1. HISTORY OF ILFORD CATHOLIC CRICKET CLUB Founded 1920 Home Ground: Queen Elizabeth II Field, Barkingside Recreation Ground

2. 1920 Ilford Catholic Cricket Club is formed. A meeting in the Catholic Club of St Peter and Pauls Church between Charlie Tilling, Bunny Owen, Frank Benedict and Walter Angel in the winter of 1919 laid the foundations for the first season in 1920. The meeting decided to use the kit of the pre-1914 club, The Saints Peter and Paul CC, and to name the new club Ilford Catholic Cricket Club.

3. 1920 – First Season Records of the 1920’s are sparse but accounts indicate that ICCC were playing during this period in Valentines Park, near Perth Road. Opening batsman Arthur Adams joins the club and the first chairman of the club is Capt. Aitcheson. ICCC get bowled out for 16 in their first game - Charlie Tilling top scores with 12. Frank Benedict leads ICCC to its first victory on July 26, 1920.

4. 1930-39 The Club begins to grow during the 30’s and runs a 2 nd XI for a brief time. Many fixtures are played each year against sides such as St Clements, Romford Workers, Barking Gas Company, Goodmayes Methodists and Harold Wood. Many new records are set including some that stand to this day… Membership form and 1938 fixture card

5. Records from the 1930’s.. Best Figures K Bunting – 9.2–1–32–10 (1937) Most wicketkeeper dismissals W Lundy - 54 (39 sts, 15 cts) (1936) Lowest total for the club 12 vs. Lamorby CC (1937) Most catches in a match Cyril Konrath, 5 (1937) Bernard Saville gets over 140 wickets in consecutive seasons (1936/37) Bernard Saville gets 9 wickets in a game – on 5 separate occasions

6. 1939 World War 2 breaks out. The club is kept going throughout the war by Francis Lion and Henry Konrath. In a letter to a local club Francis Lion suggests the pooling of resources and players to keep clubs alive during wartime in order to “keep the flags flying…” Despite the outbreak of war Francis Lion was concerned about the financial health of the club and continued to chase members for unpaid subs in October 1939!

7. 1939 – 1945 ICCC fulfilled fixtures throughout the war period and picked up players from other clubs to help with numbers. Letters from club members from various military outposts all around the world are sent to club secretary Henry Konrath. Valentines Park pitch is unplayable as the military authorities build a trench adjacent to the pitch. It was during this time that the rule “Every member must be a catholic” was discontinued and several non Catholics joined the club during this period.

8. 1946-50 - club logo designed It was around this period that the ICCC logo was created and approved by the committee. Henry Gurdon designed a series of concepts which were submitted for approval. The Keys and Sword represent St Peter and St Paul and the shape of the logo is a Bishop’s mitre. The logo has been adapted over the years but follows the original design from over 70 years ago. Original club logo designs

9. 1946-50 ICCC moves from Valentines Park to Barkingside Recreation Ground. During the late 1940’s ICCC also have 2 nd and 3 rd XI’s playing at Fairlop Oak playing fields. Bill Chainey and Johnny Hedge set the first wicket record partnership of 222 that stands to this day against Upminster (1949). Hedge and Chainey are prolific run scorers and both score over 1,000 runs in 1949. By 1970 they both pass the 10,000 run mark scoring 26,000 runs between them.

10. 1950's The 1950’s was a great period for the club with as many as 50 fixtures played each season and 3 sides. The club ran many social events as well such as annual dinners and organised tours. ICCC has good ties with Essex CC, playing fixtures against Essex Club and Ground XI, and helping prepare teas for Essex CC at the Ilford Cricket Festival. The stats from this period are remarkable, many of them set by all rounder and club captain Vic Harris… ICCC play Essex Club and Ground in 1950. Essex CC score 320-5

11. Vic Harris - stats Vic’s achievements deserve a section on their own… some highlights; 185 wickets in a season (1950) Over a 100 wickets in a season – nine times * Over 500 runs in a season – 16 times Over 100 wickets and 1000 runs in a season – twice (1952/53) 2100 wickets and 15,000 runs reached by 1970 * (1949/1950/1952/1953/1954/1957/1958/1959/1963)

12. 1960's The club was thriving during the 1960’s with 3 sides playing against clubs such as Writtle, Crown and Manor and Woodford Green. 1960 itself was the most successful season with ICCC losing just 1 match from 32 games (26 wins, 5 drawn). Vic Harris (1963), Brian McLeish (1965) and Kevin Keating (1969) all get over 100 wickets in a season. Brothers Laurie and Bernard Adams are instrumental in running the club, with Laurie producing career records from 1930-70.

13. 1960's ICCC and Essex player Bill Greensmith arranges a fixture with an Essex representative XI at Barkingside for his benefit year. The Essex side includes international England spinner Jim Laker - who stayed after the game and had a pint in the chequers pub!

14. 1970's ICCC play league cricket for the first time joining the Greene King Essex County League, later known as the Lillywhite Frowd League. International and Essex players play vs ICCC at Barkingside Recreation Ground including cricket legends such as Keith Boyce, John Lever, Keith Pont and Brian Taylor. Keith Boyce and John Lever

15. 1980’s ICCC continue to play in Lillywhite Frowd league and later in the Smallcombe Sports League. Mark Tompkins smashes 230 not out v Britannic Lodge and scores 1462 runs in the 1981 season. John Rogers gets 7-1 against Downshall including a hat trick. The 1 st XI achieve runners up in Division 2 of the Smallcombe Sports league in 1989.

16. 1990’s ICCC win the Smallcombe Sports Division 2 in 1991, and then enters the Morrant Essex league fielding three league sides. The 2 nd and the 3 rd XI’s win their divisions in 1995. In 1996 Club Captain Liam Mulholland takes the 1 st XI to win the Morrant league Division 1 playing sides such as Woodford Green, Havering and Eton Manor. Dave Farenden averages 105.2 and Vince Mulholland takes 52 wickets at 9.5.

17. 2001-2009 In 2001 ICCC join the Herts and Essex Cricket League. The 1 st XI join in Division 3, win Division 2 in 2002 and then get promoted to Division 1 by 2003. ICCC have two sides playing league cricket up to 2006. 1st XI retain Division 1 status.

18. 2010 - 2012 Many new members join and ICCC resurrect the 2 nd XI and the Sunday sides. The 2 nd XI win Division 7 of the HECL with Anujan Thiru winning young player of the year. In 2012 the 2 nd XI win Division 6 and move up to Division 5. In 2011 Vince Mulholland wins most wickets (37) and most runs (697) for Division 1.

19. 2012 2012 is a ground breaking year in many ways ; ICCC field first ever youth side (under 17) vs. Newham CC. Sunday team reach a new club record 336-2 vs. Alderton CC. First female, Sydney Naylor, plays for the club. 3rd XI are reformed and play a full season of fixtures Barkingside Recreation Ground is awarded QE2 Field status.

20. Queen Elizabeth II Field Barkingside Recreation Ground In December 2012 the ceremony of the re-dedication of Barkingside Recreation Ground as a Queen Elizabeth II Field took place. Queen Elizabeth II Field status permanently protects playing fields and recreation spaces in communities all across the UK, ensuring access to outdoor sport and recreation – both now and for future generations. From 2013 onwards Barkingside Recreation Ground will be formally known as; Queen Elizabeth II Field, Barkingside Recreation Ground.

21. THE PRESENT DAY… 2012/13 Saturday teams – Four XI’s 1 st XI 3 rd XI 2 nd XI 1 st XI 4th XI

22. 2012/13 ICCC is now fastest growing club in the HECL, with 26 new players joining in 2012 and over 60 members. One of our aims for 2013 is to host more youth games based on the success of the pilot match in 2012. ICCC have also been approached by Redbridge Council to work in partnership with them to run schools coaching courses in 2013, as part of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields in Trust initiative.

23. The club has a series of aspirations for 2020; - 5 Saturday league teams - 2 Sunday friendly teams - Midweek T20 league - All age youth cricket – U11, U13, U15 sides established - Sufficient fully qualified coach’s to cover all requirements - ECB Clubmark and Focus club status - Playing members of 100+ and 50+ social members - Refurbished pavilion and stand alone net facility - Stand alone brick built score box for the main square - To continue to be the most affordable and accessible club in the area 2020 VISION – OUR CENTENARY YEAR

24. ILFORD CATHOLIC CRICKET CLUB Founded 1920 Home Ground: Queen Elizabeth II Field, Barkingside Recreation Ground