The Congs Cricket Team at their new ground"

Mill Lane, Buckley

1927

Dating the photo: the article mentions that the move to the new ground was somewhere around 1927.

Leslie Rowlands wrote the following article which appeared in the local press at some stage when Neil Kinnock was holding forth at Parliamentary Question Time (mentioned in the article - some time between 1983 and 1991)! He gives his account of the Saint John's Congregational Church's cricket team. The article is accompanied by a photograph of the team and supporters on the day of the opening of the new ground in Mill Lane. G. H. Alletson performed the opening ceremony and was presented with a "mounted" cricket ball. The following names are listed:

G. Humphreys, W. I. Roberts, J. Kelly, G. Kelly, J. Roberts, J. Lewis, R. Catherall, A. Brown, T. Cropper, N. Cropper, Hannaby (twice), E. Bellis, Dr J. Griffiths, Rev. M. Thomas, Vaughan, G. H. Alletson, Mrs Alletson, H. J. Alletson, Richardson, Ern Hobson, Enoch Hobson, Herbert Bellis.

ARTICLE TEXT

SIX HIT FOR CONGS CRICKET

They may not have been in the mould of Ian Botham but they certainly enjoyed their cricket. Buckley Congs Cricket 11, from the town's St. John's Congregational Church, played for the love of the game. Former member Mr. Leslie Rowlands, who later became headmaster of Buckley Primary School, casts his mind back to those far off days and shares his memories with us.

To those involved in the Cong's Cricket 11 it gave a great deal of pleasure and enjoyment. No Marchwiel cups or league medals may decorate a trophy board, but it provided a focal point of interest for the young men and youth of the church.

The church of those days provided more of a recreational and social amenity than today.

There were fewer distractions. St. Matthews attracted with its Church Lad's Brigade and Girl Guides Detachment - what a stirring sight they made when they paraded with their bugles and drums. There was also a bowling green and two tennis courts.

CHORAL SINGING

The Tabernacle was renowned for its choral singing, led by such stalwarts as Tom Roberts and Davies Hayes to guide them. Artists of international fame came as soloists and the then Tabernacle Church, holding up to 1000 people, packed the concerts.

The Congs. had its tennis court, its music society, staging the 'Dogs of Devon' in the first Tivoli - would it be about 1926/7?

It also had its cricket team. Its first pitch as I remember was on the 'Stud Field' in Liverpool Road, so named after the racing stables owned by the Kenyon family who founded the old Standard Pipe Works and Coal Mine.

The trainer and stud manager was a great fellow by the name of Bob Smith. He moved in later life to become landlord of the Black Horse Inn.

I was not of the vintage to remember those days intimately, but certain details remain in my memory.

TYRES AND ALL

The chassis of an ancient Crosville 'bus, solid tyres and all, provided the dressing rooms, committee rooms, pavilion, storage - the lot.

Some of the antics of those ancients lurk in my mind - very youthful at the time, but passing time has eroded most.

John Hallett Bellis, treasurer, had a very pronounced 'dip' in his bowling actions. Dennis Griffiths sought to confuse the batsmen by appearing in a high goose stepping semi circle.

SCHOOL CAP

Tom Griffiths, Daisy Hill, was conspicuous for his small school cap which he always wore. We used to wonder whether he went to bed in it. John Lamb was a left arm 'slinger' of the Jeff Thompson type. Nick Hobson was the most dainty, precise wicket keeper imaginable. Charlie Wilcock was the most highly technical of batsmen. The England hero of those days was Jack Hobbs and Charlie modelled his technique on that great man. His strokes were in the classical mould. The rudimentary difference between the two was that more often than not Charlie forgot to make contact with the ball. These among others were the memories imprinted on a young impressionable mind.

TRAIN GUARD

A unique church character by the name of Billy Peers, of Salvation Army fame, was a guard on the Mineral Railway which twice daily puffed its way to and from Connah's Quay Docks, visiting each of the many brick works on its route.

At times it would come to a halt by the old bridge and a bag of lime, sand or some such would be dropped off for use on the pitch, probably from the Castle Works - the Alletsons were good patrons to Buckley sport. Incidentally, the late Joe Griffiths, 'Uncle Joe', a contemporary of my dad, once told me that there was previously a soccer team inhabiting the Stud Field, whose members contained many church members - my dad, the two Charlie Griffiths, Daisy Hill and Alltami Common, among them. Tom Rowlands, Tommy Roberts and, I believe, Mr. Edwin Humphrey were also mentioned. They were known, I believe, as, The Cosmopolitans'.

PROSPEROUS ERA

Now back to cricket. Somewhere about 1927 the Club entered its prosperous era. A move was made to the field behind Mrs. Jim Ellis in Mill Lane. I have already intimated that the Alletsons were good friends of the club. The secretary at that time was Mr. Jack Kelly now sadly removed to St. Matthews. He was instrumental in obtaining the use of a 'Sentinel' from the firm and, with it drivers, Jimmy Kelly, Frank Jenkins, Joe Kelsall and a large band of helpers it brought turf and soil from Black Brook, Upperdale, Hawarden for the pitch, laid by a Mr. Bill White. There was an official opening of the new club at which the president was the said Mr. John Alletson with Mr. Hannaby, of Wood Lane, the chief church representative. The notables were entertained to tea by Dr. John Griffiths and his lady at his home and surgery just across the road.

ONE REMAINS

The club prospered for some years. Of the team I think only one church regular remains, Herbert Bellis. Their fixtures were mostly with the second 11's of the more prominent cricket clubs. I played quite often during school holidays from the Alun School, Mold. Indeed for one whole season I played regularly. For a very enjoyable season I played at Mill Lane for the Congs, about 1931/32, just before the club folded up. Why I don't really know. I later gravitated to the senior club at Lane End. Rumour has it that a dance was mooted in aid of club funds. This was not in the 'ken of the elders of the church at the time - we were a long way off the swinging sixties. A compromise was reached. Mr Trevor Cropper and Mr Jack Kelly would attend a church prayer meeting and in return a certain few would attend the dance. You must remember that a prayer meeting in those days was something of a marathon. It was to be endured rather than enjoyed. Fabulous times were quoted as to how long a certain deacon could carry on. Neil Kinnock at Question Time pales in comparison. However, they went, Mr Jack Kelly tells me he had not heard the same man since. The dance was held and two church dignitaries attended for a short time complaining that the ladies were nearly 'naked'. They bared their arms. The memories lingered on and were nurtured in a Croppers 11. There was no ground - fixtures were nearly always midweek. Harold Stanley thoroughly enjoyed himself, ably supported by Frank Roberts and Peter Wilcock of pantomime fame. Johnnie Ellis became the new wicket keeper and was responsible for the kit and thereby hangs many a tale. If we could learn anything from what I have written it would be the pleasure enjoyed from giving and taking and the worth of self help. There was no 'alma mater' to provide all. It was a case of 'the more you put in the more you got out! And that was the Congs Cricket Club.

Author: Rowlands, Leslie

The Congs Cricket Team at their new ground"

Mill Lane, Buckley

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