Cricket Club
The Cricket Club Introduction
The history of Bradenham Cricket has been compiled from information collected at the Buckinghamshire Local Studies Centre, online copies of newspapers, memories of past and current members, old score books and photographs. We must be grateful to the correspondents who reported events to the South Bucks Free Press, Bucks Herald, and other local papers for the early records of the club. It was interesting to note that back in the late 1870's the South Bucks Free Press (SBFP), the forerunner of the current Bucks Free Press, consisted of only 3 or 4 pages and at least one of those was devoted to reporting local sport.
First Games -Cricket has been played at Bradenham at least since 1834.
The 24th of May 1834 edition of the
Berkshire Chronicle reported that "Bradenham fair on Wednesday presented its
usual attractions to lovers of rural sports. Cricketing, donkey racing, foot racing,
jumping in sacks and climbing soaped poles were among the amusements".
The first match between Bradenham Club and L.H. club of Bledlow Ridge was found in
May 1859 in the South Bucks Free Press. The report included "The return match was
played between these clubs at Bradenham on Monday 25th July when in
consequence of the Bradenham club having obtained the assistance of Messrs
Avery and Harman of West Wycombe, they won easily by 8 wickets". The scores
were L. H. Bledlow Ridge 56 and 42 with Bradenham 62 and 42 for 2 wickets.
Village Cricket - Bradenham has a traditional village cricket ground. The square is flat, even if the sloping outfield makes fielding interesting at times. There can be few more picturesque grounds in Buckinghamshire and the disappointment of being out with a low score is soon washed away with a pint and the spectacular views across the Chiltern hills. Cricket at Bradenham like most of the surrounding area was originally promoted by the local clergy as evidenced by some of the early team names and players. Village cricket is not just about winning or losing (although that is important) but playing the game in the right spirit and ensuring that the opposition are well treated with a generous tea and a chance for all to socialise after the game. Bradenham's first games were friendlies against mainly local opposition. They joined the Wycombe and District Cricket League in 1926 before leaving and joining the Mid Bucks Cricket League in 1979. The Wycombe and District Cricket League was formed in 1900 and the Mid Bucks Cricket League was formed in 1974 from 10 clubs that broke away from the Wycombe League largely because the grounds that some teams used were sub-standard.
Volunteers - The club has always been run by volunteers. Many hours are spent in maintaining the ground and helping to keep the green an attractive place to visit and form a starting point for the many walks in the surrounding National Trust countryside. The playing strength of the club varies from year to year and is often boosted by players from the RAF base at Walters Ash. The club survived a torrid year in 2020 when the season was curtailed because of Covid 19 but bounced back with enthusiasm in 2021. The club has two teams playing on a Saturday in the Mid Bucks League and arranges Sunday fixtures to ensure all members have a chance of a game during the season.
The Pavilion - Until 1966 there was no pavilion at Bradenham. Players changed under a large
tree beside the White House. Teas were served by members wives and girlfriends
in the Old School. The club was renowned for its teas which I remember
in the early 1960's was often a sit-down ham salad with knife and fork followed
by tea, cakes, jam scones, and slices of lemon meringue pie. In the spring of 1966 after many years
of fund raising and hard work by members the club's pavilion was opened. Since
then, a number of improvements have been made; electricity
and water have been installed, a bar, kitchen, toilets, shower facilities, and
changing rooms added.
Club Centenary - The centenary of the club was celebrated in 1985 after a newspaper clipping of a match between Bradenham and Downley on the 18th of July 1885 was uncovered in the South Bucks Free Press. Special matches and events were organised, and a celebration match was attended by members past and present, league officials and local dignitaries. Subsequent research revealed a previous match played at Bradenham in 1859 although there may not have been a formal club at this date.The results of over 2000 games between 1834 and 2021, league tables involving Bradenham Teams and snippets extracted from local papers are in the process of being loaded on to the Village website.