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Barrington cricket club was formed in 1889 a founder member of the Cambridgeshire cricket association. They play on one of the most picturesque village greens in the country and although the green is still common land, the wicket and outfield has been improved greatly since the days when cattle could be found grazing there. There are no official records but it’s believed that cricket was played on the green as early as 1843, when pony and trap and tankards of ale dominated the cricket scene. In the late 19th century until the First World War, two day matches were played between local farmers and representative teams with famous name such as Jack Hobbs, Tom Hayward and Jack O’Conner frequently playing. Within this period Barrington won it’s first CCA trophy the Junior Cup in 1909 to go with its Webber League win of 1912 later wins followed in 1925, 28 and 30. Players such as Bill Coote who once took 5 wickets in 5 ball and Arthur Wilkin who after which a trophy was named in 1958 and is presented to the player or official who has rendered the most useful service over the season; helped the club to it’s early successes. This early success was only a fore taste of what was to come.

1945 to 59
After the Second World War Barrington cricket club came in to it’s own. In 1946 it won the Junior league winning all their matches, unfortunately it could not participate in the play off’s due to the seasons late finish. The following year they won the junior league and cup in probably the greatest final ever. Barrington v Chesterton United, Things looked black after Chesterton scored 374 and Barrington had to return to following week to bat. They were soon in trouble at 39 for 3 but thanks to 161 not out by G. Douglas and 69 by E. Douglas (his son) Barrington came home with 4 wickets to spare. A score card of this historic match hands in the Pavilion at Barrington. After the temporary set back of relegation Barrington won the Junior league again in 1951 (Barrington has stayed in the senior divisions for over 50 years) and in 1952 won it’s first Senior division 2 title, gaining promotion to the top flight for the first time. Just 2 years later Barrington won it’s first Senior 1 title and in 1957 a new pavilion was erected by Eastwoods cement Co, this was to be the beginning of a golden age for the club under the watchful eye of it’s President Gus Baker until his untimely death in 1962.

The 1960’s
Unquestionable the greatest decade for Barrington, the very first year they completed the double winning the Senior division 1 title and the Invitation Cup. Trophies flowed with 1963 being the pinnacle with skipper Graham Jarman collecting 5 trophies (Senior 1, Invitation cup, Gus Baker cup, Hazlewood Cup and Thursday cup).
The next season Barrington won the first Sir Jack Hobbs Cup beating Stapleford in the final. Batting first Barrington appeared in trouble when they lost 4 wickets for 47 but rallied to 157 and then bowled Stapleford out for 116.
More Senior 1 titled followed in 1966 and 67, the Jack Hobbs Cup was won 5 times, 1964, 66, 67, 68 and 69 out of the first 6 finals. The Invitation cup was won on 6 occasions,1960, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 with 2 Thursday cup successes 1960 and 63, the Webber league in 1966 and the Second XI winning the Junior league in 1968 (the first 2nd XI ever to do so).
The players of cricket club where included in a series of cartoons drawn for the Cambridge Daily News (see photos, pictures and other stuff).
Average runs scored by Barrington per wicket 16.76 Average runs scored by Opponents per wicket 8.54 (1963 season)

The 1970’s
The1970'S saw a down turn in the clubs fortunes. After winning the Sir Jack Hobbs cup for the 5th time in 6 years in 1969 the clubs first XI was relegated to Senior 2 for the first time in 16 unbroken years of unprecedented success. The glory days of the late 50’s and early 60’s would not return again only in brief glimpses. The club managed to regain Senior 1 status at the first attempt in 1971 winning the Walker cup along the way for the first time. Another high point of 1971 was the opening of the Bert Sutton clock, at which a Presidents XI including, Keith Fletcher and Keith Boyce (Both of Essex and England), narrowly defeated the first XI by 34 runs. The success was sort lived as the team was relegated the next season only to win Senior 2 the next. This time the return lasted longer with the team picking up successive Invitation Cups in 75 and 76 (taking the total wins to 8, still a record today(2005)). The team was again relegated in the late 70’s. Winning 10 trophies in 10 years at many clubs may seem like a success, but coming after the 1960’s this represent a 50%+ fall in silver wear.

The 1980’s
Promotion for Senior 2 as champions in 1982, followed by relegation would mean the first XI would only spend one season in Senior 1 throughout the whole decade. However the second eleven did fair better getting promoted from Junior 3 South to Junior 1 South. Trophies still kept coming, although not the Holy Grail of The Senior 1 Championship. By the end of the decade the first XI had amassed 11 more trophies and when it won promotion in 1989 had gathered together the strongest side since the glory days of the 1960’s. The side included Barrington stalwarts like Garry Smith, Mike Douglas, Barry Douglas and Keith Ellis (the only two survivors for the last Senior 1 championship in 1967), new blood included former Cambridgeshire player David Stocker, Club players Nigel Annes , Mark Bowes and Mark Judson. Young players like Ian Hopwood , Paul Davies and Marcus Jarman. Things Looked good for the 90’s maybe a return to the good old days?

The 1990’s
The first XI should have won the league at it’s first attempt in the 90’s but over one crazy weekend lost the league finishing 3rd and losing in the Invitation cup final (their first loss in a CCA final ever), then going on to lose the Webber league. The following season however the first XI did win Senior 1 for the first time in 24 years, still playing were Barry Douglas and Keith Ellis (probably the clubs best ever batsman) collecting their first Senior 1 title since 1967. The same year the club also won the Webber League and the Gus Baker Cup. 1992 saw the clubs second defeat in a CCA final this time to Wilburton in the Sir Jack Hobbs Cup. 2 more trophies came the clubs way over the next 2 seasons. In 1992 some of the clubs senior players had played Millman League for Eversden, but by 1994 Barrington had entered it’s own team and came runner up at their first attempt. The next season saw a concerted effort under skipper Garry Smith to win the Millman League, which they did winning 15 games and losing 1. Fine performances with the bat for Ian Hopwood, Sid Sabey and Marcus Jarman all averaging over 40 and bowling figures not seen since the 60’s with Sid Sabey, Mike Douglas and Kevin Faint averaging 10.4, 15.3 and 14.2 runs per wicket, with Sid Sabey averaging 1.7 runs per over. Sadly this was the high point of the 1990’s with the team pulling out of the Millman League the following year and a large exodus of senior players over the next few years, who could not be replaced. The second XI’s fortunes also took a tumble with, successive relegation from Junior 1 South to Junior 5 South. The first XI held on (just) to it’s Senior 1 status for the rest of the decade winning just one more trophy making the 1990’s which promised so much, the worst decade for trophies won v competitions entered for over 50 years. The 90’s also saw the sad passing of the club President Eddie Douglas, who also played in the great sides of the 1950’s and 60’s .

The 2000’s
The year 2000 saw the 1XI team relegated from Senior 1 to Senior 2 for the first time since 1987, winning 0nly 2 league games all season. 2001 started well with a win, but then things go worse, with 2 games remaining they lay bottom of the league with Junior league cricket staring them in the face for the first time since 1951. The team faired better in the cup competitions, reaching the semi final of the Keatly cup and the final of the CCA Walker invitation cup losing narrowly to Yelling by 11 runs. In the penultimate league game they beat Cherry Hinton and if results went right it would have moved them out of the drop zone, they didn’t. All hinged on the last game Barrington had to beat Lode and NCI and Milton must lose, Barrington won by 7 wickets and the others lost, Senior league status was secured for another year. 2002 saw an upturn in fortunes under skipper Paul Davies with the First XI winning Senior Division 2. The return of player from injury and new comer Mark Smith from Bedford strengthen the side enabling them to win the league. On their return to Senior 1 in 2003 the First XI under new captain Marcus Jarman finished a commendable 4th. In 2004 and 2005 they went one better finishing 3rd on both occasions. The highlight of 2004 was reaching the nationals round (last 32) of the Village cup and only losing by 5 runs to Bedlow Ridge from Buckinghamshire. 2005 saw the resurgence of the Second XI as the gain promotion from Junior 4SB under captain Robin Batchelor.