Welcome To Ware Old Hertfordians Cricket Club
The present cricket club was formed in the 1948 as the Old Hertfordians by members of the Old Hertfordians rugby club (i.e. Old Boys of Hertford Grammar School) who having acquired the site at Hoe Lane, Ware thought it would be a good idea to keep the bar open during the summer.
Initially facilities were very basic. The cricket was played on a strip of coconut matting laid out on the rugby pitch and attempts were made to cut the outfield with a small hand mower (rather like painting the forth bridge) except when we could persuade the adjoining golf club to pop through the hedge with their tractor.
The buildings were two ex-army wooden huts – one for changing and one for socialising. The bar hut saw many an enjoyable day (and evening) with the stock consisting of a few wooden barrels that had to be set up days in advance before use by drawing off the beer from a tap, plus a few bottles of light and brown ale and a bottle of scotch and gin. Initially the bar had no shutters and in any case it was well known that the key to the bar was always kept on the top of the cistern in the ladies toilet.
Despite these basic beginnings many enjoyable days and nights were held and they are still called the ‘good old days’ by some. Since then many changes have taken place. The rugby club has become the Hertford Rugby Club and the cricket club has become the Ware (Old Hertfordians) Cricket Club with both now being open clubs having membership available to all.
The ground and premises are still owned by the Old Boys Association (now Richard Hale School) but the day to day running of the establishment is now in the hands of a new organisation known as the Hale Club Ltd.
By acquisition and leasing of additional land the ground has now been enlarged and the buildings rebuilt extended and altered to provide the present facilities of which everyone is justifiably proud.
The ground now provides a cricket table, five rugby pitches (including floodlit pitches), a large car park and use of hard tennis courts. The ground is also on occasions used for other purposes such as archery, dog shows and caravan club meetings etc.
The buildings now include: bar, function room, changing rooms, and two squash courts, club pro shop and office, Physiotherapy Clinic, fitness gym and steward’s bungalow. Apart from club functions the premises are also available for use for wedding receptions, parties and dinners etc. HOE LANE FACILITIES
Due to the incredible success of Hertford Rugby Club which has been promoted into National League 3 South, coupled with the ever expanding rugby season, Ware (Old Hertfordians) Cricket Club parted company with the Hale Club facilities at the end of 2002. The cricket club was unfortunately not able to secure a new ground and was saved from closure by the generous offer of Mr Mike James, the Headteacher of Richard Hale School, to use the school field. Thus the club returned to its "roots" for two seasons using the changing and playing facilities at the school coupled with the hospitality offered by the genial Mr Nigel Crofts at The White Horse, Castle Street, Hertford who provided teas and post match refreshments.
Unfortunately the strict rules and demands of league cricket meant that the school ground, with its multi-sports facilities, was struggling to meet the League's exacting standards. With the club's future once again looking uncertain a saviour emerged in the shape of Mr Julian Pawle, an avid cricketer and the owner of his own picturesque cricket ground in Widford. Mr Pawle volunteered to become the clubhouse steward and groundsman and to provide facilities for all home league matches from the start of the 2005 season. Thanks to Julian's generosity the future once again looks bright.
As with most cricket clubs Ware OH have had many highs and lows but our future looks promising and our playing membership is on the increase. It is worth however, remembering some of our past games.
One game will be remembered from our early days, when our 2nd XI had a fixture against the Fire Brigade. They batted first and scored 150 for the loss of a few wickets. Ware OH was bowled out for 9. We had assumed that we would be playing against the local Ware and Hertford stations but found out afterwards that our opponents drew their members from all over Hertfordshire. Our Secretary wrote apologising for the game and offering them a 1st XI game for the next season, but advising them that if they did accept then on that day our 2nd XI would be round the county committing acts of arson.
In the early days cars were few and far between amongst the members and in fact if you did have a car you could be certain of selection for away matches! Members travelled to away matches by cycle, bus train or on occasions by lorry loaned by a local builder (Crook bros.).
In the past the club has been involved with some special days and events. For example in 1968, with Hoddesdon Rotary club we ran a fete and cricket match to raise funds for a local charity. An All star XI, which included several minor counties players and well known actors, with Miss World in attendance! One of the actors was Brian Wilde (Last of the summer wine and Porridge) who is an Old Hertfordian and lives nearby. Brian was in fact one of our cricketing stars and in his and our early days played regularly for us until we failed to select him on occasions and he went away and started his own travelling team in an attempt to raise funds for a local hospital.
The highlight of the clubs history has to be the Paul Pritchard benefit game that took place on 5th June 1996. Ware OH entertained a very strong ESSEX TEAM including record England run scorer Graham Gooch. A great day was had by all with memories which will be remembered for the rest of our lives for those present and especially those playing. Highlights included the drinks interval where glasses of port were wheeled out and Christine Goodacres rather unfortunate offer to "go down" for the Essex team. Thanks Christine anything for the team. The main highlight was obviously the five-wicket haul of the follically challenged Dave Smith which included the prise scalp of the forementioned legend Graham Gooch. Incidentally BBC camera's were present on this day, but not as you may expect to record Dave's memorable bowling but to record Mr Gooch selling ice creams for "A Question of sport" mystery personality round.
In recent years Ware have started to acquire silverware have won the local midweek Geddings league on 3 occasions and being runners up once. In 2001 our first team won the division 7 league having suffered only 2 defeats all year. SARACENS SPONSORED LEAGUE DIVISION 7 CHAMPIONS
Now over 50 years old the club can quite proudly look back on its past with great fondness. We are however, looking to the future and with the growing membership and the advent of a new ground we will look to the next few years being the most challenging and exiting period for the club.
In 2003 the club, together with its friends the Hertfordshire Harriers, played matches against a formidable Lashings XI consisting entirely of current and former test players at Haileybury College with the kind co-operation of the Master and his staff. A full report can be found elsewhere on this site, but needless to say it was another fantastic day.
Thanks to Andy Vaughan & Peter Devonshire with information by John Fletcher