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Club Cricket Conference
Formation
The Club Cricket Conference (known until 1926 as the London Club Cricket Conference) was established in 1915 to represent and support the interests of amateur cricket clubs in the South of England. Old Etonian Sir Home Gordon, the cricket writer and journalist, was elected the first president of the Conference and C.B. Fry (England, Sussex and Hampshire) and Ted Dillon (Kent) were invited to join the inaugural committee.
Charles Green, who is regarded as the ‘founding father’ and was the spirit of Essex cricket during the late 19th/early 20th centuries (serving as captain, chairman and president), was also invited to become a member of the first CCC committee. Having served as president of the MCC in 1905, Green’s acumen, vision and energy in developing and elevating Essex CCC to first-class county status in 1894 were obvious qualities sought by the Conference whose first AGM was held in March 1916.
Fixtures
Since 1920, the emergency Fixture Bureau of the CCC has acted as a marriage broker to amateur clubs in the South of England who seek fixtures, mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. It arranges around 3,500 fixtures each year. In more recent times it has extended its fixture arranging service to include the search for, and availability of, cricket grounds. For a modest annual membership subscription and a nominal fee for each match arranged, many Essex clubs have taken advantage of these services over the years. It is administered online with operational ease and efficiency and Belhus CC has used the fixture service on numerous occasions.
Advisory Service
What is not perhaps widely appreciated is that the Conference operates a general Advisory Service for member clubs. Over the years, it has accumulated much knowledge and experience of the management, organisation and administration of clubs, and has access to a wealth of information and individual experts in every aspect of the day-to-day running of an amateur club. Clubs that have concerns regarding, for example, their constitution, their ground lease, their budgeting/accounts systems, their insurances, their coaching programmes or their organisational structures, can obtain valuable, practical advice and assistance from the CCC.
The Conference is committed to the well-being, growth and development of all clubs and schools in England and Wales, and may be contacted at any time on any issue whatsoever. If the Conference is unable to provide an immediate solution, perhaps to a particularly complex matter, they will certainly know, through their extensive network, 'someone who can'.
Representative Matches and Tours
In addition to organising various competitions, CCC ‘representative’ matches have been arranged since 1922 whereby those selected can expect to play against pre-eminent club cricketers. The representative teams include the Men’s and Women’s XIs, the Under 25s and the President’s XI. It is for member clubs to recommend/nominate playing candidates who must obviously be of the highest calibre. With so many quality players to choose from, selection is highly competitive. Fixtures include the MCC (at Lord’s), the Midlands Club Cricket Conference, the touring ICC Associate and the League Cricket Conference. It also organises two annual competitions - the Conference Cup and the Sovereign Trophy.
Players who have demonstrated a high level of skill and displayed good sportsmanship and common courtesy through observing the 'Spirit of Cricket', become eligible for selection for the Conference’s annual overseas tour. The first CCC tour was to Australia in 1971, since when visits have been arranged to Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, the Netherlands, Kenya, West Indies, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Denmark and Oman. Players from a number of Essex clubs have been selected over the years, and have enjoyed well-organised tours against high standard opposition in very different and challenging conditions. Such experience has greatly benefited their cricket development.
CCC Caps for Essex Players
Prior to 1948, caps were automatically awarded to all players who were selected to play for the Conference in a full representative match for the first time. Thereafter, caps were awarded at the Council's discretion although from the mid-1970s, caps were awarded mainly to those who represented the CCC on a major overseas tour. Nowadays, caps are awarded to those who have played in 25 representative or tour matches. For list of CCC capped players, see www.club-cricket. co.uk > ABOUT US > CAPPED PLAYERS
Essex Men as Presidents of CCC
A number of Essex worthies have been honoured to serve the CCC in the capacity of President, a post that is bestowed only upon those who have made a significant contribution to their clubs and, usually, to the wider cricket community at district and/or county level. Due consideration is paid to men of acknowledged integrity and who uphold the ‘Spirit of Cricket’. Essex men who have been so recognised and deserving of such high office have been:
J H Douglas (Wanstead CC* 1920) T G Grinter (Frinton-on-Sea CC 1930) A F Butt (Leigh-on-Sea CC 1941-1945) G F Clatworthy (Ilford CC 1949) A R Duff (Buckhurst Hill CC 1955) D J Kesby (Old Parkonians CC** 1972) A L Speakman (West Essex CC 1973) R H Williams (Walthamstow CC 1977) J S Polson (Ilford CC 1986) R V Lynch (Chingford CC 1991) M L Chapman (Westcliff-on-Sea CC 1994) E C Poulter (Fives and Heronians CC 1999) D J Goldsmith (Gidea Park & Romford CC 2003)
* Now Wanstead & Snaresbrook CC ** Now Oakfield Parkonians CC
The Conference is proud that the late HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was its Patron from 1953 until 2021 (his interest in the game emanating from his days at Gordonstoun where he was captain and secretary of the school’s cricket club). For many years, the CCC has been organising a hugely popular annual lunch at Lord's that is attended by around 700 people from member clubs who are entertained by well-known guest speakers. In 2015, the Conference's centenary year, Prince Phillip was guest of honour and Sir Tim Rice was the guest speaker.
The late Duke of Edinburgh at Arundel 1953
The Club Cricket Conference boasts a membership of more than 1,000 clubs and enjoys an active working relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board. It is recognised worldwide as a cricketing institution that helps amateur clubs in a myriad of ways and continues to support, promote and represent their interests in every corner of our cricketing, sporting and social arenas. It really is an excellent, worthwhile and dedicated organisation and Belhus CC is indebted to its cause.
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To keep abreast of CCC activities, do visit the CCC website www.club-cricket.co.uk to keep informed of developments in the world of club cricket.