failed to get in) he arranged a sort of gala cricket match. A large marquee was erected in which there was a plentiful supply of food and drink, and all were welcome. 1 think that over one thousand people turned up. The match was to be my brother's scratch side versus the Notts. 2nd. Eleven. V.E. Day was over but the war was still going on in the Far East. My brother was still a serving soldier - so was 1 who at that time was stationed at Eastbourne. My brother managed to collect eight players, all friends from old school days and three of them were really good bowlers. A few days before the match 1 received a telegram saying "Give yourself weekend leave and report at Wiseton on Saturday and bring with you two cricketers". All very well but where to find them? Actually it wasn't too difficult - 1 had a pal who was in the R.A.C. also stationed at Eastbourne who was a keen but very moderate cricketer like myself and, at his suggestion, we approached the General commanding the Australian Division stationed nearby. He was very helpful and suggested that we should approach a young captain on his staff by the name of Whitington. This young man readily accepted our invitation and we set off on Friday for Wiseton. Owing to war-time conditions etc. we couldn't all stay in the house so we three stayed at Markham Moor. Saturday was a beautiful day. As 1 mentioned before our side had three very good bowlers and my brother was a good wicket-keeper - better than 1. We bowled the opposition out very successfully for 63. Then ewne the awakening - we were an abysmal batting side. Five wickets fell for 18 runs. Then Dick Whitington came in. From the very word go it was obvious that he was a top-class bat - he had already proved himself a top-class fielder. He should have been put in earlier but no. 6 was his choice. To cut a long story short no other runs except two extras were scored except by him! The great thing was to try and stay in and at all costs let him get the bowling. 1 was last man in - and the score was 59 - to my eternal credit 1 survived two balls and the "over" was called. The first ball of the next over Dick hit for four - the score was equal and he knew it. The@ next ball he skied to an enormous height - the wicket-keeper advanced up the pitch and caught it but in the meantime we had run a single. Score 64 - we claimed the match which was, of course, incorrect - the single should never have counted but the umpire was a Wiseton man and he decided that it should. Wisden would have turned in his grave! Dick was a modest chap but eventually he admitted that he went in no. 3 for New South Wales and was once tried for a pre-war Australian side! ".
Before concluding this particular part of the Wiseton story mention ought to be made of a butler at Wiseton Hall. It is said that he kept wicket indifferently but that, later in his career, he became the Club Umpire when he was noted for his loyalty to Wiseton players!
The Club Minute Book reads that on 20th June, 1947 a preliminary meeting was held in the pavilion when it was decided to re-open activities. The following officers were elected:
President - Sir Joseph Laycock, K.C.M.G.
Captain - Mr. E. Ragsdale
Vice-Captain - Mr. C. Godfrey
Secretary - Mr. S. Underwood
Treasurer - Mr. A. Chappell
Scorer - Mr. E. Slinger
The annual subscription was fixed at ten-shillings for adults and five-shillings for those below the age of seventeen. There proved to be a cash balance of £19. 16s. 6d. and with this the Club started off another chapter of its history, a chapter which was to close over twenty years later when, unbelievably, the Club left Wiseton.
From this time on there are items in the Minute Book deploring the state of the ground, the pitch itself, financial problems, in short, all the worries which have become common-place.
Several of the cricket clubs who had regular fixtures against Wiseton did not re-commence after the war so in 1948 it was decided to advertise locally for opponents for the 1949 season. At the request of Sir Joseph the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club sent their Head Groundsman to have a look at the square and give advice as to how to improve it. His advice was pithy and to the point - "Marl, rolling, more rolling, and then work on it". Whilst mentioning groundsmen it is, perhaps, salutary to reflect upon the wages paid to the Club Groundsman in 1951 - it was the princely sum of 2/6d. per hour!
The Club suffered their greatest loss when, in January, 1952 Sir Joseph Laycock died. He had been in poor health for some time and, for the last season, he used to have himself wheeled out on to the terrace so that he could watch the cricket. He had been President of the Club for more than fifty years and was the driving force behind it in its early years. Remarkably, only once could it be recalled of him actually taking part in a match for the Club, that was in a match against Gainsborough Britannia Cricket Club whom he was entertaining at the Hall. At the Annual General Meeting on 27th February, 1952 all members stood in silence for one minute in tribute and as a gesture of respect for Sir Joseph. He could justly be called an all-round sportsman, and it may not generally be realised that, in addition to his love of cricket, he had been a well-known hunting man, a keen and able yachtsman, an enthusiastic motorist who owned and drove the motor-~ in which Fournier won the Paris - Berlin race in the early part of this century. In his later years his great delight was to be out on his estate with his gun and his favourite dog.
His son, Major-General Robert Laycock, when approached by the Club Committee immediately gave his permission for the Club to continue to use the ground and he also agreed to accept the office of President of the Club. As the death of Sir Joseph Laycock brought to an end an epoch in the history of the Club it is appropriate to set down the names of the Club officials Who carried on into the next stage of its history:
President Major-General Robert Laycock
Chairman Mr. E. Slinger
Secretary Mr. A. Ingall
Treasurer Mr. A. Chappell
Captain Mr. E. Ragsdale
Vice-Captain Mr. E. Warburton
Umpires Messrs. B. Wright and L. Pearson.
Unfortunately, by now the state of the ground was becoming even more of a head-ache to the officials. In an effort to contain the long grass in the outfield Mr. Ragsdale agreed to allow some of his sheep to graze on.it. Matches went on each season and, with that optimism of all cricket clubs, it was thought that some magic remedy would be found so that "everything will be all right next season". 1955 stands out as the year in which the old pavilion was burned down. This happened on Saturday, 2nd July at about 10.30 p.m. Some £2,000 worth of damage was said to have been caused and this included almost all the club gear. The fire is supposed to have happened by a carelessly thrown down cigarette-end which eventually set light to the dry floor boards. Next morning officials of the Club got in touch with a friendly sportshop proprietor who brought along sufficient gear for the Club to continue playing. The new pavilion was built where the old one stood and was opened in time for the 1957 season. This pavilion still stands on the now forlorn and overgrown ground as sole reminder of the great days at Wiseton.
Sir Robert Laycock, as he had now become, took a great interest in the Club and its activities always attending when he could the annual general meetings and the various fund-raising activities. No one was more pleased than he when, in 1962, the Club won the Retford and District Knock-Out Shield for the fourth time. In the following year Sir Robert bought season tickets for the cricket at Trent Bridge which also enabled Wiseton players to have some coaching in the nets there, and the groundsman could obtain advice on the field.
The years 1964 to 1967 were, in one sense, lean years during which a shortage of good players particularly for the Saturday matches, gave cause for concern. Too many "guest" players came up to the ground, condescended to have a game and then, immediately the match was over went away. There appeared to be less enthusiasm for working- parties which, as now, tended to consist of the same loyal few members. To add to the worries of the team captains it became almost impossible to get anyone to do the teas on a regular basis. In a word the Club drifted into a decline. However, almost all cricket clubs, great and small, suffer similar bad patches and, just when it appeared that Wiseton was through the worst, it suffered another catastrophic blow, one which was to prove fatal to the continuance of cricket on the Wiseton ground. On 10th March, 1968, the Club Patron and President, Major-General Sir Robert Laycock, K.C.M.G., collapsed and died. His death was quite unexpected and the effect upon the Club was immediate for it soon became obvious that things would never be the same. The usual rumours of change for once proved correct when advertisements for the sale of the whole estate appeared. It was hoped, and not only by the members of the Club, that whoever bought the Hall and Estate might wish to become the patron of the Club so that the tradition of cricket at Wiseton could continue. Eventually the estate was sold in 1970, and the new owner was considerate enough to have several lengthy discussions with the club committee, and once he attended and spoke to an Extraordinary General Meeting of the full membership. Unfortunately, terms could not be agreed and, very reluctantly, the Chairman had to break the news that Wiseton Cricket Club would have to seek a new home for the 1971 season.
Because of the importance of the meetings and negotiations which took place when the whole future of the Club was in the balance full accounts of these were entered into the Club Minute Book. Anyone who takes the trouble to read these will be left in no doubt as to how hard the members of the Committee tried in their endeavours to keep cricket at Wiseton. In the event, hard economic facts prevailed and, almost overnight, the ninety-three year connection of the Club with the Laycock family and the Wiseton Hall Ground was severed.
The final season at the old ground ended upon a happy and historic note. In all the history of the Club there is no record of any player scoring over a thousand runs, or taking over one hundred wickets, in a season. In 1970 both these feats were performed, Trevor Gaines scored 1,176 runs with an average of 30, whilst Ray Edwards took 120 wickets at an average cost of 8 runs. To commemorate these happenings the Club presented each player with an engraved shield at the annual dinner and dance.
On the 10th April, 1971 the Club Secretary wrote to the Clerk of Gringley Parish Council to request a meeting to discuss the terms and conditions under which the Parish Council would allow the Club the use of the Recreation Ground for matches in 1971. On 20th April a letter was received from the Council setting out the terms and conditions and suggesting a meeting of Club Officials and the Council. This was held on Friday, 23rd April, 1971 and at the meeting the following terms were agreed:
The rent for 1971 will be £65 to be paid in two halves.
The Council will provide a shed for storage and allow the Club to erect another one if required subject to sitting approval.
The Council will cut the outfield and the Club will prepare and maintain the wicket.
Cars must be confined to the Car Park at all times.
The Club must provide Insurance Cover for persons and property.
The field must he kept free from litter.
When these terms were put to the full meeting of the Club it was unanimously resolved to accept thern and, in future, to play under the name of Gringley and Wiseton Cricket Club successors to the Wiseton Cricket Club. It was also resolved to send a deputation to next the Parish Council sub-committee to discuss terms and conditions under which the Club could use the field in 1972. This Club deputation consisted of Messrs. G. 1. Carter, D. T. Coleman, R. F. Edwards, H. G. Spink and T. Gaines. The meeting was held and the same terms were agreed for 1972.
Cricket started on time at the Gringley Ground which, after immense labour by some members of the Club, was made fit for play.
Those teams whom we had played over many years all turned up to play and no team dropped out of our fixture list because of the move from Wiseton. Whilst it would not be true to say that conditions were anything like those which pertained at Wiseton many enjoyable games took place in that first season at Gringley when, for the second time, Ray Edwards took over a hundred wickets. The Annual General Meeting was held at the Cross Keys Hotel, Gringley, on Friday, 26th November, 1971. At this meeting Mr. A. E. Ragsdale was unanimously elected an honorary life member of the Club in tribute to the long and valued service which he had given to the Club. His length of service may be seen from the list of Chairmen given at the end of this history. It was also unanimously agreed that Dr. John Raine should be invited to become the Club President. For many years Dr. Raine had been an enthusiastic supporter of the Club and all members were delighted when, in a letter to the Secretary, he agreed to become the President. The Officers of the Club were these:
President - Dr. J. Raine
Chairman - Mr. R. F. Edwards
Vice-Chairman - Dr. D. A. Swales
Treasurer - Mr. P. Taaffe
Secretary - Mr. D. T. Coleman
Fixture Secretary - Mr. G. 1. Carter
Sun. Captain - Mr. E. Ward
Sat. Captain - Dr. D. A. Swales
Sun. Vice-Capt. - Mr. J. Cawkwell
Sat. Vice-Capt. - Mr. T. Gaines.
An Entertainments Committee was formed and consisted of:
Messrs. Carter, Cawkwell, Cunningham, Edwards, Gaines, Gibbons, Potts and Taaffe, with power to co-opt.
Mr. E. J. Spencer was invited to continue as Groundsman.
Subscriptions: over eighteen to pay £2.50 and under eighteen £1.00
Teas: Members to pay 18p each, this being 15p for the tea and 3p for
teas for the Umpires and Scorers
Shortly after this meeting was held, Mr. Arthur Chappell, for almost forty years the Club Treasurer died in hospital after a long illness. This was another great loss to the Club for apart from having served the Club so well, Arthur was the kindest of men.
The 1972 season passed without a great deal of incident although the season finished earlier in respect of home matches as the ground was also let to a football team who started football in early September.
At the Annual General Meeting of 1972, held on Friday, 1st December, the Chairman, Mr. R. F. Edwards, introduced to the meeting Mr. W. Moore of Blyth who had recently become the owner of the former,-Mattersey School playing field and pavilion. Mr. Moore was invited to address the meeting; he said that he was prepared to allow the Club to have the sole use of the bottom half of the playing field including the pavilion, an area of approximately 3V2 acres, for five years in the first instance at a rent of £100 p.a. He said that he would paint the exterior of the pavilion, if the Club made any improvements to the pavilion then he would reimburse the Club when it quitted the tenancy. No cars were to be allowed upon the field itself; there was to be no written agreement and, after five years security of tenure Mr. Moore reserved the right to give immediate notice to quit. After some discussion the Chairman asked the members present to vote upon a proposition accepting the terms of Mr. Moore. This was carried unanimously. The President, the Chairman, Messrs. Carter and Cunningham were appointed to act as ad hoe committee to negotiate any additional conditions with Mr. Moore.
Changes in the Officers of the Club regretfully included the Secretary. After some years in the Office Mr. D. T. Coleman thought that the time had come for him to retire, reluctantly the Club agreed. 1-le was unanimously elected a Life Member of the Club. Other changes included Mr. J. Cawkwell who became Club Captain and Match Secretary, whilst Mr. G. Bell was appointed as Saturday Vice-Captain. It was decided to raise the annual subscription to £5.00 per annum with those under eighteen paying £1.00. Casual players to pay 25p per match.
After two seasons only playing under the name of Gringley and Wiseton Cricket Club the members passed unanimously and with great pleasure a resolution to revert to our old name - Wiseton Cricket Club.
