Burton Cricket Club

 This isn't supposed to sound like 'Only Fools and Horses' but, 'during the war' there were four cricket clubs in the area of  Burton. They were Burton, Williamston, Ashdale and Westfield. After the war, local headmaster Howard Warlow decided to call a meeting with a view to forming one combined club. At this meeting there was a vote, all but Burton agreed to this. They formed Burton Utd. Leaving Burton CC to continue playing their cricket under their own name.

One problem this left them with, they had no pitch to play on as their pre-war ground was no longer available to play cricket on. Many questions were asked of this decision, but with what we know now, it was to be a good one! The new club captain was chosen, this was Jim Venables. As well as being captain, he took the job of secretary and also made available part of a large field bordering the church lane which Burton could play their cricket.

Then at the end of the 1948 season Burton were offered a new pitch adjacent to the Stable Inn. It also had with it the use of a building on the roadside which would be used for changing and tea making. This was a popular decision and more members joined and they gained the more support from  the people in the parish. Also with it being more conveniently located, fixtures were easier to come by. 

The 1950 season was very successful with many young players making excellent contributions on and off the field. Having gained confidence that the club would survive it was disappointing for all to discover that the field would no longer be available for the 1951 season. The club was yet again faced with possible extinction!

After the 1950 AGM, the then President, Mr. Peter England was approached and asked if a field of his was available for Burton to play their cricket. Thankfully he did have. Yet another move and another wicket to prepare! This time it was to a field at Barnlake Gates, known as Parsons Park. A few weeks later Mr. England had arranged for a portable building to be erected at Parsons Park for use as changing rooms. When the 1951 season had drawn to a close, they looked back on a successful playing season. Also financially with a final balance of £24.0.0

The season of 1952 was to be the first time fixtures had been drawn up since before the war, with matches on Saturdays and some evenings!  The season went quite well again winning over 50% of games played. This is the year when Brian (B.E.) Griffiths played his first game for the club at the age of 11. He joined Cyril Venables at the crease as the last batsman while he was in single figures and managed to stay there for Cyril to reach his half century and to finish his first match with a respectable 1 not out. This was also the first year for trophies to be presented and they were won as follows:

Batting - C Venables

Bowling - K Banner

Catching - D Venables

In this years AGM, more bad news came. Parsons Park was no longer available! Mr England did generously donate the building to the club though. So the search for a new field was on yet again!

Part of the original field used after the war became available again, this time the side nearest to Barnlake Gates commonly known as the Church Leys. Another square was prepared and the building moved ready for the 53' season!

In 1954 the club became affiliated to the Pembroke County Cricket Club then in 1956 a League structure was formed with 1st, 2nd and two 3rd divisions, north and south. Also this year saw Brian Griffiths chosen chosen to play in a County youth trial and Malcolm James become our 1st official scorer for the league. In 1957 it showed a record number of playing members with 19.

After 5 seasons of playing at the Church Leys ground, and a successful season where we won division 3, it was disappointing to find yet again we had to move venue and find another field to play our cricket!

This time it would be Mr Howard Warlow ( Headmaster of Burton VC ) to the rescue again. He had an idea to approach the Education Authority to ask for use of the school field to play our cricket on. Permission was granted, and work was again carried out on a new wicket. The 1st and second teams used this ground to play their cricket until 1988 and the 3rd team still play on this wicket at Houghton today. Due to the size of the field it has earned the nickname the 'Postage Stamp'

In 1981 it was reported that we were looking to purchase a new ground of our own where we could play our cricket. After many years of planning, fund raising and hard work Burton Cricket Club purchased Oatfield Park and built excellent changing and tea making facilities which are used today. The official opening was in 1991. The wicket being one of the best in the County which has seen some excellent games and thousands of runs scored!

It just goes to show that there's more to running a cricket club than turning up on a Saturday afternoon with your cricket bat. I'd like to thank everybody who has done or currently does any work for the cricket club and all that support the club in any way. Its down to you that this club is still running and that over 60 playing members can play their much loved summer sport, 'Cricket'   THANK YOU

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