A little bit of Midsomer Norton Cricket Club’s history disappeared last week, when the club’s ageing changing rooms were knocked down to make way for new changing facilities in time for the start of the 2019 cricket season.
The now-demolished changing rooms were built more than 100 years ago, and were becoming difficult to manage and maintain. The new changing rooms will provide the club with modern facilities fit for the 21st century. While the club looks forward to the future, the loss of the old changing rooms has prompted the resurfacing of many cricketing memories.
The club’s first pavilion was built at Withies Lane in 1888, and was given a new coat of paint in the spring of 1909. However, the pavilion and its contents were destroyed by fire in May of that year. One newspaper reported: ‘The origin of the fire is unknown. The damage is estimated at £50. When the pavilion was locked on Saturday, all appeared safe.’
Remarkably, following two special meetings of club members, a new pavilion (costing £51 and ten shillings) was in place before the end of the season, and a match against the Midsomer Norton Male Voice Choir helped raise funds to meet the costs of the new structure.
Some great cricketers have walked down the pavilion steps to the Withies Lane wicket in the last 110 years. These include players like Sir Vivian Richards (representing both Somerset and Lansdown), Mike Procter (who visited the club for the match which marked the club’s centenary) and, more recently, England international Anya Shrubsole, who has played at Withies Lane for the Somerset Women’s team.
The club hosted benefit events for other Somerset international cricketers – Brian Rose and Joel Garner – and other big names like Marcus Trescothick, Andy Caddick and Colin Dredge visited for League fixtures. Then there are also the club’s own players, who are remembered with great affection; players like Henry Thomas, Derek Frost and Chris Tabb.
The new building features four separate changing rooms with their own showers and toilets, and provides separate changing facilities for both male and female players and match officials. The club’s Men’s and Women’s Senior sides and the Junior teams will all benefit from the new facilities.
Club Chairman, Graeme King, commented: “A big thank you must go to Ken Bowen-Jones, who kick-started the project, and to the many friends of the club for all the advice and assistance we have received. The club’s own planning sub-committee has dealt with much of the detail. The club is a part of its community, and the new facilities enhance what the Club provides for local people.
“We must place on record as well a big thank you to Midsomer Norton Town Council and the Sperring Trust for their kind and generous grants which have enabled the project to commence.”
New players of all ages and abilities are always welcome at the club. For more information, contact Nick Potter: 07872 383499/[email protected], Phil Mortimer: 01761 413725/[email protected] or Jennie: [email protected].
Club news is also posted on Facebook: @midsomernortoncc, Twitter: @MidNortonCC and the club website: www.midsomernortoncricketclub.co.uk