Midsomer Norton CC – Club History. The First 100 Years (1878 to 1978)

Records show a cricket match played at Knowle between “12 of Knowle against 12 of Norton “in 1859. According to Arthur Waugh’s book – One Mans Road – “in 1878 some sportsmen conceived the idea of a Cricket Club in a field across the meadow on the skirts of Withies Lane”.

However members of Midsomer Norton Cricket Club performed a concert in aid of The Cottage Hospital in Paulton on 15th January 1878 indicating a possible earlier date for the Clubs formation. Indeed records show a cricket match played at Knowle between “12 of Knowle against 12 of Norton “in 1859.

The Clubs first President was Dr Waugh (father of Arthur Waugh and grandfather of Evelyn Waugh) who held office from 1878 to 1906. His successor Dr Pollard held office even longer from 1907 to 1944. One other notable long serving committee member was A E (Ernest) Maggs who was Secretary of the Club from 1888 to 1936.

In 1878 fixture cards were printed showing games against the likes of Frome, SheptonMallet, Radstock and Clandown.

The first pavilion was built in 1888 with the “tender of Mr John Tovey to be accepted on the condition he uses only the best galvanised iron on the roof”. Even though the Club now had a base all important meetings and annual dinners were still held at The Greyhound Hotel – the Clubs original base. 

Some of the early minutes clearly showed Victorian principals with “all members found playing at practice on the match pitch to be fined 6d”, “children must be kept out of the ground as much as possible” and “Groundsman be empowered to take names of trespassers and haul them before the committee” 

By the end of the 19th century the existence of the Club was in doubt with no second eleven and a meeting held as “it was doubtful whether there would be sufficient members”

Fortunately the clubs playing strength improved and in 1904 a bank account was opened and the Clubs first sightscreen acquired thanks to a donation from Mr John Thatcher.

Sadly in the early 1900’s the Club suffered 2 shattering events – firstly with the death of Dr Waugh in 1906. A Special General Meeting was called on 11th December 1906 at which the sole business was to announce the sad and solemn news. In fact in the minutes of the meeting the Secretary referred to Dr Waugh being President for over 30 years – another possible indicator to an earlier date for the formation of the Club – possible pre 1876. A few days later Dr Waugh’s son Arthur wrote to the Club thanking members for their sympathy saying “Our Fathers spirit will always frequent the field”.

The second event was in the spring of 1909 when the pavilion was destroyed by fire. But such was the spirit and enthusiasm in the Club that by September 1909 members had raised£45.5.4 against the cost of £51.10.0 and a new pavilion was erected followed a year later bythe luxury of a water supply.

Just prior to World War 1 the Club had an extensive fixture list for both the 1sts and 2nds playing against many sides sadly no longer with us including Oakhill, Paulton, Wells Asylum, Welton and Camerton.

TWorld War 1 saw 11 players killed either in action or after the end of hostilities as a result of injuries. The Club together with others have undertaken considerable research about the players and the Club will be delighted to share this with members of the Museum. In 1924 the President Dr Pollard unveiled a plaque at the Club in memory of the 11 players with the words “They enabled many a future afternoon of cricket to be enjoyed on our field”.

In the Clubs early days the field was rented until a momentous decision was made in 1921 to buy the field for £500. In 1925 an additional parcel of ground was also purchased for £240 with “the new area to be put to good use as tennis courts”

The 1920’s also saw a milestone in the Clubs history when it became the fashion to serve teas at matches. At this point ladies became involved for the first time in what had, up to then, been a strictly male preserve.

In 1923 it was agreed to extend the pavilion and work to the value of £75 was begun. Better “lavatory accommodation” was installed in 1924. In 1928 and again in 1933, the whole pavilion and veranda were repaired and repainted. It was only in 2019 that this magnificent, if sadly decaying, building was demolished and replaced by  “fit for purpose” changing  facilities incorporating 4 separate changing rooms with integral showers and toilet, officials changing room with shower and toilet and store room. 

By 1930 the Club was in the red due to reduced income from tea sales, subs and gate receipts but by 1934 with a new venture into fund raising the club again had modest funds in the bank. One fundraising event that generated much needed income was the annual raffle with the prize of a ton of coal donated by local mine owner Sir Frank Beauchamp.

On 10th September 1936 the Clubs minutes stated calmly and unemotionally and written in beautiful correct copperplate that “The Honorary Secretary tendered his resignation which being definite was accepted with regret”. What was not said was that Ernest Maggs had held office for 49 years and refused to make it 50 “because of all the fuss there would be”.

The Club continued to play during World War 2 and indeed “during the period of hostilities the Club will play Sunday cricket” as well as a reduced number of fixtures on a Saturday.  In the early 1940s the 1st Battalion of Welsh Guards were stationed in the town and played several games against the Club. 1944 saw American troops billeted in The Island House andseveral games of baseball were played between the troops and the Club.

At the 1945 AGM members stood in silence in memory of Clifford Andrews who died on active service in Yugoslavia and it was agreed “a memorial tablet should be placed by the one commemorating the eleven who fell in World War 1”.

In 1947 two Club stalwarts received their first mention in the Minute Books – Vic Turner who never played for the club but scored for over 50 years and George Rowden who captained the first team (other than a few years off!!) from 1947 to 1964.

1950 saw other major events at the Club with the laying of a concrete practice wicket and a licensed bar in the pavilion. The Hon. Secretary proudly announcing in the minutes that “The club has now been registered and the sale of intoxicating liquor to members is now permitted”. Harry Bissex built a storage cellar under the tea rooms (latterly the home changing room) and the first bar supplies were ordered from Oakhill Brewery.

The 1950’s saw the Club prosper off the field but success on it had to wait until the next decade. 

In 1952 the second team captain reported that “Fielding was very poor – a slip cradle is urgently required”. 1954 saw the emergence of 2 young players in Dave Taylor and “a particularly promising young cricketer” – Henry Thomas.  In 1957 and again in 1959 the club hosted Somerset 2nd XI fixtures – very prestigious for a small town club and “young uns” were reminded that there should be “no running about during cricket matches”.  

By the end of 1962 increased bar profits allowed the Minutes to record that” pre season alterations and decorations undoubtedly helped the takings and the bar now compared favourably with any in club cricket”. Match fees were now 3/6 to include teas which were (and still are) a feature of the Club. One visiting captain wished to put on record that the teas “were of the highest quality around”. It was in this year that Ernest Maggs died after 77 years a servant (some say Master) of the Club. In 1963 talk of a brand new clubhouse was in the air but it was to be a further 8 years before the dream could be realised. 

1964 was a year to remember when then Club joined the newly established Somerset Knockout Championship and proceeded to win it. Further improvements to facilities took place in 1966 with a new electric supply to the clubhouse and a new motor for the mower!!.

In 1968 the Club approached the local rugby and hockey clubs with a view to acquiring the adjoining field (now Withies Bridge Estate) as a joint sporting venture. Sadly the project did not proceed due to lack of response from both the rugby and hockey clubs. 

The early 1970s saw another major event in the Clubs history. In 1970 a £3000 interest free local council loan was negotiated , assistance received from Whitbread Brewery and huge fund raising activities meant that the Club could at last afford to buy and erect a new clubhouse. The clubhouse was opened on 30th July 1971 at a cost of £7000. The following year the old pavilion was remodelled to be used solely as changing rooms with the first showers being installed at the same time. In the same year the beautiful elm trees around the ground succumbed to Dutch elm disease and had to be felled. The minutes recorded that “The whole cosiness of the field was gone, the character changed”. 1974 saw the initial fixtures for the 3rd XI which has now grown from a tentative experiment to an integral part of the playing structure of the club.

In 1973 and 1974 the clubs First and Second teams played in the inaugural Somerset League and 1975 saw a move for both teams to the Western League where fixtures were now being played not against the likes of Brick Street Bible Class, United Press ( Bristol ) and Brazil Straker &Co (Bristol) but the likes of Cheltenham, Bath, Cardiff, Chippenham, Gloucester, Stroud etc. Not bad for “little Midsomer Norton in the company of clubs from the cities and large town of the West.” 

Thanks to R C Taylor and M T Bell –“Not Out 100”

Where are we now …

In 2019 new purpose built changing rooms replaced those built in 1909 and “extended” in 1923. The clubhouse has been completely remodelled and is now an excellent venue not only for cricket, socialising, skittle’s and pool but also for the local community and community groups at large to enjoy. On the pitch the club goes from strength to strength running 3 Saturday sides, 2 ladies softball cricket teams with many of the ladies actively looking to move to play hardball cricket and a  thriving youth section with All Stars ( 6-9 years old) Dynamos ( 9-11 years old) , Under 11s, Under 13s and under 15s