Maidens allowed after double century

Jul 24 2007 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

Prayers for sunny skies are heard at a club celebrating 200 years of cricket in Liverpool with memories of when dogs and ladies were banned from the pavilion. David Charters reports

‘IT’S A trifle soft under foot,” says the old chap in the leather-trimmed tweed cap, who carries in the creases of his smile a master’s degree in English understatement.

He pauses for a moment to examine the sky, where two swollen clouds are rubbing bellies and then he squelches along the outfield of the cricket pitch in his wellies, followed by a listless fly, also yearning to feel the sun.

“Whoa-up, there,” calls his friend, offering a supporting arm. The old chap sinks to his ankles on a treacherous stretch disguised under a spread of clover.

In the distance, the heavy-roller is squeezing water from the sacred square, as though it was a sponge.

Groundsmen are praying in their sheds.

Such pictures have become miserably familiar at cricket clubs across the country in this summer of our discontent.

Oh to see again men propped on shooting-sticks, casting long shadows along the boundaries, with labradors snoozing on their polished brogues.

That is the traditional image of cricket.

But canine cricket-followers still touch a raw nerve at this particular club, where we are now gathered.

In the 1970s women, dipping their lead toes in the torrid water of feminism, began complaining about the sign at the top of the pavilion steps, which read: “Dogs and ladies not allowed.”

Actually female members of the venerable club had their own pavilion.

Even so, some of the more sensitive ladies objected to their billing on the sign.

Other cricket clubs of the day adopted the more canny policy of allowing women to enter the kitchen areas of the pavilion, so that they could make the match teas for the players, while dogs were permitted on leads.

Anyway, Dogs and Ladies Not Allowed is the title of a book celebrating 200 years of Liverpool Cricket Club, which is to be published at the end of this month.

It was written by two non-playing members, Terry Onslow and the club’s archivist John Sturgeon, whose wife, Ruth, was editor.

She is striding up the steps, where the sign is now but a memory.

In fact, nobody knows what has happened to it. Perhaps it was burned with the bras, all those years ago.

The new sign carries the rather less inflammatory sentiment, “All players are reminded that spikes and boots must not be worn past this door”.

Thunder is grumbling in the sky as Ruth, John and Terry are joined by Peter McEvoy, club chairman, in the lounge behind the distinctive green and white walls of the pavilion.

On the horizon, Keith Ball, the assistant groundsman, is cutting grass, shaking his head wearily as heavy rain falls again. Terry Glover, the groundsman, who has a house on the club’s 10-acre site is on holiday.

The conversation turns to the book, which carries historic illustrations from the club, as well as a detailed text describing major events and people, leading to the present.

There are now 1,500 members in the cricket, rugby, tennis, lacrosse, hockey, bowls and squash sections of the club. But cricket remains its heart.

Although dwarfed by Old Trafford in Manchester, the ground on Aigburth Road still hosts a Lancashire County Cricket fixture each season. Much work is now being done on the pitch to ensure the match against Sussex, which starts on July 31, is a success. The pavilion is also being repainted. On Sunday, July 29, the touring Sri Lanka A are playing a match here.

“Lancashire bring in temporary stands for the county matches,” says Tony.

“We can have 10,000 here. If the weather is good we will do well. I doubt that we’ll get up to the 10,000, but if we did, it would be wonderful.”

If you take cricket at its most simple, the hitting of a bowled ball with a stick, its origins are ancient.

But many date the modern game to the 1760s at the Hambledon Club in Hampshire, where cricket was played to fixed rules.

By then the game and its variations were spreading across the country.

The Marylebone Cricket Club began in 1787 on land in Dorset Square, London, provided by Thomas Lord. In 1814, “Lord’s” moved to its present site in St John’s Wood.

A CODE of laws was drawn up in 1788, determining that the wickets should be 22 yards apart and giving the various ways in which a batsman could be given “out”. This was the game played by the pioneers of cricket in Liverpool.

In 1807 a group of affluent and leisured men formed what they called “the Original and Unrivalled Mosslake Field Cricket Society”, laying down some strict rules, which they all agreed to obey.

For example, they were required to report for duty at 6am on the field every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. A fine of six old pence would be imposed for every quarter hour they were late, to a maximum of two shillings (10p).

No excuses were accepted for non-attendance, though allowances would be made for sickness and business commitments, if the president or some other member had been given prior notice.

Local papers, such as the Liverpool Mercury, soon reported matches.

But the first known coverage of a Liverpool match was in the Leeds Intelligencer of August 31, 1812. It was played on Newton-le-Willows racecourse against Rochdale, who won by 42 runs.

From the start, Liverpool CC catered for the well-to-do. For example, the Earl of Sefton was an early member. The club report of May 1, 1822, states that the membership should not exceed 50.

In this way, the club was establishing a reputation among the moneyed professional and merchant classes. Until the social changes, which followed the Second World War, it was for middle-class young men, many of whom had attended Liverpool College.

The extent of the snobbery once prevalent is highlighted by a report in the Porcupine, a weekly magazine of satirical leanings.

It was 1861 and Liverpool were playing Zingari at Lord Sefton’s home in Croxteth. On announcement of the venue, changes were made to the usual team.

“For the honour of dining with a lord, the most magnificent, self-satisfied and insolent swell that ever sold a bale of cotton, a hogshead of tallow, or a puncheon of rum, will make any sacrifice, even of self respect, or his pride in the glories of his cricket club,” ran the gleeful pen of the writer.

Liverpool were thrashed.

Now membership is open to people from all social backgrounds.

The club played at Mosslake Field until 1829 when buildings began to encroach. They then played at two locations in Wavertree, before moving to the present grand setting in 1881, which then had a lovely view of the Clwydian hills.

Here, the club plays in the first division of the Liverpool and District Competition. There are four adult teams as well as juniors.

TONY, 63, a retired toolmaker, and John, 71, a retired paper buyer, are gazing from the fine old pavilion over the club’s land, divided by the rail tracks. Neither has been a serious cricketer, though Tony bowled a little in business house matches, medium-pace and spin.

This is the oldest club in the North West. Stars have played here – WG Grace, Don Bradman, Brian Statham and Ian Botham among them. But in social terms, the title of the book is even more interesting.

“I joined the club in 1975,” says Ruth, “and the notice was on the balcony then and it remained, I think, until about 1981.

“We are allowed in now, but nobody has tested the rule for dogs.”

After some discussion, it is agreed that only guide dogs would be allowed in, but spectators can watch the matches outside with their dogs on leads.

“You know there is nothing nicer than sitting at a cricket ground on a sunny afternoon watching a game with a pint of beer,” says John, returning to the heart of the matter.

DOGS and Ladies Not Allowed: The 200 Year History of Liverpool Cricket Club by Tony Onslow and John Sturgeon is published by Countyvise at £7.95. Copies can be obtained from Liverpool Cricket Club, Aigburth Road, Liverpool. L19 3QF, or call 0151 427 2930.

davidcharters

Former members

Banastre Tarleton (1754-1833), the son of a merchant and slave trader. He fought with bravery, distinction and cruelty in the American War of Independence, before becoming MP for Liverpool.

James Maybrick (1838-89), whose home, Battlecrease House, overlooked the ground. He was a cotton merchant before he was poisoned by his wife Florence, a southern belle from the USA. He is thought by some to have been Jack the Ripper, though little is known of his performances with bat or ball.

Jack Sharp (1878-1938), Everton and England footballer, who also played cricket for Lancashire and England.

Noel Chavasse (1884-1917), an old boy of Liverpool College and a doctor with the Liverpool Scottish, who was awarded a double VC and an MC, for treating his men under gunfire in the Great War.

Ken Cranston (1917-2007), an old boy of Liverpool College and a dentist, who began his cricket at Liverpool. He would later captain Lancashire and England.