The Hampton And Solihull Cricket Club

Officers Of The Club

The History Of Hampton-In-Arden Cricket Club

The Club was extremely successful in the 1950’s through to the early 1980’s, running two sides every Saturday , Sunday and Bank Holiday through the summer, developing into one of the most admired village clubs in the Midlands.  Dennis Amiss, the outstanding England and Warwickshire opening batsman was an opponent on many occasions and a Hampton player periodically.  Only a few days before Dennis’s great 203, in August 1976 at the Oval, against the might of the West Indies pace attack, he played for Warwickshire Acorns against Hampton’s 1st XI, being bowled by a no ball (a very late call) off the first ball of the match, only to go on to make a 100!  Perhaps the Club’s strongest period was between 1965 and 1980 - between 1967 and 1971, the first XI lost only five games and drew only a few more than that.

The Club became deeply involved in the wider spread of League cricket in the 1980s, much to the disappointment of many players who had hitherto enjoyed their annual days out to the likes of Broadway, Belbroughton, Moreton-in-the-Marsh and Pershore.  They saw these being threatened and wondered whether the extra competitiveness would, in any event, detract from their cricketing experience.  The Club went on to play for several years in the Saturday Warwickshire and Staffordshire League with friendly cricket still being maintained on Sundays.  Eventually, though, league cricket took over on Sundays too and friendly fixtures became a thing of the past.  Promotion was eventually gained to the Birmingham League but, more recently, the Club was relegated to the Warwickshire Cricket League.

Unfortunately, in 2000 the heirs of Henry Corbett felt they needed the Hampton ground as part of an extended garden and the Club was fortunate to be able to move into Solihull to use the Marsh Lane facilities of Solihull Cricket and Tennis Club, which had been unused for competitive cricket for almost a decade. During 2006/7 it became apparent that drastic action was needed if the Hampton was to survive and it was decided that the Club would combine with the cricket section of Solihull Cricket and Tennis Club to form the brand new Hampton And Solihull Cricket Club.  The new Club took Hampton’s place in the Warwickshire League for 2007 and a small number of friendly games have been arranged for Sundays. With renewed enthusiasm, it is hoped that the new Club will soon aspire to the heights once enjoyed by its predecessors.

Article contributed by Alan Jones & John Adams. Top of page

The History Of Solihull Cricket Club

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