Great Baddow Cricket Club - A Brief History
by Andy Clark
Great Baddow cricket was first recorded in 1791 as playing Chelmsford at an undisclosed ground. From then onwards they played at a variety of venues. It was not unusual for reports to describe games as being played in a field “lent for the purpose”, few if any clubs could boast of a home ground. 1831 saw mention of Great Baddow playing in a paddock belonging to Mr. R. H. Crabb. It was not to be established as their home ground until 1862 when it was announced Messer's. R. H. & J. S. Crabb had provided a suitable ground for the Club to use and establish itself. The Paddock was GBCC’s first home ground.
The Paddock was used until 1862, its owner died and as a consequence activated the termination of the Crabb’s lease on it. The Club effectively a wandering side until 1886, then came the news it was to “have the use of the ground in Baddow House Park”, known more recently as the Estric Ground, it became their second home. Over the winter of 1930 the Club erected a pavilion on the ground, its first permanent structure. Reports in the AGMs of previous years occasionally referred to it as a tent.
In 1938 the Club was allegedly offered the chance to purchase the Baddow House Park ground for £200. There is no documentary confirmation of such an offer but a Club member from that era was adamant a Cricket Club “Committee meeting of 3 decided against it….”. Consequently the Club had conversations with Great Baddow Parish Council with a view to using the Recreation Ground’s cricket pitch, albeit while entertaining and expressing the belief the pitch needed “improving”. September 1938 saw the formal announcement “Next season the club move to the Recreation Ground, where a new pitch is being prepared, and the existing pavilion is being moved to its new headquarters”.
Thus in 1939 Great Baddow Cricket Club began playing on Great Baddow Recreation Ground and it has remained their principal, and third home ground to this day. The pavilion, moved from Baddow House served until the Parish Council decided to erect a new pavilion, one affording general public usage, not exclusively the domain of the Cricket Club. The new structure was later removed and the Millennium Centre constructed.
1901 saw Great Baddow needing to elect a Second XI captain for the first time and 1937 heralded the initial report of a Sunday XI. In 2006 a Third XI was formed and a Fourth XI came into being in 2013, both sides have historically suffered the vagaries of fluctuating availability.
A welcome addition to the Club’s strength was the creation of a flourishing Junior section from which Essex County Cricket Club has been known to select some to represent their own various age – group -elevens. The Junior section has enjoyed major successes, especially in 2012 when the Under 13’s XI won The Peter Coe Cup, playing on the Essex County Cricket Club ground and the League Cup – played on Brentwood Cricket Club’s ground. Both Finals were won after contests with sides from senior Essex Clubs. At the time of writing there are some 180 Junior Members registered with the Club.
An additional bonus to the Club’s strength was the formation of a Ladies section in 2023, proved very enjoyable for those who sampled it. 2025 will see this element grow in popularity and further establish itself as an integral part of an all – embracing - community Cricket Club.
1976 saw the Club joining the T. Rippon Cricket League, now known as the Mid Essex Cricket League, having previously been in the Lilley-White Frowd League. The Mid Essex set up offered fixtures generally centred around the Chelmsford area, as opposed to the “Frowd” which was largely based towards the East of London.
Historically Great Baddow Cricket Club has welcomed cricketers of proven quality to its number, one such individual was A. P. “Bunny” Lucas who played on quite a few occasions. Bunny played for Essex County Cricket Club, captained it in 1894 and in 1887/88 went on the England tour to Australia. Another luminary was R. E. “Tip” Foster, he first played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in 1899, and captained the England tour of Australia in 1903. Tip Foster remains as the only man to have captained England at both cricket and football.