Harptree Villages Cricket Club – Club History

Village cricket is part of the quintessential British summer scene.

There has been a club in the Harptrees since at least 1871. The 1897 fixture card shows that, like many villages, the club officers and captains were the elite of the village.  The president was the squire, Mr Kettlewell whose son, H W Kettlewell had turned out for Somerset in 1899: in his only match, he made seven runs and bowled 40 balls for 30 runs and no wickets,

Colonel H W Kettlewell gave the present playing field to the village in 1927. In the 1930s the village elite still filled the executive posts, but Austin Wookey became the stalwart of the club for many years. In 1953, the club opened its new pavilion, fund-raising provided the cash and local craftsmen provided the labour.  

Austin Wookey set up a practice net in his garden and gave coaching lessons to the boys. Two of these boys, the Currell twins became mainstays of the thriving club. Sadly in 1967 the club folded for lack of players, but Austin Wookey and then Roly Currell kept cricket going with an annual invitation game against the Downside Abbey Ravens team.

In 1985 there was enough enthusiasm for Derek Bellew and Andy Cook to reform the club under the name Harptree Villages Cricket Club. The score books reveal descendants of those early players taking their turn on the pitch, and some who are still playing today – although will any emulate Austin Wookey who acted as wicket keeper in one Downside game at the age of 82 ½? The old families of the Cooks, the Currells and the Hearses were joined by those fresh to the village. In 1992 the club joined the North Somerset League and managed to gain promotion every season. They arrived in Division One in 2001 and won the title at their first attempt. They followed this by winning the North Somerset Cup in 2003.

The 2001 Division One glory days might have been short lived, but the club continues to promote its ethos of playing ‘in the spirt of the game’; ensuring development of all, keeping no-one out and making sure everyone has an enjoyable game.  It is good to see fathers and sons playing together; the 70 year olds and the 12 year olds making stands, exchanging quiet words between overs.

The cricket team spearheaded the millennium project to replace the worn out 1953 pavilion, with the help of a grant from the Football Foundation, it was opened in 2008. (The ladies insisted the kitchen sink should be positioned under a window with direct view of the pitch).

A full history of the Club, along with interesting Archive documents can be found here