Welcome to the first installment of our new series, "Tales from The Wood and Other Grounds," where we delve into the rich history of our cricket club, celebrating the heroic successes and gallant failures from the past 68 seasons. Each week, we'll bring you three memorable matches from our archives, which have been meticulously maintained by our dedicated club archivist, Geoff Last.

A Tribute to Geoff Last

No recounting of our club's history would be complete without paying tribute to Geoff Last, our Club Archivist. Geoff has worn many hats over the years, serving as Chairman, President, player, and umpire. His unwavering dedication to preserving our club's records since the late 1960s/early 1970s has been nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to Geoff's meticulous efforts, we have records dating back to 1956, despite the unfortunate theft of earlier records from a club member's car in the 1960s.

The Artistry of Keith Barham

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Keith Barham, whose beautifully crafted scorebook pages are a delight to read. Keith's attention to detail and artistic flair have created a stunning record of individual games, capturing the essence of each match with precision and care.

Join the Journey

As we embark on this journey through our club's storied past, we invite all players, past and present, to share their memories. If you recall a game that you believe deserves a place in our chronicles, please let James Malley know. Additionally, if anyone would like a colour photocopy of one of Keith's meticulously recorded matches, we would be happy to arrange that for you. The longer-term plan is to digitise all of the club's records, though that will undoubtedly take a lot of effort over a few winters to come.

Outwood vs. Vice-Presidents XI - April 17th, 1977

On April 17th, 1977, Outwood played a practice match at The Wood against a team described as the Vice-Presidents XI, marking the intra-club season opener. Outwood batted first and scored 209-9, with J Greenwood retiring on 67. Geoff Last played that day for Outwood and scored 4 not out. After tea, the Vice-Presidents set off in pursuit and were 32-2, with A Good senior 26 not out, before rain stopped play at ten to six. The match was drawn, and the scorebook records that these figures were not to be recorded in the season's averages.

UK Number 1 Single: "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA.
UK Sporting Fact: On this day, Red Rum won the Grand National at Aintree for a record third time.
World News: Apple Computer introduced the groundbreaking Apple II computer at the West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco.

Outwood vs. Shipbourne - April 17th, 1999

On April 17th, 1999, Outwood played an away game at Shipbourne under showery weather conditions and on a soft pitch. It was a low-scoring classic, with Outwood being all out for 80 in less than 2 hours, spanning 33.3 overs. M Stewart top-scored with 18. Despite the low total, Outwood put in a terrific effort in the field and nearly pulled off a very unlikely victory. In the end, Shipbourne scored the required 81 for the loss of 8 wickets. J Kershaw's early season effort was remarkable, bowling 19.2 overs 'on the spin' and taking 5 for 19 with 8 maidens.

UK Number 1 Single: "Flat Beat" by Mr. Oizo.
UK Sporting Fact: That week, Manchester United kept their dream of a treble alive, edging out Arsenal 2-1 after extra time in one of the all-time great FA Cup semi-finals.
World News: On April 17, 1999, a devastating nail bomb exploded in the bustling Brixton market in South London, causing significant damage and terror.

Outwood vs. Warnham CC - April 19th, 2014

On April 19th, 2014, Outwood played a friendly match against Warnham CC. The weather was described as sunny spells with a very chilly breeze, especially after tea. Outwood, skippered by Mark Lane, batted first and set a strong foundation with a first-wicket stand of 131 runs. John Hall scored 48, while Henry Van der Walt contributed 59. Mark Lane added 32 runs, and J Matthews top-scored with 64.

A notable moment from the match was future University of Kent student George Stoyle getting a golden duck, which meant that A Collins from Warnham was on a hat-trick in his next game. The bowling wickets were shared between Matt Norman, Phil Alexander, George Stoyle, and Tom Matthews, as Outwood secured a 'narrow' 187-run victory.

An interesting historical note from the match is that a sub fielder took a catch for the fifth Warnham wicket to fall. Does anyone know who took that catch?

UK Number 1 Single: "Hideaway" by Kiesza.
UK Sporting Fact: Liverpool beat Norwich City 3-2 in the Premier League, with Raheem Sterling scoring twice.
World News: Russia, the European Union, Ukraine, and the United States signed an agreement in Geneva meant to help stabilise relations in the region.

Stay tuned for more thrilling tales from our club's history, and if you have any memories or matches you'd like to share, please let James Malley know. If anyone would like a colour photocopy of one of Keith Barham's meticulously recorded matches, we would be happy to arrange that for you.

Let's celebrate our cricketing heritage together, one week at a time!