LOST FIRST CLASS GROUND IN NORTH YORKSHIRE

By Brian Sanderson,

Myself and Ron Deaton had a trip up the A1 to Catterick cricket ground which stage a first class match in 1954.This match was between Combined Services and Pakistan touring side.

First the history of the ground is that the first reported match was in 1940 which was between Catterick Garrison  and 123rd Office Cadet Training Regiment Royal Artillery.Verity played in this match and the scorecard can be seen in Cricket Archive.Looking round the pavilion this afternoon it had a sign to say it was built in 1933-1934.So there must have been matches played on the ground before 1940.The ground is opposite a Tesco Superstore and is up for sale for redevelopment.On the internet it states it has had water damage which could  have beeen caused by the recent floods last summer.

The ground is overgrown with the large  pavilion boarded up but must have look in the 1940,s as excellent building.There is two old covers resting at the far side with the metal outline of a screen.A groundsman  hut is very spacious with the remains of the scoreboard outside.There is a large terrace with  deep steps which could held a large crowd.

The Combined Services side is very interesting and included the following players :

P.E.Richardson  ex Worcestershire ,Kent and England.

J.T. Murray  ex Middlesex and England.

P.T. Marner  ex Lancashire and Leicestershire.

M.J.Horner  ex Worcestershire .

C.T.Spencer ex Leicestershire.

Five excellent players which caused the match to be a draw.

After this match Yorshire Seconds played three matches at the ground.

The final match was in 1975 when Yorkshire Junior Women played England Junior Women.

Another ground had been lost to cricket but hopefully we may find more information about matches played there but that is for another day.