Harlow Cricket Club Official Brochure 2026 - 2027 by Ludis

YOUR LOCAL CLUB, PLAYING CRICKET SINCE 1774

A WARM WELCOME FROM OUR CAPTAIN BEN YEATS

FOLLOWING 3 SUCCESSFUL SEASON AT FIVES & HERONIANS CC WHERE I GOT TO TEST MYSELF PLAYING WITH AND AGAINST SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN ESSEX, NOW FELT LIKE THE RIGHT TIME TO RETURN HOME. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS OF THE CLUB CLOSELY AND BEEN HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH THE COLTS COACHING THROUGHOUT MY TIME AWAY FROM THE CLUB.

Being able to coach and mentor some of the promising young talent coming through the ranks filled me with a sense of optimism for the future of this wonderful club. My aims are to build a team that can compete against anyone in the county, while using the fantastic youth players we have at the forefront of this.

This starts in the 2026 season where we will be aiming for promotion into division 2 of the Essex league. It will be a tough challenge but one I know everyone at the club will relish after just falling short in the last few years. We have an excellent squad with plenty of experience at this level mixed with the flare of the younger players. In hope this balance will help us get over the line in our promotion push.

On a personal level, it is great to be back playing at Harlow CC. This club means a lot to me but also my family who I know are pleased to also be back to see old friends more regularly. Perhaps with a glass of wine in hand on the veranda. I was able to push myself on further because of the support I had throughout my time at the club, the set up at Harlow is truly special and that is a credit to everyone who has built such a wonderful environment for youngsters to be able to expressive themselves freely with the support of their captains and coaches.

Above being one of the best grounds to play cricket it is also a beautiful place to have a drink on a Saturday afternoon and support your local club. There is no better sight than a packed clubhouse and veranda as the sunsets over marigolds. I look forward to seeing old and new faces down the club as we all strive to achieve our goals, from the 1st team all the way to the 5th team.

WELCOME TO HARLOW CRICKET CLUB.

We have been playing cricket since 1774, or even before and in more recent years, at our picturesque cricket ground, named Marigolds, set in the heart of Old Harlow since the1880’s. We still enjoy the use our original Victorian pavilion, now our groundsmen facility and score board.

Whilst talking of scoreboards the original mechanical scoring board (1908) prototype was installed here, designed and manufactured by the great Samual Deards, more about him on page 35.

In more recent times, 2017 in fact, we opened our splendid club pavilion which is designed to cater for two cricket matches played either side along with a fine club room with a well stocked bar. This facility is also available for club parties and private hire functions. See pages 8, 9, & 11.

We are a family orientated club, open to all. We have a strong support from nearby residents here in the old town and other nearby neighbourhoods and villages. New members and families, for both social and players are always welcome.

During the summer cricket season, most Saturdays the balcony, with comfortable benches and tables are crammed with spectators watching cricket along with a beer or glass of wine. There is also the 250 Celebration Garden alongside the club house with tables and seating for those wanting to sit aside with their friends and families.

Many wander around the cricket ground during play, so further benches are scattered around the boundary for casual quiet moments whilst watching our ‘noble game’.

We offer cricket for those from nine to seventy-nine or older if you fancy it. Five teams play every Saturday from the beginning of May through to early September.

Sundays as well with both club teams and our permanent guest’s Netteswell & Burnt Mill CC. A combination of two former village teams who have been playing in the Harlow area since the late 19th century. So, there is plenty of local history here as well and a friendly family club.

There is no membership criteria (other than the playing section) so come along any time. If you look out for our cricket calendar you can also enjoy mid-week games with our thriving colt’s section (five teams of varying ages from ten to eighteen). As well hosting some Essex County Cricket Club over sixties XI one day inter-county games. We also arrange cricket lunches occasionally during the season, watch out for announcements to book lunch and watch cricket.

Our first, second, third and fourth XIs play in the Essex Hamro League and the 5th XI (a mixture of ancient & modern) in the Herts & Essex Borders League.

For more details do contact our... President, Alan Howick 07879 440 786 or our Chairman, Simon Baulcomb 07787 158352

NB: Between Alan & Simon, they share over 110 years of membership, Alan joined the club as a young colt in 1965. Simon a decade later and still an active playing member for over fifty years.

Simon Baulcomb Chairman, James Howick VPC & President Alan Howick

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A VIEW FROM THE HON SECRETARY.

Alittle about me... I first joined Harlow CC in 2013 and started in the 3rd XI as a lower order opening bowler. As time has gone on, I have become an opening batsman and still enjoy bowling a few overs or keeping wicket when needed!

I have been lucky enough to have played in every team and captained a few, and honestly, it is always a joy. Whether you are aiming for the top spot in the 1st XI or want to join our competitive 5th XI, there’s a place here for everyone who wants to play cricket. My time captaining the 5th XI team for 3 years was one of the most rewarding times. During that period, we managed to win the league title in 2017, going undefeated during the whole season. Also, during that time, I’ve achieved the rare feat of 1000 League runs in a season, as well as a Club record individual highest score of 239 not out. With the way bats are developing, I’m sure that record will be broken in no time!

There’s plenty to do off the pitch, too. I’ve had many Committee and club roles such as Director of Cricket, Colts Coordinator and Balance. Currently I find myself as the Hon Secretary, a post I’ve held for the last 8 years. It’s wonderful to help create a welcoming space for all, and huge thanks go to our amazing volunteers.

If you asked me to sum up Harlow CC in a few words, I would say we’re: traditional, welcoming, and inclusive. I’ve come into contact with players and supporters from all backgrounds and ages, and it’s a pleasure to share the field with them or see them cheering us on from the sidelines.

Jack Sykes

Club Hon Secretary & Social Media & Communications

Junior cricket

Coaching and matches for boys and girls aged 5-19 years. Girls only coaching available.

For details please mail: Jon Allen, Director of Cricket jonjulie999@hotmail.co.uk

5 Saturday League XIs and Sunday cricket played in a ﬁne, traditional cricket environment.

RUGBY: Join the Harlow Rugby Club Family Teams for men, women, and mini & youth players. Rugby is inclusive, social, and for all ages and abilities. Whether you're starting out or returning to the game, there’s a place for you at Harlow Rugby Club.

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Join us for Bottomless Brunch, live football, Garage Bingo, Rum & Reggae parties, and our popular Tuesday quiz night with a cash prize. Whatever the occasion, Latton Park is the perfect place for a great time.

SPORTING FRIENDSHIP:

Our two clubs have been building a close sporting friendship over many years, supporting each other matchday lunches, sharing a few beers on each other's balcony. Even a few taking part in both games during their respective seasons. Ongoing conversation regarding sharing and developing support for each other is regarded as an important element to ensure the health and the popularity of both clubs being promoted throughout our town of Harlow.

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We believe that education is not something which only happens at school and therefore we value the partnership which we have with parents here.

Your kids are in safe hands and would yearn to be here with our friendly ambiance and dedicated staff, tailored for their relaxation and continuous development.

Afterschool, holiday and half terms clubs. Breakfast, snacks and hot meals provided every day.

We pick up from following schools:

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St James Church, Perry Road, Harlow, Essex. CM18 7NP

1ST XI - 2023

2ND XI - 2023

4TH XI - 2023

3RD XI - 2023

5TH XI - 2023

ACA HARLOW

WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARLOW CRICKET CLUB

ALL AT THE ADVANCED CRICKET CENTRE IN HARLOW ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT HARLOW CRICKET CLUB.

This new 6-lane, indoor highperformance cricket facility, on Central Road, just off Edinburgh Way, boasts three state-of-the-art Bola Trueman bowling machines, 1-2-1 coaching available with ECB qualified coaches (up to level four), innovative Fulltrack AI software to help analyse your development, and much more besides.

New in 2026 the Academy has also opened a cricket retail store, stocking all leading brands, offering a wide selection of bats, pads, gloves, accessories and more!

Since opening, ACA Harlow has worked closely in partnership with Harlow Cricket Club, with Harlow joining ACA as a member club, meaning that all members of Harlow Cricket Club already benefit from discounted lane-bookings, advanced booking access, multi-lane booking flexibility and more besides. Furthermore, ACA donate 50% of all membership proceeds back into the game, supporting the development of local cricket in the area.

Many of the Club’s young boys and girls are already benefitting from training and being coached at the facility, with a host of Harlow CC senior players also regularly training and netting at ACA.

If you’ve not visited yet, then John and his team are sure to give you a very warm welcome.

ACA Harlow is open for net bookings between 10am and 10pm on weekdays and between 9am to 7pm on weekend days.

ACA Harlow, Units 4/5 Advance Mews Central Road, Harlow, CM20 2ST

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LOCAL JOURNALISM WITH

A FRIENDLY TOUCH OF STYLE, NO PICTURES JUST CARTOON CHARACTERS!

In 1953 saw the Launch of Harlow’s very own newspaper the Harlow Citizen. Local news, local journalists, locally printed. The coverage

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Annual Dinner & Dances from the late 1940’s into the early 1970’s were stylish affairs with Black Forest Gateau’s wash down with a delicate glass of Blue Nun!!

One of the great traditions of cricket clubs all over the country is the ‘Annual Dinner & Dance’. For many years, after the post-war era, tended to be very traditional in food and entertainment. But with the arrival of a new younger generation along with the early ‘glam’ period from 1980 onwards, the evenings brightened up with better venues, ‘live bands’ or disco’s, more imaginative food served (well, most times) and a more relaxed dress code. Out went the DJ’s and long frocks, in with miniskirts, flairs, loud shirts and ties! Plus the boys tended to have longer hair than their girlfriends!

But this story starts back to the early 1950’s then changing in the early 1970’s and this story motivated by the discovery of a few invitation cards and ‘order of ceremonies’ found tucked away in an old folder which immediately jogged long forgotten memories of some rather dull evenings for the youngsters ‘being seen but not heard’. Difficult evenings for the younger membership!

These venues, at their best, were held at the local golf club once or twice but more often, in the ‘canteen’ of local business ‘social clubs’ such as Standard, Key Glass or similar. The evening Guest of Honour might be a former county cricketer or local dignitary to say a few words, toasts to The Queen, the ladies and give out the prizes and awards. Then of course the ‘showstopper’the Tombola or raffle draw.

The dress code for the adults was a few men in dinner suites, ladies with tall over sprayed hair and evening dress. Us youngsters wearing cheap suits, thin ties and

if we are lucky accompanied by a pretty girl who always made a

This wonderful picture was taken around 1948 or so at The Victoria Hall

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These early events were normally organised by Gordon Bassett and his wife. Both resplendent. Gordon in full dinner suite with black bow tie and a long ball gown for Mrs B of course. They loved their ballroom dancing so you can imagine with The Bernard Williams Band or for a change the Ralph White & His Band (both much the same) it was one way traffic. For the very occasional ‘modern’ tune the young ladies would dance together around a handbag and the boys getting into the light & bitters at some rate.

Has anyone since, been able to watch ‘Come Dancing’ on TV without the thought of Mr & Mrs Bassett spinning around the dance floor?

In 1971, a revolution in some small part. The entertainment changed and was provided by The Memphis City Jazz Band. Mr & Mrs Bassett didn’t attend. Nor did the other DJ’s wearers either, the tide was turning.

Within a decade the tide had turned completely as we entered the glamourous 80’s. With a little more to spend, the venues and menus changed and improved. First to The Saxon Inn then better still (sadly no longer around) The Churchgate Manor Hotel. The food upped its standard and so did the wine and beer! Not only were we smiling more, the dress code was more colourful and relaxed, everyone seemed to enjoy and the hangovers were bigger. Nowadays we have moved on even further. For better or worse is an opinion. Now we have ‘presentation evenings’ held at our new club house. Not a bad thing, keeps the revenue ‘in-house’ and why not, we have a fabulous facility. Let us make good use of it as well.

More recently we are moving slightly back towards ‘tradition’ with dinner and music afterwards. Will that continue?

HARLOW CC HISTORY - INTO THE 2000 AND ONWARDS...

Another young player emerging in this period was Jonny Allen, an outstanding bat and fielder, who in the mould of Simon Baulcomb made the First XI at a youthful age and served the club through the sides over decades at all levels.

2000’S UP TODATE - BEGINNING OF PAID PROFESSIONALS, SOME GOOD SOME VERY GOOD BUT OVERALL, WHAT DID WE GAIN?

In all truth Harlow had little to celebrate at First XI level since joining the Essex Senior League in 1971. A mere two league titles with the first being achieved in 2000. By this time many clubs had turned to bringing in an ‘overseas’ pro to bolster their chances of success and at the turn of the century Harlow did likewise with two Indian brothers named Odedra.

Nilesh Odedra linked up with Terry Rist to rack up almost two thousand runs between them. Odedra scored 1152 league runs at an average of 96 whilst Rist made an excellent 735 at just under 40 a game. Often, they didn’t need much batting beyond the openers and opportunities were limited. The consistency of the openers was such that talented young players in the side had limited opportunities and often had to contribute through their fielding alone.

Niraj Odedra was the star of the bowling attack taking a magnificent 52 league wickets that season but he was far from a one-man band as Ian Hill grabbed 37 victims and opening bowlers Paul Mayhew and Paul Lenihan took 17 and 24 respectively whilst maintaining a tight grip.

The Proudlock Cup was also bagged that season, courtesy of fine performances from Shab Munir, Graham Aspinall and Paul Lenihan. A young Ryan Jessey also featured, the latest in the Jessey supply line of excellent cricketers that continues with his sons to this day.

The title win of 2000 heralded a period where Harlow were at their strongest in terms of league position and quality of players at their disposal. Some terrific players were to wear the club colours in this period of sustained success

which reached its pinnacle with the clinching of the Essex Senior League Division 2 title in 2011.

Standing head and shoulders amongst his talented peers was Ahmed Khawaja. Arguably the single most gifted cricketer in our history. The club records are dominated by his efforts with bat (primarily) and ball. An incredibly destructive batsman with the ability to turn any game in his sides favour who had the added ability to take wickets with his spin and guile. In 2010 he established a then club record 1170 league runs that was only broken in 2022.

The title win of 2011 was followed by four season in Division 1 until the side failed to sustain their status with the loss of Khawaja’s spin due to being called for ‘throwing’ a key factor. Following the relegation Harlow decided to go in a different direction with the paid players departing the club but the home-grown young side failed to fire and a consecutive demotion saw the club fall into Division 3.

Under the stewardship of Ryan Jessey, a talented side was put together including former player Jason McNally & the mercurial spinner Sarfaraz Ahmed and for the majority of the 2019 season a much-needed promotion. Harlow needing to beat second placed Westcliff on Sea on the final day of the season. Chasing just under 200 to win the pressure proved too much and not even McNally, who had struck a First XI club record innings of 211* earlier in the season, could save the day.

Three campaigns later in 2022 Jake Messenger took the side close again as Harlow won nine of ten overs format matches but the failure to pick up enough time wins ultimately cost them promotion as they finished fourth. The season was notable for the batting of 19-year-old Ben Yeats who struck six league centuries and another four fifties as he amassed an all-time club record 1225 league runs in a single season. Chris Whitworth with 700 runs and 30 odd wickets and Sarfaraz Ahmed with 46 wickets also played significant parts in a side that went close and had the ability to drag the club out of the depth of Division 3.

Whilst the First XI have undergone their challenges over the past decade the wider club could not have performed stronger on and off the pitch. Boasting five adult sides and a full range of successful Colts sides, many reaching County and District cup finals the playing strength underneath the First XI has never been stronger. The Second XI perform in Division One at their level, the Third XI are current Premier Division reigning champions and the Fourth XI perform in Third XI cricket such is their strength.

Another stand out performance was that of the 2017 Fifth XI side that won their HECL league title winning every game, bar one rained off, under skipper Jack Sykes. Jack led from the front scoring over 1,000 runs in the previous season including an all-time club record innings of 239*.

The membership is blessed to be represented by an excellent committee and there is a warmth and togetherness at Marigolds that makes the club a fantastic place to play or watch cricket. Harlow is a progressive and diverse cricket club that will hopefully continue to grow and fortunes on the pitch can be fickle but with a little luck the glory days could be just around the corner once again.

Pyjama’s eventually reach Harlow Cricket Club in the mid 2000 with our 1st XI finely kitted out!

Eventually in 2011 we proudly achieved a champions title and promotion for the first time in decades

During our modern age very few players managed to exceed 1000 runs in the season, Here are three who did - Graham Hesketh(1980’s) Peter Prodger (1960’s) & Ben Yeats (2022). Of our current playing members Simon Bulcomb and Jack Sykes have also achieved this milestone.

SAM DEARDS

ENTREPRENEUR, INVENTOR, FIREMAN, CRICKETER AND INVENTOR OF THE MECHANICAL SCOREBOARD

The name Sam Deards is frequently mentioned in the history of both Harlow and Moor Hall Cricket Clubs where Sam and his brother and future generations are closely associated.

The man was a brilliant Victorian, far sighted individual in business, local politics, and the fire service, which he was involved for 35 years, as well as its Captain right up until retirement in 1907. But it is his involvement with cricket that’s of our interest.

Researching through, Sam shows up as a player, captain, club secretary and song writer for both clubs over a period of some forty years leading up to the turn of the century. His death in 1922 made front page news in the national media and thanks to him we still have some historic artefacts from Moor Hall CC whereas Harlow’s have sadly vanished or perished over many years; very sad.

How much Sam had an involvement with the eventual merger of both clubs is not known although in the minutes of Moor Hall CC (1887) Mr T M Day put forward of a motion for having one Harlow Cricket Club and Sam seconded this proposal. But it never happened.

Moor Hall CC ceased to exist early part of the 20th century, but we do have some of their records on file.

Sam certainly kept an involvement with many local clubs and organisations as well as raising awareness within his community on many issues. He was the local parish council clerk as well.

Some time, not too far we hope, recognition of his life and the important part he personally played for the welfare and promotion of Harlow, as well as its history, should be recognised.

A blue plaque has now been displayed outside his home

His biggest contribution to cricket worldwide was the invention of the “Sam Deard’s Patent Scoring Boards with Revolving Figures”. The prototype probably appeared at Marigolds and was advertised everywhere including ‘Wisden’s Almanack’ (1904 edition) and featured in

Sam’s unique contribution to the world of cricket appeared at

His theatrical and musical talents had no end. In 1890 at The Victoria Hall he presented and produced an evening of entertainment to raise funds for the ‘Essex Cricket XI’ and their new cricket ground at Leyton. Writing both poem and ‘topical song’ which he sung to the audience. And to finish off his involvement, performing with ‘harmonium and

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