The Stand Club Cricket Club came into being in July 1965 when a group of locally-born friends decided to form a Club with monthly meetings in a suitable hostelry and with a written Constitution that stated its aims as being “for the social intercourse of gentlemen interested in sport and refreshment and for the provision of pleasure to the populace”.
Photograph courtesy Mr Nick Milton taken at Bishops Lydeard (including Club friend James Rew).
As the years passed, the membership grew to a one-time total of around 50 members before the years started to exact their toll.
In the Winter months, there would be occasional Skittles matches and even fewer Hockey matches. In the Summer months there would be occasional Cricket and Tennis matches but the Stand Club became best-known for the series of annual pre-Christmas Balls or Dinner Dances, usually at the Empire Ballroom at the County Hotel that raised money for various charities.
As far as Cricket is concerned, an influx of new and younger members has seen more games than previously, but the Club has never aspired to any local Competitions or Leagues.
The Club has never been wealthy (or good) enough to have their own ground apart from when SC member Tom Morris had his lovely ground at East Lydeard Farm, once Millichamp & Hall’s HQ and home ground for the Wild Geese team, so all matches are at ‘away’ grounds.
Somerset’s answer to I Zingari!
Article contributed by Mr Nick Milton
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