Long Eaton Cricket Club: History

LONG EATON CRICKET CLUB

The present Long Eaton Cricket Club, formed in 1972 by a merger of Long Eaton Old Boys CC and Vida CC, is at least the fourth to bear that title, the earliest known side having played its first recorded game on June 28th 1844. The complex history of the club has been unravelled by local author and historian Keith Breakwell, and is detailed in his excellent book A History of Cricket in Long Eaton, Sandiacre and Sawley, (available from the author, tel. +44 115 973 3775).

Milestones in the Club's History

1844

The first recorded match by a club bearing the name "Long Eaton Cricket Club"

(As reported in the Nottingham Mercury, 5th July 1844)

A match at cricket came off on Friday, the 23d ult, at the rural village of Long Eaton, between ten of Barton, and the noted Robert Smith, late of Nottingham, against eleven of Long Eaton. The day was fine, and the ground well attended from the neighbouring villages, together with a good number of the fair sex, whose presence always contributes more than any thing else to enliven and inspire the heart with gladness. Amidst the greatest good humour fortune favoured Long Eaton by 20 notches, as the following statement will show. In the evening the players sat down to a substantial repast at Mr. Booth’s, the Blue Bell Inn, when Mr. Burton was called to the chair, and the evening was spent with pleasure and satisfaction.

1890

Long Eaton Queen's CC (also called Long Eaton CC)

1904

Long Eaton Cricket Club (no. 3)

1919

Long Eaton Derby Rd Wesleyan Institute CC

Long Eaton Cricket Club1904:
(Keith Breakwell collection)

1920

LE Old Boys

Players cigarette card of Les Townsend, Derbyshire and England all-rounder who played for Long Eaton Town CC

1931

LE Cobden CC

1946

LE Grammar School Old Boys CC

1959

LE Old Boys CC

Long Eaton Old Boys CC: 1967
(Keith Breakwell Collection)

1972

Current club formed by merger of LE Old Boys and Vida CC

1983

LECC Under 15s win National Under-15 Club Cricket Championship

1986

Jez Daykin has his neck broken by a straight drive while umpiring a Long Eaton Third XI match, but later makes a full recovery. The event is recorded in Jonathan Rice's Curiosities of Cricket.

1991

Old Vida Pavilion demolished

The Vida Pavilion, demolished in 1992 to make way for the current pavilion on West Park.
(Keith Breakwell collection)

1992

New pavilion opened on West Park

1995

LECC reaches the semi-final of the National Clubs (Abbot Ale) knock-out championship, winning the Midland Region championship.

Abbot Ale cup: national clubs knockout championship semi-final day at Long Eaton.
(Iwan Thomas).

1999

LECC joins the Notts Premier League as an inaugural member.

2001

Long Eaton Third XI are promoted to Division 2G of the South Notts Cricket League

2002

LECC are promoted to South Notts Division 1a

2004

Umair Hassan takes 10/42 in a South Notts Division 1a match against Newstead, becoming the first player to take all ten wickets in an SNCL match.

The Third XI are promoted to SNCL Div. R

2005

Long Eaton are champions of the South Notts League, and the Second XI are champions of Division E.