The first game was played on Whit Monday between 24 club members. During the
season 4 other games were played - 3 against Burwell and one against Chippenham.
1887 there were 5 games - 2 against Burwell one each against Chippenham,
Swaffham Prior and the 'nonedescripts'.
From 1888 - 1903
Games were played in a variety of fields lent by local patrons and usually
ended up with 'hearty meals' and 'convivial sing songs'.
1904
The club moved to Exning Park, where it has remained for 96 years, and are
indebted to the Gibson family for allowing them to use such attractive setting
for their activities.
By the early 1930's
The club was playing up to 20 matches - all friendlies, there was no league
cricket in this area.
Well known local names such as Barsby and King appeared on the fixture card
and the Secretary at this time was Frank Tomlinson
.
He formed a team known as the Tomtits, and a match is still played in his memory
on the last Sunday of the season.
1946
Cricket resumed after the Second World War with a full list of fixtures for
both 1st X1 and 2nd X1.
1951
Regular Sunday matches started with stalwart names such as Ken Daniel, Cliff
Nicholls, Bob Cooley, John King, Derek Barsby and Brian Moon making their first
entrance in various capacities on the fixture cards in the 1950's.
1970
League cricket commenced with the club joining the Suffolk league, of which
they have been a member to the present day.
Over the Years
The club has grown and attracted players from outside the area and in 1999
had its most successful season ever, winning the Jaygate Homes Two Counties
Cricket Championship Division 1; The Suffolk Premier Cricket League; Premier
Division (for the 3rd year running); The Suffolk Cup (for the 2nd year running)
and The Gibson Cup.
Many international cricketers have played at Exning in the past in the All
Star math - the first one in 1957, arranged by Mr and Mrs Stanhope-Joel whilst
back in England for a short while from South Africa. The teams on this occasion
included Sir Len Hutton, Godfrey Evans, Frank Tyson, John Warr and Alan Moss.
Colin Ingleby-MacKenzie, West Indian Roy Marshall and Dennis Atkinson,
Australian George Tribe and Exning's own Ken Daniel. The attendance of the match
on July 28 1957 was around 5000, with people coming from as far away as
Blackpool.
Other well know internationals to play at Exning include such celebrities as
Ted Dexter, M J K Smith, Dennis Compton, Garfield Sobers, Peter Nay and Colin
Milburn.
The last 'All Star' Match was played in 1973.
Source - Newmarket Journal A W Catley Esq - Secretary Exning Cricket
Club
R E Bye - 22 Villagers Co-ordinator, Exning ©2000
