FRAMPTON Cotterell Cricket Club celebrates its 100th anniversary this year with special events, the launch of a new women’s team – and two specially-brewed beers.
The beers, produced by South Gloucestershire-based Tangent Brewing Company, will raise money towards the club’s project to install permanent nets at its home at Crossbow playing fields, off School Road.
Already available – and selling fast – is Not Out, a hazy IPA that carries the club logo and information about the history of the club on the can.
There are plans for a second brew – a pale ale which will be named after a poll of club members, who are coming up with a short list of options.
The Yate-based brewing company, created by three friends who share an interest in craft beer recipes, will have the new been canned and labelled with the winning name in time for the ‘Week of Cricket’ starting on June 23.
Vic Cater – surely one of the longest-serving chairs in the country after taking up the role in 1980 – well remembers Frampton’s 50th anniversary, as he dismissed former West Indian opener Roy Marshall without scoring, in a game against a star-studded Whitbread Wanderers team.
The 76-year-old chair is proud to be at the helm as Frampton reflect on their humble beginnings and look to the future.
He said: “This used to be a field that belonged to the church who back in 1924 gave us exclusive use of The Park for cricket, and that was the way it was for many years until it was acquired by the parish council.”
Future looks bright
In common with many village clubs, Frampton have had to deal with their fair share of challenges recently, but there’s plenty of reason for optimism at this seminal moment in their history.
Vic, who played his first game here aged nine or ten, said: “We’ve got 60 youngsters signed up for All Stars and Dynamos on Sunday mornings, and that gives us a lot of hope for the future.
“We’re also running U11s, U13s and U15s this year, and still manage to get out three sides on a Saturday as well as a team in the Midweek League.
“We recently held a first women’s and girls session which went well so there’s lot of good signs.”
Frampton’s cricket week will begin with a parents and juniors’ pairs knock-out on June 23, with T20s to follow against Easton-in-Gordano and local rivals Winterbourne – one of their first opponents 100 years ago – along with a special challenge on June 28 against Frampton Cotterell RFC, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary.
An Old Boys match and get-together is set for June 30 – former players are welcome to pop along to play or simply reminisce on the boundary edge – while tickets will be sold all summer for a raffle, with prizes including a limited edition Jack Russell print and Alistair Cook-signed bat.
For more information about the lcub visit its website or Facebook page.
Steve Hill