FIVES & HERONIANS CRICKET CLUB
(BREIF HISTORY)
The name FIVES & HERONIANS came about from the amalgamation of FIVES C.C. and OLD HERONIANS C.C. in 1971, I feel that it is important however, to briefly describe the years prior to the year that the two clubs came to-gether and how.
It was in the summer of 1967, when BILL & IVY HUMPHREY both members of FIVES purchased what was then a ‘Paddock’, and generously offered it to the club for the possibility of development as a cricket ground. After a great deal of exploratory work, as well manual labour by the members, the ground was partly started, it was quite clear that the few members of the late FIVES, that a great deal more effort and manpower was required to complete the project.
The ‘club’ made the decision that an amalgamation with another club would be the answer to the problem, a number of names were put forward, thankfully ‘OLD HERONIANS’ was the ideal partner for us. Once both clubs made the decision, not without very careful thought and agreements by both committees the amalgamation took place. It was BILL HUMPHREY’S wish that the ground was called ‘THE PADDOCK’. In the year prior to the amalgamation in 1970 the teams were mixed purposely, and a tour of Cambridge & Suffolk was arranged, in order that all the members of the prospective NEW club FIVES & HERONIANS would quickly gel.
In the past 30 years plus, a great deal has been achieved. Having made three applications for acceptance into the senior ESSEX LEAGUE, third time ‘lucky’ they say, the vote went our way at the league AGM in November 1979, that the club FIVES & HERONIANS had been elected into the league, season commencing 1981.
Since then we have had players selected to play for ENGLAND NATIONAL side, the CLUB CRICKET CONFERENCE (including being chosen to represent the C.C.C. on tours to AUSTRALIA & HONG KONG.) The ESSEX LEAGUE REPRESENTIVE XI, and more recent ESSEX BOARD XI, The MCC.Young Professionals, quite apart from our colts, many of whom have represented the COUNTY in a number of age groups.
One of many highlights of our short history was in 1992, when we were finalists at THE OVAL in the first year of the EVENING STANDARD COMPETTION, the following year the club Six-a-side team won the NCA, which was played at LORDS. The ‘club ‘ followed that by winning both the EUROPEAN INDOOR COMPETION, played in VIENNA, the SECOND X1 were the ESSEX DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONS. It was in 1994 that we again went to LORDS to become NCA Indoor Six-a-side CLUB CRICKET CHAMPIONS. The following five years 1996/1999,the first of which our 3RD XI won the ESSEX LEAGUE, in 1998 our 1st XI became ESSEX LEAGUE 1st DIVISION CHAMPIONS, for the 1st time, it was in 1999 that ECB re-organised recreational cricket, and the new ESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE was formed, it gives me great pleasure to write that in the first year of the new leagues existence we again became CHAMPIONS, in addition to this our colts did us all proud by going to the county ground at CHELMSFORD and winning the MATCHPLAY U16s ESSEX CHAMPIONSHIP.
Having entertained the ESSEX over 50s here at THE PADDOCK, as well as a number of county matches at colts level, it is our pleasure and privilege to host today’s game, another important part of our clubs history, and to conclude I wish every-one a successful (and rain free) day, and that FIVES & HERONIANS will continue in future years as they have in the past.
EDDIE C POULTER
PAST PRESIDENT