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Club with a great sporting tradition

The first match for Matlock CC actually took place in May 1877. A 'gentlemen's XI' played the 'players' team which consisted of 13 men. The result is unknown but after the game all concerned then celebrated the event with an evening meal in Matlock. The first 'General Secretary' was a Mr J Higginbotham, it was his name on the formal printed notice for the match, but sadly no other records remain.

   Indeed the history of the club is poorly documented. It is known that occasional friendly matches against local opposition took place and that the annual subscriptions in 1904 were £1.00p, (or £1/0/00d). The club were the first in tenants of Causeway Lane which was privately owned. Tennis and we believe hockey was also played there in the last century. In 1911 the local football team (later to become Matlock Town FC) moved across the road from their pitch on Hall Leys Park, due to regular flooding. The Cricket Club moved off where the football pitch is now located, developed the adjacent meadow where the present ground is situated.

   Due to the First World War it would appear that Cricket of any sort ceased in Matlock and the club remained dormant until 1920 when it was reformed. Around 1928 the female owner of the land died and in her will it was decreed that the Matlock Sports & Athletic Club (still landlords today) would take ownership, on the basis that the land would continue to be used for cricket and other sports including tennis. Interestingly the documentation available does not make any references to football.

   The existing wooden Tea Room Pavilion still in use today was constructed in 1890 at a cost of £120, though in those days it served as the changing rooms and the score box. It was renovated in the mid 1980's when water and electricity facilities were installed. As a notes of interest, it also hosted the first electronic scoreboard (in Derbyshire), built and installed by the late 'Rocket' Ron Hayward, who was the first team Captain in 1985/86. Sadly whilst the scoreboard worked, when the sun shone on match days, it proved difficult to read the numbers from the cricket pitch and so in the late 1980's the club reverted to the traditional scoreboard.

   To our knowledge Matlock only played friendly fixtures until joining the Border League (forerunner to the County League. Little is known of the clubs playing achievements except over the the last few decades, though in 1976 it vacated Causeway Lane whilst the square was dug up and rebuilt and played all their fixtures at Matlock College (now Cavendish Fields) for that season. Its most prominent past players have included Les Bradbury and Ian Hall, both Derbyshire Cricket Club (DCC), not to mention Derek Randall, who will again be playing for Matlock in 2005. Perhaps it's most locally well known and respected player in the last 30 years was Ian Blackburn. 'Blacky' served Matlock over many seasons and many will still recall his abilities with the bat and occasionally the ball.

   In recent years, in common with many other clubs, Matlock has developed it's facilities and obtained a Grade A ground status. Clarry Hill (Club President and major benefactor) and Les Wood (Head Groundsman) as well as certain others, remain actively involved and are mainly responsible for the Club continuing to exist today. Clarry came out of retirement to captain the 2nd XI in the late 1960's - and then did not miss another league or cup match for 14 seasons!

   2005 will marked Matlock's first season in the County Leagues top division since its brief stay in the 1987 season. Only Roger Young, later 2nd Team XI Captain over 14 years, who played for the 1st XI's that year still remains a playing member of the club since those halcyon days. The dark years of almost successive relegation to Division 4B will hopefully remain in the past. This year Tariq Rashid will become the clubs 4th overseas player and the third in successive years. Amikar Dayal (from Calcutta and Captain of India's Under 19 XI) being the first in 1991. We hope the club will continue to be respected and build on its thriving membership. Here's to the next 125 years or so!

Roger Young (Captain 3rd XI's)