Cricket
Sport and Recreation in Swalwell
Swalwell Village Late 1920’s to Early 1930’s by Jack Dixon
Picture the scene. Saturday noon. Several ladies making their way to the cricket field -Thomasina (Sina) Laidler, Mary (Polly) Mason, Jenny Errington, Mary (Polly) Dixon, to name just a few. Heavily laden with baskets full of kettles, teapots, cakes, bread, etc., to make sandwiches for the players’ teas. Before 2pm., crowds are gathering to support their team. Prompt 2pm., the umpires in their white coats make their way to the centre of the field and carefully place the bails on the stumps. A great cheer goes up as the famous Bruce brothers Tom and J.B., both Durham county players, proudly walk to their positions, Tom to receive the first ball. More often than not they made a century partnership laying the foundation for a big score. In later years, JB took over the Highlander pub in the village and it became better known as the Cricketers Arms as the teams usually called in there after the game for a quick one (or two)! Depending on the state of the game, tea was usually taken about 4pm when the locals rushed off home for a quick snack then back again for the second innings. If Swalwell were victorious many of the spectators remained, talking about the game, and if the umpire had made a bad decision, questioned his eyesight! “How could he be given out as caught behind the wicket when his bat was nowhere near the ball?” was the cry. Those stalwart members, Tommy Rutter and Humphrey Errington, never without pipes in their mouths. Will Baty, Andy Dixon and others always ready to help in any way.
The ground was very picturesque, separated from the football field by a line of tall trees, the home of scores of crows. At the bottom end was the Newcastle to Consett railway line. Legend has it that a batsman once made a huge hit – the ball soared high into the air and landed on a wagon that was passing and finished up in Consett . Some hit! The river Derwent flowed nearby. There was however one unpleasant spot just outside at the very bottom of the field. Jimmy Foster’s piggery – when the wind was blowing in the wrong direction it was, to say the least, very unpleasant. He also had a little sawmill where he made bundles of firewood that he sold in the village. No central heating in those days, all coal fires.
Next to the cricket field was the football ground. The team was very well supported and had some very good players. The towering Frank Watson, very few players got past him, and Joe (hockey) Watson, strong as an ox. No massive wages for them – they played for the love of the game. What about the pitch? Sloping, bumpy, and often muddy. Could the modern day footballers cope with that and a leather ball and boots? Cricket and football games were not only played on Saturdays but mid-week too for cup ties The cheers and shouting could be heard in the village.
Quoits was another game that was popular. How the men cared and tended that yard square of clay – watered only when necessary to keep it in prime condition. This was played near Coalway Lane, now a council house estate. It was a great pastime for the men to fill in their time and ease the boredom and frustration of unemployment.
Sadly, after the war, things changed. Support dwindled and the football team folded up. The cricket team moved to a new ground. Executive houses are now built on the site. The grounds may have gone but the memories of those happy days and the enjoyment they gave remain.
Whickham Cricket Club
The club was founded in 1860, the second in Durham, and it has played on the Glebe field since its inception. Since that time the only gaps in the record of games occurred during the two world wars of the 20th century.
In 1906 the Derwent Valley League was formed and Whickham won the championship in their second season.
1920 Whickham was in the North Durham Senior League where they played until the commencement of World War 2.
After the war they played in the Northern Combination League, which they won in 1947. This is popularly known as the Compton/Edrich season.
1950 saw them in the North West Durham League. This was a strong league but in 1985 they won it and left to join the Tyneside Senior League.
Today the emphasis of the club is on youth and teams for Under 13, Under 15, Under 18 as well as the First XI and Second XI are coached, encouraged and have full fixture lists. The Club continues to enjoy the great family loyalty, which it has always received.
A glimpse of the family names over the decades is fascinating. These include the doctors Andy and Eddy Smith, their cousin Wilkie Willis, the Rectors, the Scout Master T. Heron, the farmer Mr. Rutter, Muncaster, Taylor, Buckton, Maughan, Laybourne, Proud, Pyle, Handy, Baty, Rose, Oloman, Archer, Athol Campbell, Carr-Ellison, Cheeseman, and later the Ashleys.
Early Days
Finance was always a problem and apart from a yearly subscription of 6 shillings, other methods of raising money had to be introduced. Raffles(always a good source of income) and an annual dance,which was very popular, was well attended in pre TV days. Al this, plus the sterling work of the Ladies kept the finances of the club in the black. .
The Durham County Education committee hired the field for £6 each year, and held the local schools' sports day there. Front Street School paid £3 to hold its Sports Day. The 2 tennis courts, situated near the score-board, paid £2 each year. In 1936 the Club paid £7.10 shillings to rent the field. As the name Glebe suggests, this field has always been part of the Church land.
Machinery was shared or hired with other cricket clubs. There is a record of borrowing a mower from Blaydon Cricket Club.
Later Days
In 1974 the Council built a fine club- house on the Glebe field. It is shared by footballers and cricketers equally and has excellent facilities.
There are 5 representatives from each sport on the General Committee.150 people may be seated in the lounge bar. The central situation of the Glebe has provided a good base for club activities.
In 1979 one of the best scoreboards in the county was installed. Underneath, the equipment and machinery is stored.
In 1983, the undulations, a relic of medieval strip- farming, which had caused untold trouble to generations of fielders, were removed when the field was finally levelled. In the same year permanent seating was installed and the ground was enclosed in 2-metre fencing. There is an excellent car park adjoining the ground. The cricket club seems set for a bright future.
Whickham Cricket Memories
Often cricket pleasure games took place on Cooks Field, West Street Whickham. This site, now occupied by houses, was a field shorn of grass with an uneven surface, very rough rubble and clay which had baked hard during the years.
Large stones formed the wicket, bats were made out of any timber such as floor boards, railings, or old furniture, usually lasting one hour, sometimes less.
One evening a party went to Taylor's plantation on Fellside Road, and felled a young oak tree 7inches. in diameter. Two pieces 4feet. long were cut, branches and waste were left. Some handy man produced two well-made bats whose weight was treble the weight of a normal bat.
Wooden balls were turned on a lathe by Alfie Elliot, trying all species of seasoned wood without much success, finally he gave up. When the Hoppings came to the Church Green, lads retrieved wooden balls which went astray from the coco-nut shies, which soon ran out.
A whip-round gathered in halfpennies and pennies. Two volunteers walked to Newcastle and purchased a cork ball, which proved a success.
About 20-30 participated in these games. One afternoon burly Tom Taylor seized these bats, gave a threatening talk in abusive language, then threw the bats down. Vandalism was curbed by his action, no more trees were cut.
Cricket during the Miners Strike 1926
During the miners' strike of 1926, lads and men had a keen interest in sport. As the summer months were approaching the Australian cricket team were touring this country. Five of our youths thought it a good idea to attend a Test Match, the nearest one being held at Leeds.
Our first thought was the cash. We began to prepare weeks before the date of the match. We needed 2/6d. Entrance and at least another 2/- for sundries such as programme, pop, parkings etc.
The day came to prepare to leave. Our mothers packed a large bait, enough to last two days. It consisted of a granny loaf, half a stotty loaf with jam on and finally into the haversack went a pint enamel pot.
We left Whickham 10 o'clock at night on bikes, with a small paraffin lamp on one bike, down Lobley Hill, along the Coach Road, Birtley, Chester-le Street, Darlington, etc. We had to travel through towns and villages as there were no by-passes in those days. Almost all these towns and villages had a fountain or horse-trough which provided us with drinks.
Arriving at Headingly, Leeds, 6am, we parked our bikes in a back yard for 3d. T Then we joined the queue sitting on the pavement in bright sunshine.
Gates opened 9am. In we all went sitting on wooden planks without backrests, excitement among the crowd as the game started.
Australia batted first, however first ball bowled had Bardsley caught behind for a duck. It was great and gave England a confident start.
Luck deserted England when Australian Mc.Cartney scored a century before lunch, and during the afternoon another century by Andrews. We, as spectators, became bored, tired, drowsy, and really browned off, sitting in the sun all day.
Match over 6pm. We collected our bikes and soon left Roundhay Park behind. At 7pm., about 5 miles out of Leeds on a lonely main road we pitched our tent on a grass verge and called it a day.
7am. Next day, all refreshed, we had an uneventful ride home.
Gives you some idea of the hard and strenuous days, although very interesting. I do not suppose this trip would have been thought of had it not been for the miners' strike.
The Five Cyclists were John Copeland, George Copeland, Kit Heron ,Edward Proud and Charles Lambert.
Swalwell Cricket Club
It was formed in 1880 after a number of meetings in the old "Crows Trees Inn", which stood on the site of the present Blaydon Rugby Club.
Several well-known Swalwell families, such as Bruce, Watson, Lee, Norvell and Fletcher, attended the meetings.
The first matches were played between 1880 and 1892 on the "Forge Field" situated at the Dam Head. Sir Henry Clavering then gave them permission to play on the "Avenue Ground". In 1999 they moved to their present home at the Derwenthaugh Country Park, situated on the site of the old Derwenthaugh Coke Works.
During its long history the Cricket Club has played hosts to Swalwell Presbyterian Football Club, Swalwell Hockey Club and even a Tennis Club, whose court later became a Putting Green.
During the 1939-45 war the ground and pavilion were commandeered by the Royal Air Force for use as a Barrage Balloon site. An arrangement was made with Ryton Cricket Club to use its ground on alternate Saturdays.
In 1975 and 1976 teams of Ladies from Ryton and Swalwell played an annual match. On each occasion the home side proved victorious.
Swalwell played in the North West Durham League with considerable success until 1932. In 1933 they became a member of the re-organised Tyneside Senior League where they have continued to play with considerable success, having won Division B and Division A on numerous occasions. They later played in the Fosters Northumberland and Tyneside Senior Cricket League.
The "Avenue Ground" was eventually sold in 2000 to Miller Homes, who have developed a housing estate called "The Pavilion", and a new ground at Derwenthaugh Park opened half a mile distant.