Broadway and Horton Cricket Club – Club History

It was commonly believed that the Broadway and Horton Cricket Club was founded in the 1920s / 1930s, however it was recorded in the Langport and Somerton Herald dated May 15th 1880, that the Club was formed in May 1880, “through the energy of Mr. S.D. Hines”. A match was held in the field behind the Bell Inn. The Rev. R.D. Palmer was the Captain and Mr. A. Nicholls, of Ilminster was the Treasurer and Secretary.

This, of course, is rather ironic in that the Club recently tried unsuccessfully to acquire the same field, which was then sold for housing, and on which building has now started.

Subsequently the Club is known to have played in several locations before moving to its current ground in Pound Road.

–       Pre/Post war – near the parish church, somewhere to the rear of Vardens Pond, in a field given by the Welsh family, with fixtures that included matches against Ilminster Grammar School as the 1949 team photographs show

The Somerset Cricket Museum also owns a cricket ball from Broadway dated 1909.

–       Early 1960s – the club used a field near Paul’s Lane, given by farmer, Bert Slade of Barrington Hill. The skittle alley at the Bell Inn was used as the dressing room and tearoom.

–       Later in the 1960s – the field opposite to Broadway Church, where the club was only allowed to cut the square and cows grazed the remainder of the field and had to be removed prior to the game, with the outfield getting slightly quicker as the summer progressed. Cow pats were definitely a hazard!
A story not unheard of in the history of village cricket teams and many believe that gives rise to the origin of the term Cow Corner – the farthest part of the pitch where cows would graze safely.

Back row: Morris Brunt, Arthur Grabham, Keith Taylor, Pete Kinglake, Ed Watkins, Geoff Keitch, Terry (Jumbo Morris) Front row: Don Coombes, Vic Matravers, Fred Coleman, Jim Sainsbury. Front: Kevin Evans.

Annual dinners became a highlight of the Club’s Calendar with notable guests such as the Somerset player and coach Bill Andrews, seen here in these pictures from 1965.

Into the 1980s, and the Club moved to its current location in Pound Road, when the wooden Pavilion, originally built by Ron and John Baker and volunteers in 1965 at the ground on Stanley Welch’s land, was moved to the Pound Road site.

The Pavilion, now undergoing extensive renovations to accommodate the Women’s Cricket teams, was rebuilt in 1982, with funding from Sport England, the local Council and generous support from both Wessex Water and SWEB, in the provision of utilities services and fixing of water leaks outside the gate.Notably the club has retained its scorebooks back to this date.

This Pavilion was opened by former Somerset and England seam bowler, Andy Caddick and representatives from Sport England.

More recent history/ events include:

–       2010 and the Club nearly folded due to lack of funds / support

–       2007 … regrettably the Junior section folded

–       2010 saw the revival of the Club

–       2013/14 brought the formation of a Second XI and a Junior section who joined the junior league in 2015

–       2017 All Stars started – supported by the Somerset Cricket Foundation

–       2024 – an U16 team was formed followed.

So, into 2025, the Club has completely rebuilt the Pavilion to accommodate both the Women’s and Men’s teams and fields a First and Second XI for both men and women plus U11, U12, U13, U14 and U16 age group teams drawing and encouraging players from as far afield as Chard, Churchinford and Combe St Nicholas.

Photos above show the new (2025) dressing rooms and refurbished Club House / Pavilion.