Earls Colne Cricket Club

The thwack  of leather on willow has been a familiar sound in Earls Colne for decades. Cricket has been played for more than 180 years , dating from the days players wore straw hats and striped blazers.

According to some records the club was founded in 1876 with subscriptions for players set at ten shillings (50 pence); however, games were played between Colnes and Halstead much earlier.

Mr Gouldstone, the umpire, had a harness maker shop in the High Street at the time, where the club’s cricketing gear was kept. A professional was employed  on the upkeep of the ground and wickets

Before the First Wold War there were two clubs: The Atlas Works Social Club had a ground on a meadow opposite Hay House. The scoreboard was placed next to an old oak tree which provided the only shade for spectators. A barrel of beer was provided for refreshments for the players.

During the Second World War matches were played against army and RAF teams who were stationed locally. Eventually R. Hunt and Co, who owned the current home Green Farm Meadow, turned it into a village sports ground .

The Colne club’s scorebooks dating from 1897 and some of the records are kept at the village’s heritage museum.

Over the years the club has entertained county cricketers. In 1975, the club took on Essex County players before a large crowd for a Brian Edmeades benefit match.