A history of club cricket in Co. Durham

[jaxaxe]

Pre match team talks were always amusing because in the South Hylton dressing rooms the dividing wall didn't go right up to the roof, so you could hear every word of the game plan .

I have to say though, it was a dump whenever I visited there (81-88 ish) and I don't think the local householders were too enamoured with the short boundaries - hence the vandalism.

South Hylton Cricket Club was there long before any of those houses. They knew they were buying a house next to a cricket club.

 

[Jap Stammer]

South Hylton Cricket Club was there long before any of those houses. They knew they were buying a house next to a cricket club.

Definitely this^.

I know it's true because my parents tried to buy off-plan one of the houses overlooking the ground when they were building the Greenbank Drive estate. They were all sold before any of the others on the estate.

Later, when it became apparent that the proximity to a cricket pitch meant cricket balls in the garden and occasionally through the windows, petitions were raised to shut the club down.
The club went into debt to put up a thirty foot mesh fence - but some balls still got through, or went over it.

Then the vandalism started.

A brand new toilet block was trashed the day after completion. It was repaired by the insurance company. It had been open a week before it was trashed again.

The cutter shed was set on fire destroying the two large petrol mowers inside.

Wickets were prepared on a Friday evening ready for their final cut and roll on Saturday morning and when the players turned up the wicket had been doused with weedkiller or diesel. Everyone knew who was responsible but it could never be proved.

In the end they just gave up.

Ironically, the prime suspect for the vandalism moved house a year or so later because the now, derelict cricket field was attracting crowds of kids who were disturbing him and his family far more than the cricket club ever did.

 

[jaxaxe]

Definitely this^.

I know it's true because my parents tried to buy off-plan one of the houses overlooking the ground when they were building the Greenbank Drive estate. They were all sold before any of the others on the estate.

Later, when it became apparent that the proximity to a cricket pitch meant cricket balls in the garden and occasionally through the windows, petitions were raised to shut the club down.
The club went into debt to put up a thirty foot mesh fence - but some balls still got through, or went over it.

Then the vandalism started.

A brand new toilet block was trashed the day after completion. It was repaired by the insurance company. It had been open a week before it was trashed again.

The cutter shed was set on fire destroying the two large petrol mowers inside.

Wickets were prepared on a Friday evening ready for their final cut and roll on Saturday morning and when the players turned up the wicket had been doused with weedkiller or diesel. Everyone knew who was responsible but it could never be proved.

In the end they just gave up.

Ironically, the prime suspect for the vandalism moved house a year or so later because the now, derelict cricket field was attracting crowds of kids who were disturbing him and his family far more than the cricket club ever did.

This was probably the weekend we went to play there. The square was an absolute mess. We were just stood there shaking our heads, and the South Hylton lads seemed in shock but also sadly resigned to the fact that the club would be no more. It was horrible.

It was a terrible thing to see a cricket club and its history being destroyed by a single c@nt like that.

 

[Jap Stammer]

This was probably the weekend we went to play there. The square was an absolute mess. We were just stood there shaking our heads, and the South Hylton lads seemed in shock but also sadly resigned to the fact that the club would be no more. It was horrible.

It was a terrible thing to see a cricket club and its history being destroyed by a single c@nt like that.

Couldn't agree more.

That final season they played until the half-way point then resigned from the league - broke my Dad's heart. By that time he'd been involved with the club for over thirty years.

Another sad thing was that all the old scorebooks dating back to the '50s went missing so there's no record left of any of the games or the players who played in them other than some old photos and some videos unearthed by the local historical society.

 

[Johnap]

I played at South Hylton many times - they had a hell of a side in the 70s. Yes the ground was small but that didn't matter. No thoughts about the club when they built the houses or so it seems. Sad so sad.

Japstammer - your Dad was a gentleman to play against and have a pint with.

 

[Poolynorm]

I played at South Hylton many times - they had a hell of a side in the 70s. Yes the ground was small but that didn't matter. No thoughts about the club when they built the houses or so it seems. Sad so sad.

Japstammer - your Dad was a gentleman to play against and have a pint with.

I seem to remember the name Neil Bainbridge ? who seemed to regularly get runs and take wickets

 

[AB22 Easy Tiger]

I remember us turning up playing an away match, and some c@nt had poured weed killer or some solvent over part of the square, ruining it. It was towards the end of the club's existence, and the club was on its knees at that point. Sad state of affairs.

My other memory from South Hylton was of a horse in a neighbouring field with severe flatulence. As an away player it was amusing the first few times it farted, but it eventually just became background noise.

That was Sue Jolly’s horse. I remember it well.

 

[Jap Stammer]

I seem to remember the name Neil Bainbridge ? who seemed to regularly get runs and take wickets

Baina was a great cricketer (footballer too) but liked his drink better - I think he packed in when he was in his mid- to late twenties because it interfered with his afternoon sessions.

On his day, he was as quick as anyone with the ball, and nasty with it, and he was a destructive batsman who could score quickly. He would have been ideal for 20/20 cricket but he wasn't the one you wanted at the crease if you were trying to dig in for a draw.

 

[Shandy drinker]

Liked this from way back: “Though not alone, Philly’s followers got a bad name. Their “eccentric old men and empty-headed boys” lashed out with sticks and tongues against South Shields. On another occasion they threatened an umpire, “even the women” pelting him with mud.”

Nowt changes in philly

Pre match team talks were always amusing because in the South Hylton dressing rooms the dividing wall didn't go right up to the roof, so you could hear every word of the game plan .

I have to say though, it was a dump whenever I visited there (81-88 ish) and I don't think the local householders were too enamoured with the short boundaries - hence the vandalism.

If you don’t like short boundaries don’t live next to a cricket ground

 

[Super K]

Not many cup teams better than Horden in the late 80s through the 90s. Seem some cracking games played down there in that time. Seem to be in a final every week come the back end of the season

In my humble opinion, the Ryhope side of 1983-89 were better than Horden. No overseas pro (other than Max Allayne for a year) and in one season played 52 games (including cups) and got beat in 2. Trotter, Dick, Hauxwell, Borthwick D, Borthwock G, Bittlestone, Rudd, Beaney, Mason and later Hopkinson.....if you added an overseas player to that team they would have totally dominated cup cricket.

 

[Poolynorm]

In my humble opinion, the Ryhope side of 1983-89 were better than Horden. No overseas pro (other than Max Allayne for a year) and in one season played 52 games (including cups) and got beat in 2. Trotter, Dick, Hauxwell, Borthwick D, Borthwock G, Bittlestone, Rudd, Beaney, Mason and later Hopkinson.....if you added an overseas player to that team they would have totally dominated cup cricket.

Was it Ian Hauxwell ?

 

[Super K]

Was it Ian Hauxwell ?

Yes it was indeed. Ian was a top bat, an aggressive seam up and had a real edge to him. The Ryhope team had a confidence to beat anyone. I’m not downplaying Hordens achievements but without Parry, i would back Ryhope everyday.

 

[Poolynorm]

Joe Bittlestone was a prolific run getter.Dave Borthwick was as well but arguably the best W/K around .Played minor counties and for the League Cricket Conference.Think Trotter played for Durham too.Not really a weak link in the side.All capable match winners

 

[Voice of fair play]

In my humble opinion, the Ryhope side of 1983-89 were better than Horden. No overseas pro (other than Max Allayne for a year) and in one season played 52 games (including cups) and got beat in 2. Trotter, Dick, Hauxwell, Borthwick D, Borthwock G, Bittlestone, Rudd, Beaney, Mason and later Hopkinson.....if you added an overseas player to that team they would have totally dominated cup cricket.

Think the Horden side was better Cup side in that same era.

Parry, Wilson, Hill, Matthews, Hodder, Spanton, Greener,Patterson, Pendlington,Sherrington, Ward was as strong Cup side as you could get.

The depth in batting was immense, at times you had the likes of John Pendlington batting eight or nine in that side who was a very good bat.

 

[Eggman]

In my humble opinion, the Ryhope side of 1983-89 were better than Horden. No overseas pro (other than Max Allayne for a year) and in one season played 52 games (including cups) and got beat in 2. Trotter, Dick, Hauxwell, Borthwick D, Borthwock G, Bittlestone, Rudd, Beaney, Mason and later Hopkinson.....if you added an overseas player to that team they would have totally dominated cup cricket.

Played against them many a time though rarely won. They were an excellent side.

We played them 3 years on the trot in the Frank Lees final, beating them in 1984.

 

[rokerpete]

Joe Bittlestone was a prolific run getter.Dave Borthwick was as well but arguably the best W/K around .Played minor counties and for the League Cricket Conference.Think Trotter played for Durham too.Not really a weak link in the side.All capable match winners

Not saying he was a weak link but Steve B wasn't quite as good a bat as their Joe!

 

[harmy]

Joe bit was one of the best cricketers I ever saw as a young lad growing up at hylton. Saw some excellent innings from joe. Great player to look up too. Trotter was excellent too. Even at the end of his career running in on one leg he’s was class.

 

[SAFC2403]

In my humble opinion, the Ryhope side of 1983-89 were better than Horden. No overseas pro (other than Max Allayne for a year) and in one season played 52 games (including cups) and got beat in 2. Trotter, Dick, Hauxwell, Borthwick D, Borthwock G, Bittlestone, Rudd, Beaney, Mason and later Hopkinson.....if you added an overseas player to that team they would have totally dominated cup cricket.

My dad opened the batting for Ryhope 2nds during the late 80’s earmy 90’s. Ryhope were a top club all around back then. Cracking junior set up at that time as well. They always seemed to be the ones to beat during that era.

 

[jaxaxe]

That was Sue Jolly’s horse. I remember it well.

Is that Jolly as in the family who run the Jolly buses ?

 

[Super K]

Think the Horden side was better Cup side in that same era.

Parry, Wilson, Hill, Matthews, Hodder, Spanton, Greener,Patterson, Pendlington,Sherrington, Ward was as strong Cup side as you could get.

The depth in batting was immense, at times you had the likes of John Pendlington batting eight or nine in that side who was a very good bat.

Yes top team. Hodder came to Easington in the mid 1980s and was superb for us. He actually developed into quite a sharp bowler. I went to school with Paul Mathews but maybe only 2 season as a good player...then he moved away.