Oundle Town Cricket Club Celebrates 200 Years of History

Oundle Town Cricket Club, the oldest cricket club in Northamptonshire, is commemorating its 200th anniversary with a series of events from June 17 to June 21. Established in 1826, the club has a rich history and currently hosts its home games on Milton Road.

The bicentenary festivities include various matches, notably a T20 encounter against the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), alongside a number of community-oriented events. With over 200 members and nine senior and junior teams, the club's first XI competes at the highest level in the Northamptonshire Cricket League's premier division.

The celebrations kicked off on Wednesday with a visit from Darren Lehmann, the head coach of Northamptonshire County Cricket, who engaged with attendees during a question and answer session. A special series of three matches was held on Friday, showcasing cricket as it was played in 1826, 1926, and 2026.

The club's inception dates back to a time when Lord Liverpool was the Prime Minister and Beethoven was still composing. Early accounts from the Huntingdon, Northampton, Bedford and Cambridge Weekly Journal recount a "well-contested match" played for a meal of steak and eggs. Winners of the match later celebrated at the Dolphin Inn, known today as the Old Dryden.

Throughout its history, Oundle Town has produced several notable figures. Among them is the Rt Hon John Powys, who played around 1890 and later became president of the Northamptonshire county club. In a notable 1901 match against Lilford Park, Bertie Grace, a master at the local school, scored 141 runs, mirroring his father WG Grace's achievement of 200 centuries in cricket just days earlier. Recent years have seen international players like Dawid Malan and Tshepo Moreki don the club's colors.

Oundle Town Cricket Club's legacy continues to inspire local cricket, celebrating two centuries of commitment to the sport.