Tipton Cricket Club did not fade away, it went on to thrive under a different name
The third and final part of the history of a local cricket club
TIPTON Cricket Club folded in 1985, but its spirit lived on at Penn Cricket Club for many years after that – and two weeks ago, we began a three part series on the history of Tipton CC.
I moved to Penn Cricket Club in 1984, partly due to the deterioration of the wicket at Tipton, which was not always fun to keep wicket on.
Tipton finally gave way to the financial pressures the following year, and around a dozen Tipton players also then came to Penn in 1986.
Penn expanded from two teams to three and eventually to five. The Tipton contingent was spread across all teams, and took up a number of administrative positions in the ensuing years. It heralded the most successful period in Penn’s history.
During the late 1980s, and throughout the 1990s the first team became one of the best in the area, with many league and cup successes. The second and third teams also had some significant success.
Of the Tipton contingent, all contributed greatly on the pitch to each team. Off the pitch, Derrick Pickin rolled back the years, and oversaw the building of a new scorebox and equipment shed. He and Mick Sleigh took over the groundsman’s duties in later years.
Paul Tranter, Bob Eaton, and Kevin Drew all had spells as club chairman. Brian Lester was part of the youth coaching set up that thrived for a number of years, and which helped my own son, Daniel, start his successful cricketing career.
So, Tipton Cricket Club did not fade away, it just relocated under a different name, and added to the talent and potential that existed at Penn at that time. It showed what might have happened had finances not been such an obstacle during its time at Gospel Oak.
The Tipton Sports Union Trust became the Tipton Sports Academy, and with funding from the likes of the Lawn Tennis Association, the site developed into its current modern form. Tipton Harriers, and Tipton Town FC continue to thrive. Sadly, Derrick’s pavilion is no more.
I hinted at skullduggery at Coseley in 1983 in last week’s article. I had played for Coseley a few times whilst at school. Ray Hale was captain then, as he seemed to be forever. He was a bit miffed that I did not join properly, and had joined Tipton a year or so later. There was a bit of rivalry in those days.
By coincidence, my last league game for Penn in 2016 was at Coseley. I had decided it was time to improve my golf, and had a little personal target of scoring at least one 50 in every season for 50 years. I achieved my target, but we lost the game fairly comfortably.
In the bar afterwards, Ray came in. He had retired some years ago, but was still an active club member. He congratulated me on my innings, bought me a drink, and we fell into conversation about old times. I reminded him of the events of 1983, and that everywhere else seemed playable bar Coseley on that day. He gave me a wry smile and said “We couldn’t let you lot win the league at our place”.
After 33 years I could smile with him, but suggested he could buy me another drink.
With a wry smile he said, “We couldn’t let you lot win the league at our place.”