North Enfield Cricket Club
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North Enfield Cricket Club has been in existence for 127 years. Initially playing at Claysmore - farmland located between Clay Hill and Whitewebbs Park until the 2nd World War interrupted much local sport. The current ground at Strayfield Road, only a few hundred yards from Claysmore, is part of Hilly Fields Park, owned by Enfield Council.
In 1951/52, the Council agreed to lease the land to the Club with the conditions that the Club own and maintain both the cricket square and the pavilion and car park. A public right of way continues to exists across the middle of the playing area. The Club continues to lease the land from the council on a 30-year lease, and are protected tenants. The post-war years saw arguably the most talented cricketer ever to play for North Enfield in his prime – Frank Barwick. Barwick won the 1st XI batting and bowling for three years in a row, and the bowling for a further two from 1948, a record unequalled in Club history. Barwick joined North Enfield relatively late in his cricket career having previously been at our illustrious neighbours Enfield CC before the advent of war. It is said that had it not been for the 1939-45 conflict, Barwick would have almost certainly played 1st class cricket for Middlesex. He joined North Enfield because, according to club legend, Enfield CC refused to let him have a bat and only wanted him to bowl!
Prominent professional cricketers that have associations with North Enfield are Mike Smith of Middlesex and England, whose family was involved at North Enfield for many years, staged a benefit game at North Enfield in 1976 .John Emburey, the Middlesex and England spin bowler, who played in the North Enfield Centenary game against MCC and Benefit 1986 and Graham Barlow (Benefit fixture 1983). Middlesex wicket keeper Keith Brown was also a good friend of the Club for many years. Rumours also abound that England leg-spinner B.J.T. Bosanquet also played for North Enfield, (he was born at Bulls Cross and lived locally for some time) but no records exist to confirm this.
The Club has participated in league cricket in various forms over the years, principally the Saturday Hertfordshire League and the Chess Valley Sunday league from its inception until 2007. The Club fields two teams at present - in Divisions 3 and 8 respectively for the 1st and 2nd XIs on the back of promotions for both sides in 2010. A Sunday friendly XI exists for those who prefer their cricket to be of a more relaxed nature. Fixtures take place home and away against teams from across North and East London, Hertfordshire and Essex. Sunday cricket is of a very mixed standard with a ‘give everybody a game’ emphasis (and provision of a good tea also features high on priority lists). In the last few years, the resurgence of 20 over cricket has brought a number of Friday night games at North Enfield, in particular the annual match against Enfield Scouts XI in aid of Help for Heroes. The Club pitch may be hired on Friday nights for office or club games. The Colts section continues the excellent work since 2009, and the Club is playing U10s matches in 2013.
North Enfield has always prided itself on being a family-orientated club, with multiple generations of the same family often playing concurrently – a glance at the cricket honours board is conclusive proof that North Enfield cricket has been a family affair from its earliest days. It is this feature of the club – despite ups and downs both on and off the field over the years, that sums up what North Enfield is all about.
The Club is well-known on the cricket circuit for the location of the infamous oak tree, which grows approx 50 yards from the edge of the square and 10 yards from the boundary on the north-eastern side of the ground.
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