Club special
We go behind the scenes at Wolverhampton CC
WOLVERHAMPTON’S history may be a rich tapestry but the club are busy weaving a new era for the entire community after opening its doors to all. The Birmingham & District Premier League outfit can not only lay claim to being the oldest sports club in the city but one of the oldest in the country, having been founded in 1835.
However, with participation in men’s grassroots cricket trending downwards, not even an institution of Wolverhampton’s heritage can afford to be complacent over the future.
Instead of clinging on to what they once were, officials took steps towards broadening their horizons in 2014 – with a helping hand from the local council – by launching a £125,000 project.
With plans now well underway, the aim is to create a ‘community’ that caters for several different sports as well as attracting more female and disabled members to the Tettenhall-based club.
In addition to making the grounds more wheelchair-accessible, Wolverhampton helped form blind cricket team Staffordshire Wolves, and were chosen by the ECB as a ‘focus’ club to improve cricket participation in the area.
Two years ago the council also agreed to hand over ownership of an adjoining plot of land that has since been developed to hold three football pitches, while there is also a long-term vision to house indoor sports in the pavilion.
“Cricket isn’t the mass participation sport it once was,” admitted Mike Smith, the club’s league representative and second-team captain. “Where once it was a purely male-dominated sport, we’ve embraced women’s cricket and disabled cricket and we’re trying to appeal to as many areas of the community as possible.
“Many clubs are struggling financially and that would apply across the board including a well-established club like Wolverhampton in the Birmingham & District Premier League.
“We have to look at all aspects of cricket and say we’ve tried to open up to as many people as possible, if we can get as many people playing as possible then it can only be good.
“Without a doubt our success has been based around the fantastic youth set-up and in a league that has a lot of professional cricketers.
“My job as second XI captain is to make sure the nucleus of the side has come through the junior section and to continue that tradition, while still remaining competitive.” But as the club continues to diversify, there is no doubt that it remains a place from which young talent can springboard to the highest level. Wolverhampton can call Vikram Solanki one of their most famous sons, with the former England batsman learning much of his trademark elegance at the crease on its pitches. Solanki – who moved to the city from India when he was eight years old – played junior and senior cricket for the club and a subsequent first-class career totalling more than 16,000 first runs would make him a cult hero at Worcestershire.
Tom Fell could soon join Solanki as another county great to emerge from the junior ranks at Wolverhampton, as the 23-year-old resumed his promising career with Worcestershire after recovering from a second bout of cancer earlier this year.
And Moeen Ali, a regular on the Birmingham & District scene even during his early days as an England player, made six centuries for the club across three years as a contracted player.
“It is great to play at a club with such a rich history,” added Smith. “Vikram is our most famous player and we still see him around a lot and is a face we see regularly. He has the club at heart.
“He doesn’t have an official role as he still has TV commitments, but he’s somebody who is around on a regular basis and his children are just getting to the age where they may start junior cricket, and he’s made it clear he wants them to come through Wolverhampton in the same way he did.
“We have Tom Fell who came through our youth set-up and our senior sides and he is now in Worcestershire’s side, though he still represents the club when county commitments allow.
“Moeen’s played for a a few clubs in the league but you can never fault his commitment. He was still playing here when representing England, and even then was keen to turn out and play.
“He’s someone who was a huge asset to
the club from a cricket point of view, but also from the fact he just couldn’t get enough of cricket.
“He has a fantastic attitude and was desperate to play which was nice to see, it shows what type of club we are. His schedule is pretty packed now but he still keeps in contact with a few of the boys.
“It sends out the correct message – we’ve been lucky here with the players who have represented us from Worcestershire.”
Wolverhampton’s first-team fortunes are pointing upwards as, after a skin-of-theteeth survival campaign in 2015, they finished in the comfort of mid-table this year.
Ultimately, though, titles and trinkets come secondary to their burgeoning youth section – and Smith insists there is no better place for a county prospect to earn his stripes in men’s cricket. “It is a tough standard of cricket here and 2015 we survived relegation on the last day,” said Smith.
“That was mission accomplished and a great achievement as the team was mainly home grown players.
“We improved in 2016 and finished As the club continues to diversify, there is no doubt that it remains a place from which young talent can springboard to the highest level mid-table after a very good start.We’re progressing and head into next year looking to really cement our place in the Premier League.
“Without a doubt Wolverhampton’s success has been based around the fantastic youth set-up.
“Modern cricket has changed a bit with the pyramid system coming into place, and it’s difficult to hold onto our younger players.
“They get financial incentives and an offer for first XI cricket sooner than staying at Wolverhampton – so the message we’re trying to send out through the clubs is that we will give our juniors a chance.
“For me, it’s trying to find the balance to make sure we our competitive in a league that has a lot of professional cricketers.”