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Cookham Dean | Ricketts Field
cookham dean
ricketts field
Whyteladyes Lane, Cookham, Berkshire
W: www.cdcc.co.uk
Could the seeds of
Cookham Dean
Cricket Club be traced
back to the 8th century?
Certainly the monastery
that used to dominate the
hamlet of Cookham, had
been batted around for a
few innings. Once between
Archbishop Aethelheard
and the superbly named
Aethelbald of Mercia, and
then it all got a messy when
Cynewulf of Wessex (the
earliest incarnation of
World Wrestling
Entertainment ring names
apparently) helped himself.
The area was certainly
worth acquiring though,
this beautiful part of
Berkshire inspired Kenneth
Graeme’s superb stories
the ‘Wind in the Willows’,
which were based around
Cookham Dean, when the
author lived at ‘The Mount’
as a child.
Immediately post WW2
the club didn’t play league
fixtures as we know them,
but competed in arranged
games locally. Opponents
could vary from a team of
Emeritus Dons from Oxford,
to a select X1 from the BBC.
The only regular fixture to
speak of was contested
against the Odney club,
and this was also a rarity for
the time in being an all-day
game.
We hear much about the
‘spirit of the game’
nowadays, and how it has
eroded, the truth is though,
this isn’t a modern
phenomenon. Whilst
contesting the Julian Cup,
acknowledged to be the
oldest limited overs game
in cricket, against the
Aspro Cricket Club in
Slough, Cookham
discovered that their
opposition were fielding an
ex Australian test player!
Nowadays the club plays
at Rickett’s field, their home
since the mid-1980s and
field an impressive 1st, 2nd,
3rd and X1s who play in
the Thames Valley League
divisions. They also field a
mid-week 20 along with a
‘Friendlies’ 1st and 2nd
eleven along with an under
17s. In the spirit of wide
diversity, Cookham also
have a thriving Petanque
(bowls) team.
Cookham Dean CC is well
over 120 years old as a
cricket club, and has been
at the centre of Cookham
society all that time, and
like bodies that last that
length of time it has gone
through bad and good
times. Right now it is going
through a good time, and is
enjoying the work and
fruits of its member’s effort.
Cricket Club Magazine
spoke to the clubs
Chairman, Tony Austin last
month. Involved for twenty
five years and now aged
sixty three, he is nearing
the end of his playing days.
Tony is satisfied that the
youth structure they have in
place is building strong
foundations for the future
and hopes other club
members can experience
the longevity he has
managed to enjoy. He
started, “ Ian Davis, our
Colts Co –ordinator has
been involved in the club
for the past 7 seasons and,
in that time we’ve seen the
Colts numbers grow from
35 boys and girls to around
200 this season. In support
A
cricket
ground
is a flat
piece of
earth
with
some
buildings
around
it.
Richie
Benaud
of this the club has invested
nearly £50k in new
infrastructure ranging from
brand new 3g 3 laned nets
and a county standard
bowling machine. We’ve
also been able to send
coaches on Level 1 and 2
ECB courses. Adding,
“Boys are regularly fed into
the senior sides at the
earliest opportunity and
they can start senior cricket
as young as 12. Cookham
Dean CC is designed as a
club to join at 8 and still be
a member at 90.”
Cookham clearly benefit
from a fantastic relationship
We are sponsors of
Cookham Dean Cricket Club
HALLMARK
Hallmark is an independent vending
machine supplier and operating company
based in Surrey specialising in providing a
first class professional service.
Hallmark Vending Limited
Barn House
White Horse Lane
Ripley
Surrey
GU23 6BJ
T: +44 (0) 1483 224122
F: +44 (0) 1483 223212
with their local community
which has been built up
through the years. Ian
explained, “The club has
grown to become a focal
point of the community and
Friday evening Colts
sessions in particular have
become popular. Parents
bring siblings and relax
with a cold beer or wine.
We host the Cookham
Youth Club on Mondays
and allow the local scouts/
cubs use our facilities.
Recently, we hosted the
Col.Garrett Cup, a charity
event which was
supported by the
community and raised £3k
for the Dream flight
Charity. We’ve also just
had Sussex CC at the
ground to coach the Colts
and we hold a Summer
Camp which attracts
children from the wider
community.”
Positively, their ample
facilities are able to cope
with all that’s happening at
the vibrant establishment
at the moment and they are
keen to expand further. Ian
finished, “The ground is
wholly owned by the club,
and many other clubs look
upon us with envy at this
INTERVIEW
Cricket Club
Cricket Club Magazine speaks to andy fox - Powerhouse
“I started playing cricket
for the club about twenty
years ago and my
company’s association
started five years ago.
Since then, we have
supported them in
various ways. We try to
encourage the Colts
section as much as we
can and ask that the
majority of our
sponsorship goes
towards helping them.
We helped the club put
on a fund raising night for
the Rugby World Cup in
2007. Three hundred and
fifty people attended and
a great night was had by
all. We provided two
huge projection screens
and the event was hosted
by a young comedian
named Tom Rosenthal.
His father, and fellow
current playing member
is Jim Rosenthal and we
provided a live link to the ITV
Sport studio where Jim was
presenting the England vs
South Africa game! A unique
experience for everyone.
Cookham Dean is an expensive
place to live, and during the
late 80’s and 90’s, young
players who had come through
the Colts sides had to move
away because they couldn’t
afford to live in the area. It
seems now that youngsters
return back home after
University and we now have
vibrant, young sides.
Powerhouse do as much as we
can to help the club make the
best of the efforts of their
hard-working volunteers, and
also make the clubhouse as
attractive as possible. I try to
give back to projects I believe
in and I’m passionate about
supporting youth sport.”
Powerhouse Productions Ltd
395 Montrose Avenue
Slough Trading Estate
Slough
Berkshire
SL1 4TJ
T +44 (0)1753 696369
F +44 (0)1753 696370
E info@powerhouseprod.co.uk
W www.powerhouseprod.co.uk
Cookham Dean | Ricketts Field
fact. 25 years ago the club
made a big decision to
move grounds and looking
back, it was the decision
that made the club what it
is today. We’ve a healthy
bank balance, our own
ground and the facilities
are fantastic for a village
set up. We’ve new state of
the art cricket nets, a large
club house, bar and
parking for 70 cars. We are
planning to open a second
playing pitch adjoining the
current ground within the
next two years to help deal
with our increasing
numbers.”
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