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North Enfield Cricket Club - a
very brief history.... |
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North Enfield Cricket Club has been in existence for nearly
125 years. Initially playing at Claysmore - farmland located
between Clay Hill and Whitewebbs Park until the 2nd
World War interrupted much local sport. The current ground
at Strayfield Road, only a few hundred yards from Claysmore,
is part of Hilly Fields Park, owned by Enfield Council. In
1951/52, the Council agreed to lease the land to the Club
with the conditions that the Club own and maintain both the
cricket square and the pavilion and car park. A public right
of way exists across the middle of the playing area. The
Club continues to lease the land from the council on a 5
year renewable lease, and are protected tenants. The
post-war years saw arguably the most talented cricketer ever
to play for North Enfield in his prime – Frank Barwick.
Barwick won the 1st XI batting and bowling for
three years in a row, and the bowling for a further two from
1948, a record unequalled in Club history. Barwick joined
North Enfield relatively late in his cricket career having
previously been at our illustrious neighbours Enfield CC
before the advent of war. It is said that had it not been
for the 1939-45 conflict, Barwick would have almost
certainly played 1st class cricket for Middlesex.
He joined North Enfield because, according to club legend,
Enfield CC refused to let him have a bat and only wanted him
to bowl! |
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Prominent professional cricketers that have associations
with North Enfield are
Mike Smith of Middlesex and England, whose family was
involved at North Enfield for many years, staged a benefit
game at North Enfield in 1976.
John Emburey, the Middlesex and England spin bowler,
held a similar fixture in 1983. Rumours abound that England
leg-spinner
B.J.T. Bosanquet also played for North Enfield, (he was
born at Bulls Cross and lived locally for some time) but no
records exist to confirm this. |
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The Club has participated in league cricket in various forms
over the years, principally the Saturday Hertfordshire
League and the Chess Valley Sunday league from its inception
until 2007. The Club fields two teams at present - in
Divisions 4 and 9 respectively for the 1st and 2nd XIs. A
Sunday friendly XI also operates for those who prefer their
cricket to be of a more relaxed nature. Fixtures take place
home and away against teams from North and East London,
Hertfordshire and Essex. Sunday cricket is of a very mixed
standard with a ‘give everybody a game’ emphasis (and
provision of a good tea also features high on priority
lists). In the last few years, the advent of 20/20 cricket
has brought a number of Friday night games at North Enfield
– more are planned this year and will hopefully include
representatives from Enfield Scouts, and Tottenham Hotspur
Community Coaching Team, amongst others. The Club pitch may
be hired on Friday nights for office or club games. The
Colts section is also up and running for 2010, and continues
the excellent work put in last year by the Colts coaches and
helpers.
North Enfield has always prided itself on being a
family-orientated club, with multiple generations of the
same family often playing concurrently – a glance at the
cricket honours board is conclusive proof that North Enfield
cricket has been a family affair from its earliest days. |
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Titanic CC, a team with a long association with North
Enfield will continue to use the ground for their home
fixtures on a Sunday in 2010. So, subject to weather
conditions and availability, there will be cricket at
Strayfield Road every Saturday and Sunday of the season
throughout this year. |
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Membership and Spectators |
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North Enfield welcomes any cricketers regardless of ability
to play league cricket on Saturdays, and friendly games on
Sundays. If watching proceedings from a deckchair is more
your scene then Strayfield Road is amongst the best places
to do that, with a friendly welcome to all. |
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Membership rates for 2010 remain unchanged from 2009 and are
as follows:
Playing Membership at £85 plus a £10 match fee per game
Social Membership at £20 |
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North Enfield Cricket Club -
Location |
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From M25 Junction 24
(Potters Bar)
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Take 1005 (The
Ridgeway) to Enfield
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Turn left into East
Lodge Lane, Botany Bay (Robin Hood Pub)
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After 1 mile (at the
end of the twisting road) turn right at the T junction
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Follow the road
through the garden centres
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Continue around the
right hand bend
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Continue along the
road until you approach a sharp left hand bend (Fallow
Buck Pub)
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Turn immediately
right before the pub (North Enfield Cricket Club sign)
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The ground entrance
is 250 yards on the left.
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Club Records |
Highest Score K.Jones 162*
Most number of Centuries K.Jones 13
Best Bowling P. White Jnr 10-35
Highest number of Wickets D.Gandy (1800+ est) |
Highest Club Score 318 - 7 declared
North Enfield 3rd XI V Letchworth CC Vth XI, 2005. (S. Cole
91, B.Ward 70, I. Moody 24*) Played at Enfield Invicta |
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