Extracts taken from Middleton Cheney Parish Council website

The Cricket Club have progressed a long way since the earliest record of cricket being played in the village in 1860… in those days, boys would have made home-made bats and practiced their bowling along the smoother bits of road.

Before the turn of the century the cricket team used Mr. Blacklock's private ground (at Overthorpe Hall) for matches and Mr. Law's Home Ground (now Home Close) for practice, although some matches were played on the field in front of Thenford House when it was owned by the Severne Family. In 1881, according to a report in the Banbury Guardian, Middleton won a match against Chacombe by an innings and 40 runs.

Arthur Mold - Lancashire and England

Arthur Mold (1865-1921) was born in Middleton and worked as an agricultural labourer. Arthur's cricketing talent led him to be selected to play first-class cricket for Lancashire as a fast bowler between 1889 and 1901. A Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1892, he was selected for England in three Test matches in 1893, much to the delight and enthusiasm of his keen Middleton followers.

After the war, games took place on Mr Pollard's Dairy Ground (just off Waters Lane, near the bottom end of Chenderit School Playing Field). Due to the unfortunate positioning of a Sweet Chestnut tree, a novel system for scoring was introduced – if a ball was hit under the boundary fence, the batsman scored 2, over the fence and the score was 4. Any shot over the Sweet Chestnut tree resulted in a 6!

At one time the team were also renowned for their choral activities after a match – in fact one publican having been asked the name of the professional group he had hired the previous Saturday, replied, "Not pros – only those *.$ %^:~# ! cricketers from Middleton!"

The following extract from the Banbury Guardian gives details of the Sports Pavilion which was to follow – the pavilion was dedicated to the memory of the fallen of two world wars by the Rector of Middleton Cheney, the Reverend Glyn Jones and the Methodist Minister the Reverend David Devlin. It was designed by Mr Robert Gill and built by a Mr Reg Dearing. When the foundation stone was laid by Mr Clifford Acrid on the 5th July 1967, a 'time capsule', was included containing a signed list of everyone who had contributed towards the fund-raising efforts. Also several coins were placed beneath it by people representing different sections of the village (Elizabeth Matthews represented the Youth of Middleton Cheney).

The following report was printed in the Banbury Guardian on Thursday April 25th 1968

VILLAGE BUILDS ITS OWN PAVILION (April 1968)

"After over five years of fund-raising efforts Middleton Cheney's new £5,000 sports pavilion was officially opened on Saturday. Every organisation in the village has contributed to the building, which contains three sets of changing rooms, showers, a central hall and toilets.

The pavilion also stands as a memorial to the service men and women who lost their lives in the two World Wars. It was felt that a tribute of this kind would be more fitting than the usual village monument, and the organisation responsible for the new amenities has been called the Middleton Cheney Memorial Hall and Playing Fields Association.

A playing fields fund was started just after the last war and the six-acre ground was bought in the early 1950s. Just over five years ago the association started the sports pavilion project.

The association has received a 50% grant from the Ministry of Education and Science, and a £500 grant from Northants County Council – but the remainder of the money has been raised by the village. Said secretary, Mrs Irene. S. Forrest (nee Acrid), "This is a dream we have had and now we can see it in bricks and mortar. We are all very thrilled." To raise the money the association held, "fetes in torrential rain and has had support from every organisation in the village."

Mrs Forrest thanked the committee for the work it had put in and paid tribute to the pavilion's designer, Mr Robert Gill. Earlier she spoke of the long-term aims of the association – with the possibility of a small swimming pool and a bowls area.

The only disappointment of the day for the committee was the non-appearance of Mr Roger Prideaux, captain of Northants County Cricket Club, who was due to perform the opening ceremony. After a hold-up of over half-an-hour, Brackley RDC chairman, Mr L.S. Prosser stepped into the breach."

Middleton Cheney

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