Compton & Chandlers Ford Cricket Club

We are a friendly and sociable cricket team with several mens and junior teams. We are always looking to welcome new members and helpers to our club.

Chandler’s Ford Cricket Club was formed in 1912 and has operated from three different grounds. The first ground was situated at Hut Farm on land now used for housing on what used to be the Hendy Ford site in Bournemouth Road. Very little cricket was played during the 1914-1918 war, but in 1924 the Club sub-leased some land from Hiltonbury Farm, on the corner of Hursley and Baddesley Roads, sadly now, a pub and housing estate. In 1971, it was advised to find an alternative ground as the land and farm were to be sold to developers. The Club decided to approach the Local Authority, having heard that a new pavilion was to be built at Hiltingbury Recreation Ground.

The Club’s early fixtures were played against other local village teams due to the problems of providing transport and it was very much a village club between the two World Wars. Following the Second World War, the Club became more active, playing matches on both Saturdays and Sundays. When the local evening leagues were formed, evening games were played, including local cup competitions.

In 1973, the Club became a founder member of the Hampshire Cricket League with a team in, what was, the Mid-Hants Division. After the first season this was restructured to become South West regional division. The Club also ran two evening sides, one in the Winchester and District Evening League and the other in the Eastleigh Evening League. In the close season it entered a team in the South Hampshire Six-a-Side Indoor League. In 1980, the Club had built up its membership and entered a second team in the Hampshire Cricket League. After twenty one years playing in the regional divisions , the Club won West I in 1994, to play in County V the following year.

In 1981, the Club formed a Colts Section, providing cricket tutoring and match experience for children from the age of 8 upwards. The section is still going strong with a membership of over 70 and through the years, the Club has had much success in both the Colt and Senior Sections.

Compton and Shawford started playing cricket in the 1920s, at Compton Street, on the field behind the school and church. After the war, the playing field on Compton Down was given to the parish and the Compton and Shawford Cricket Club established itself there. The Shawford Golf Club had closed and the clubhouse was dismantled and re-erected as the new cricket pavilion.

The Cricket and Football clubs combined in 1960 to form the Compton and Shawford Sports Club.

The Club were winners of the Tichborne Trophy in 1964 but had to wait until 1981 to win the Igglesden Trophy which had been donated by Mr HF Igglesden, one of the founder members of the Sports Club. The Igglesden was won again in 1984.

Compton and Shawford were original members of the Winchester and District Evening League in 1966 and later played in the Eastleigh Evening League.

In the mid 1960s, the compulsory purchase of part of the playing field, for the building of the Compton flyover, meant a new square had to be created west of the pavilion.

Like Chandler’s Ford, the Club was a founder member of the Hampshire Cricket League, starting in the Mid-Hants Division. They won South West I in 1976, and were promoted to County I the following year. After two years in the top division the Club was relegated to County II in 1979, winning that division in 1982. Three more seasons were spent in County I and then four seasons in County II, after that the slide began, and the Club was relegated to County V in 1995.

Compton and Shawford started a 2nd XI in 1976, which played in South West Division II and then in East III before being relegated into the Combination League. A junior section was formed in 1975 which continued until the mid 80s during which it won the Hampshire U13 Cup twice.

In 1996, a merger took place between the two Cricket Clubs. Originally the newly merged club had home grounds at Hiltingbury and Compton, but while it retains its home at Compton it no longer plays at Hiltingbury but on Winchester Council pitches at King George V, North Walls & Knightwood recreation grounds. The Club now has a membership of about 80, running four Saturday teams, one Sunday team, an evening league team, and three indoor teams in the winter. The strong junior section, which also has about 80 members, has recently been awarded gold status by the Southern League Assessment Panel, while the club as a whole has been awarded Focus Club status by the Hampshire Cricket Board and has achieved the Club Mark Award. The club has excellent facilities with a clubhouse and bar that was opened in 2003 with substantial help from the Sports Council Lottery fund. We have three nets and an artificial pitch for junior matches.