Club History
1902
Back Row: Major Ted Ackland, A.H.Slee, H.G.Cumming, H.Guard
Front Row: A.Huxtable, Capt. Hart, E.J.Slee (Capt), Ch.H.Ackland, Ed. Snow, T.J.Slee
1946
Back Row: L/Leeworthy, G.Chugg, R.Barker, G.Venton, Pascoe, Woodley, Leeworthy Sen. (Umpire)
Front Row: A.Potier, W.Ackland, F.Goldthorpe, J.Incledon, C.Bearne
In 1875 Braunton played Fremington in a two innings match when the scores were, Braunton 37 and 24 Fremington 21 and 24. Braunton played Taw Vale C.C. and reached 60, with visitors making only 20 runs. In these games no double figures were recorded! In 1876 the Club played Chaloner’s Endowed School another two innings game- Braunton 50 and 55, the School 30 and 78 and this was published in the local paper. However, scorers were not so accurate in those days and a subsequent letter to the press with a corrected score gave Braunton a win by 12 runs!! A match against Bishops Tawton C.C. saw Braunton win, 77-28.
Playing on the new ground at Wrafton in 1878 v. Georgeham the game finished with two hours to spare as Georgeham declined to take a second innings. In June of that year Braunton beat Ilfracombe 86- 35. In 1910 on the Saunton Road ground the 2nd Xl assisted by ‘several 1st Xl players, beat Chaloner’s School in a two innings game 54 and 117 against 35 and 21/4. Braunton were defeated by St. Mary’s ( Barnstaple ) in August of that year scoring only 24 in reply to 81/7 dec. The pitch was blamed for the poor batting!
1913 saw the first lack of interest when few games were played and a revival was planned for 1920. Few turned up to a meeting and the game continued to be in the doldrums with no press records of scores. So we move on to 1938 when the Club was’ reformed by a dedicated group of men and women working on and off the field to see that no further lapses would occur again. They raised money by holding whist drives in their homes on Friday nights; Jumble Sales and Skittles competitions all helped to raise the funds. A tea hut was purchased, a grass cutter from Ellerslie School, timber was bought and £7 .10s was paid as the rent for the ground. The revival had come and has been carried on by people likewise minded until present day.
The ground was off Moor Lane and part of Saunton Park Estate. Later Col. Tweedie invited the Club to play at The Brittons, now covered by bungalows. From there to Farmer Paul’s field in Silver Street, then to Goodgates and Chaloner’s School ground during the war years up to 1945. Eventually to the field where the Club now plays in Field Lane, and now called the Kelsey Ground. In 1956, Mr. Kelsey, who enjoyed watching his cricket and was a frequent visitor to George Chugg’s shop, heard that the ground was to be up for sale. He also knew that the Club could not afford to make the purchase. So, quietly, he went to the vendors, bought the ground and gave it to the Club!-for the playing of cricket. A provision was made that the Scouts were to have their hut in the corner of the field for as long as they wanted. This was gladly agreed and still is there today.
1951
Back Row: Mr. Kelsey, L.J.Isaac, J.Kelly, C.Thomas, C.Bearne, Rev.Morley-Wilkes, G.Barnes (Umpire)
Front Row: A.V.Betty, R.J.Shaw, Rev.G.A.Carter, T.G.Chugg, E.Shambrook, E.Bidder
1977
Back Row: R.Fogerty, N.Lucas, M.Pattison, N.Woodley, J.Griffiths, R.Churchward, H.Heaver, D.Perry, D.Cowler, E.Beer
Middle Row: N.Dennis, J.Fry, R.Lewis, G.Hird, M.Lewis
Front row: S.Guest, J.Carr, D.Brook, D.Gunn, N.Rendle
To own its own ground is a “fillip” to any club and those in charge soon got down to some work on both the square and building. The erection of that first pavilion was done by members themselves in 1939. Freddie Baker supplying the timber, all hands were assembled at 2 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon and by 8 p.m. the floor was laid, partitions were up and only the front was left to assemble later. Members assisting were Reg. Pascoe, Len Leworthy, Joe Huxtable, Stan Hiscott, George Chugg, Charlie Pickard and Ernie Shambrook. It cost £29.
In 1967 the New Pavilion was opened by the local M.P., the cost was £1150; the erection took two days. Secretary at the time was Bill Newman who spent a great deal of time with the paperwork and being on site to see that things were in order. It is not possible to record here every achievement of the Club over these years. It is hoped that the exhibition of cuttings and photographs assembled in the Pavilion will recall some, others will linger in the memory, none perhaps more than that of 1980 – the Centenary Year of Braunton cricket.
The club continued to take its place within the framework of the local leagues, fielding teams each year throughout the eighties and nineties. During the noughties, there were some really memorable moments for Braunton teams and individuals alike. Devon Cup, Lathwell, Paddison,
However, the club began to struggle to remain financially viable, with fewer people using the amenities. By 2015, the club was facing the prospect of the bank foreclosing on its outstanding debts. Thankfully, a group of existing players and people known locally to them came together to present an ambitious plan to the bank that would cleardown all debts within an agreed timeframe; the bank accepted and thus began a renaissance for BCC. The plan depended on the generosity of spirit of its members, many of whom volunteered their time and skills to get the wheels turning. Some members bravely left their existing places of employment to take on this new venture, without guarantees of success. A new committee was established, helping to keep the project to schedule and to continue generating enthusiasm within the community.
Within a year, it was clear that the plan had exceeded beyond its expectations, clearing all of its debts with the bank and returning to the black. The success snowballed and the club has continued to grow in terms of popularity and revenue, reinvesting it all into the provision of cricket for the community and the club’s facilities; the very things that led to the creation of Braunton Cricket Club nearly 150 years ago.