Wanstead is home to one of England’s most successful amateur cricket clubs, boasting national titles, thriving juniors and a vibrant community, says Helen Pattington from the club’s volunteer team
Did you know one of the most successful amateur cricket clubs in the country in recent years is located at the end of a short path off Overton Drive? Wanstead and Snaresbrook Cricket Club has been based there for over 100 years.
The men’s first eleven won the National Club Championship in 2017, and have regularly reached the latter stages of that competition over the last 20 years. In the last season alone, the men’s first team reached the semi-final of the National Club Championship, the final of the National Club T20 competition (having won the Essex T20 Competition), finished third in the Essex Premier League and reached the final of the Essex League Cup. And that’s just the first eleven!
Wanstead Cricket Club was founded in 1866. Its first ground was on a piece of land near George Lane Station behind the Fir Trees public house, when the club was known as Woodford. A decade before its foundation, the railway line from London to Stratford had been extended to Loughton to service the new estates being built in the area, which created a huge demand for sports clubs.
Wanstead now puts out six men’s league teams every weekend, as well as two women’s teams on Sundays and many junior teams (both boys and girls) ranging from under-9s to under-19s. Training for the juniors takes place on Thursday and Friday evenings during the summer under the guidance of qualified coaches, and on those evenings, whilst the juniors train, the parents are able to socialise in the clubhouse. Players come from Wanstead and other nearby areas and we are proud to be a diverse organisation with over 600 members across all levels.
Whilst most players just enjoy the ability to play socially, several from the club have attracted the interest of professional clubs, including Robin Das, who is currently on Essex’s books. Where juniors show they have a talent for cricket, the club’s links to the counties enables them to potentially find a career in the game.
Off the field, the club runs social events for members, and last year linked up with the Wanstead Fringe. Club members have also set up and participated in overseas tours, most recently to Pakistan last year. The club has a cricket week each year, normally in the first week of August, and a game against the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is often part of that. Although players contribute financially through membership and match fees, the club is grateful to its many local sponsors for their support, particularly our principal sponsors Bradley & Co. The club is run by volunteers, many of whom give considerable amounts of their time to keep it running so well, although more volunteers are always welcome!
For more information and to get involved with the club, visit wnstd.com/cricket
