Finchley Cricket Club In The Nineteenth Century

by
Brian Warren

Evidence supports the conclusion that Finchley CC was certainly established in 1832, if not earlier.  Mr Melhuish in 1893 stated that ‘the club could be traced back in the village eighty years, off and on.”  Unless further evidence is discovered then 1832 should be regarded as the date of foundation.

There are few surviving facts about the early years, except to note that in 1853 the club played 8 won 5 lost 2 and drew 1.  In the early 1860’s a match was played against St John’s Wood at Lords, when one of the St John’s players was absent and another “would not bat.”  The first known details of a match exist for July 1870 when Finchley scored 93 and Brunswick House 2nd XI 126 for 3.  Playing for Finchley were:  Fen, Whitehead, Stephens, Duckworth, Davison 1, Williams, Sayers 1, De Monay, Davison 2, Sayer 2 and Russell.

A general meeting of the club in February 1873 saw the resignation of Messrs Martindale, Jackson and George Parrott, the latter being one of the secretaries.  Mr Smales was chairman of the meeting.  Messrs W. Goodyear and H. Stevens were elected secretaries, with Mr H. Stevens re-elected as treasurer.  The committee members were Messrs:  Cobley, J. Rood, F. Goodyear, jnr., F. Finney, F. Butler, A Robinson, T. Finney, Smales and Boyle.  At this meeting it was resolved the club’s colours should be light blue and white.

In April at a meeting at Church-road School, the club’s rules were revised and the question of a groundsman was referred to the committee.  At the same time an entertainment was given on the 11th April at the schools, North-end, Finchley, for the benefit of the Finchley Cricket Club.  The cricketer’s dinner, at the Torrington Arms, in November, was an excellent affair.  The report noted the continued prosperity of the club but there had not been as many members as last year.  In 1873, 23 matches had been played with 10 won, 10 lost and 2 drawn.  The chairman after three and a half years at Finchley was leaving the club.

On the 7th April, a cricket match between a Visitors’ XI and Finchley was played on Christ College’s ground; the Finchley team were Messrs H.R. Armstrong, W. Bailey, H.C. Bury, A.C. Harben (v-capt.), F. Homan, C. Plowman, J.D. Richards, F.D. Scoones, H.H. Wells, C. Richards, J. Stephens and J. Smales (capt.).  Finchley scored 181 but the visitors lost six wickets for four runs and only reached 31.  In addition there was a Musical Promenade, with the band of the Grenadier Guards in attendance, admission one shilling, children half-price.  Upwards of 400 people attended, including Lady Waterton and party and F.A. Hamilton, the president.  At the dinner afterwards Mr Hosegood said the club had risen from 40 members to 143 and hoped to have 200 next year, it was the strongest club in north London and next year they would run two elevens.  A letter from ‘A Cricketer’, in the Barnet Press disagreed as he thought that Lyonsdown, Hadley and Oakleigh Park were stronger, certainly Lyonsdown had twice beaten Finchley that season.

It was reported in March 1878 that Finchley CC, like other clubs during the winter season put on popular entertainments, the first one was a concert in the National Schoolroom, Church-end.  September 1878 saw a match played by Eleven Gentlemen and Players against Twenty-Two of Finchley and district for the benefit of James Harpour, the professional of Finchley.  It was feared the admission of one shilling had detered some, as the attendance was less than expected and the weather dull.  The match was rather one-sided with the Twenty-Two scoring 106 and The Eleven 46.  Luncheon was taken in The Green Man.

The First Athletic Sports Meeting was held the same year, on the cricket ground in Long Lane, Church End, but two years later a report exists for a similar event, on the 5th June.  It was reported there was a comparatively small attendance and this was a disappointment to the organising committee.  Matches continued to be played and entertainments took place in each winter.  Then in October 1884 it was announced that the Finchley CC was to start a series of smoking concerts in the Assembly Rooms, Church End, which lasted monthly until April 9th 1885.  Southgate first played Finchley in 1886, when 26 matches were played, of which, 12 were won, 12 drawn and two lost.  A. Seymour topped the batting averages.

The AGM in April 1887 at the Railway Hotel, Church End, saw the retiring secretary, Mr H. Whiting, reporting a deficit on the balance sheet, which was soon defrayed by the members present.  The difficulty with the ground had been overcome and it was hoped more playing members would enable the very successful record of that season to be surpassed that year.  F.A. Hamilton, Esq., of Brent Lodge, a constant and liberal supporter of the club for many years was re-elected president.  J. Clarkson Russell became vice-president.  The following officers were also appointed:  Captain, Mr J.P. Euerby; vice-capt. Mr T.M. Oliver; hon. treasurer Mr J.P. Euerby; hon. sec. Mr T.J.N. Sayers; committee Messrs H. Whiting, A.W. Browne, H. Oxley, E.M. Edenbrough and A.G. Garland.

During the season the 1st eleven played 24 matches, winning 13, losing 5 and drawing 6, with N. Masters and H. Bryant averaging 32 with the bat and J.P. Euerby taking 69 wickets.

Finchley CC played the Surrey Club and Ground on the 27th August at Long Lane, for the benefit of A.W. Harrison, ground bowler.  Rain led to the cancellation of the second days’ play.  At the end of the 1888 season it appears that Finchley lost the lease of the Long Lane ground and there followed a period of hardly any mention of the club.  Players went to other clubs like Hendon, Southgate, Hornsey, Oakleigh Park etc. but and annual match, as well as other matches, were played on the College ground to been the club in existence.

Following the supposed demise of the ‘old’ Finchley CC the situation was complicated when it was announced at the 12th Annual Dinner of the Torrington Park CC that in 1891 it would take on the name of Finchley CC.  Then at an adjourned meeting of the East Finchley Alliance CC in August 1893, at the White Lion hotel, East Finchley, reference was made to the fact that the ‘old’ Finchley CC had gone to the wall, and another started since had met with the same fate, like many other clubs.  Mr H. Melhuish gave an assurance that the ‘old’ Finchley CC would be re-organised this year (1893), and there was a desire to keep the old club at Church End.  He further stated that if there was no Finchley Cricket Club in existence next season, the alliance Club could attach the name to their club.  In spite of this it was agreed that the East Finchley Alliance CC would taken the name of Finchley CC next season, even though the chairman and secretary of that club voted against the motion it was passed by 14 votes to 2.

To summarise the situation as seen in the reports in the Barnet Press in 1893, one finds clubs with the name of Finchley in their titles being:  North Finchley, Finchley Rangers and East Finchley which in July hoped “soon to represent Finchley as a whole.”  The East Finchley Alliance CC having become the new Finchley CC and the ‘old’ Finchley CC which was about to be re-organised.  It is not surprising that in 1894 one finds reports of matched being submitted to the newspaper from both the once East Finchley Alliance CC and the ‘old’ Finchley CC under the heading of Finchley CC.  It is only possible to attach the reports to the correct clubs by examining the players’ names with other known facts, as I have done.

At a meeting in March, 1894, the Oakleigh Park CC, most of whose members originally came form Finchley CC, agreed to take the name of Finchley (Church End) CC along with the ground at Church End, the new ground in Regents Park – road was nearly the end of Cyprus – road and was re-turfed in December.  Mr H.C. Stephens was elected president, along with the Rev. R.W. Gallop and Messrs W. Challis, J. Collingwood, W. Howe, G.W. Kilner, J.C. Rathgeb, H.T. Tubbs and H.H. Wells, as vice-presidents.  On the playing side captain of the 1st eleven for the coming season W.P. Harrison, vice-captain A.W. Browne.  Mr G. Rowland was captain of the ‘B’ team, with W.W. Fennell, vice-capt. J. Storey was hon-sec and W.J. Janes, hon. treasurer.  The committee consisted of J. Euerby.  R.J. Hutchinson, T. Leeming, C.W. de Lyons-Pike, H. Melhuish, H. Shenton, R. Turnham and H. Watson.  T. Drewell, late professional at Totteridge Park School, had been engaged as ground man and bowler.  Matched had been arranged with Christ’s College, Southgate, Hornsey, Enfield, Richmond, etc; and two teams would be run every Saturday with a whole day match generally played in mid-week.  The present membership was understood to be about one hundred.  It appears the ‘Church End’ title soon disappeared, as in June 1894, a Mr W.J. Rowland was quoted in ‘The Barnet Press’ as ‘secretary of the Finchley Club’.  Also, as already noted reports of two Finchley Cricket Clubs appeared in the newspaper.  The same year the Early Closing CC was formed.

The annual dinner at the Queen’s Head Hotel, Church End, in December, saw members being congratulated on its re-formation and looked forward to it taking its plave amongst the best leading clubs in the locality.  The hon. sec. Mr J. Storey said there was every prospect of even greater success next year.  The host for the evening, Mr H. Melhuish, was thanked for providing the ground on which matches were played.

At the adjourned AGM in March 1895, the main item of discussion was the acquisition of a pavilion and it was finally agreed to appoint a special committee to consider the question and report to a general meeting of members.  Mr H.C. Stephens was re-elected as president, Messrs F. Goodyear, J.P., N.L. Jackson and R. Turnham were elected vice-presidents with Messrs W.R. Challis and J. Collingwood retiring.  Mr W.P. Harrison was captain and Mr A.H. Rowland captain of the ‘B’ team.  Treasurer was Mr C. Rathgeb with the hon. sec. being Mr J. Storey.  The committee consisted of: Messrs C.H. Page, A.W. Bowne, H.E. Langton, H. Melhuish, H. Watson, J.P. Euerby, R.J. Hutchinson, and R.V. Turnham.  Auditors:  Messrs J.A. Wylde and S. Thomson.

In 1895 the 1st XI played 34 matches, won 13, lost 9 and drew 10, with 2 tied.  The 2nd XI played 20 matches, won 4 lost 10 and drew 6.

The columns of ‘The Barnet Press’ provide, in far greater detail than today, match details and complete averages for the club to the annual dinner at the Woodside hall, north Finchley, in December 1899.  There it was reported, “They had had a struggle against many difficulties during the past season, and the result was that the club did not turn out so successful as was expected” but “it was a very enjoyable season.”  There was still no pavilion and there was a lack of support from the local inhabitants.

B. Warren, January, 1995