Owzat for a return? Dudley cricketers back at the crease, forty years on
SURELY one of the biggest losses to Black Country sport was demise of Dudley Cricket Club, whose beautiful and well-loved ground, which hosted Worcestershre at country cricket level on many a summer’s day, was lost in the early 1980s.
It sounds like an exaggeration, but the pitch literally vanished overnight when it finally fell victim to the mineworkings beneath it. The club was never able to find a suitable new home.
But Dudley CC lives on at least in spirit, and a line-up of former players was put together recently to mark the anniversary of the ground’s closure, in a match against local opposition. Former chairman of Dudley, Bob Utting, told us: “The ‘Old Contemptibles’ of Dudley Cricket Club were involved in a cricket match versus Beacon C.C. of Wombourne, on Sunday 12th June at Beacon’s ground.
“As many will be aware, Dudley lost their ground in 1982 when the then County Ground was plagued by limestone caverns, left from mining works from the previous century.
“The then-county wicket disappeared down a mineshaft to a depth of over 60 feet, when one of the support pillars (left by the miners to support the land above) collapsed.
“Despite efforts by the council to find a suitable home for the club, none was available of a suitable standard in the Dudley area.
“Dudley Cricket Club was dissolved, but recently some of the ex-players thought that it would be appropriate to mark the forty year event, with any funds raised to be donated to Beacon’s Under 13 side, in an effort to promote youth cricket in the area.
“The standard of the game may well be woeful, especially on behalf of The Old Comptemptibles, but our motives are genuine.”