Club History

Quorn Cricket Club has a long and rich history with records dating back as far as 1872. Since inception, the Club has played cricket in Quorn, Leicestershire. As was tradition in the late 19th Century, the Club played on private cricket grounds on a number of regional estates including Quorn House and Quorn Lodge. As well as on the estates, the Club played in various locations across the village including Leicester Road, Love Lane Field, Apple Tree Field and Stafford Orchard park. At the time, the Club's official home as the White Hart Inn. James Rumsby, the landlord at the White Hart and a keen cricket enthusiast was in the club's early years.

Early records refer to the Club as Quorn United Cricket Club. In 1891, the Club's committee meetings were held in a room belonging to the Wesleyan Chapel and the club was briefly renamed Quorn Wesleyans Cricket Club for a short period. At this time, the Club was looking to find a full-time home in which to establish a base. The Club's struggles to find a permanent home were well documented. The below advertisements are from issues of the St Bart's Parish Council Magazine published in 1893 and 1894.

Thanks to the excellent record of issues of the St Bartholomew's Parish Magazine on the Quorn Museum website, we have traced one of the Club's earliest scorecards. On 10th June 1893, 128 years ago, James Rumsby scored 27 as Quorn recorded a victory against Rothley House Cricket Club. In the same season Quorn went on to record wins against Swithland and Thurmaston and to host an intra-club Married v Single game. The most memorable match of the season looks to be the tied fixture against Mountsorrel which apparently featured some questionable umpiring.

In the 1894 season Quorn CC recorded big wins against Hanford & Miller's and Eagle Works CC but endured a difficult season overall. The 83 scored against Eagle Works is the club's highest score to date as far as records are available and was thanks to 22 from Sam Hallam and 20 from J Beardmore. Beardmore then went on to take the first recorded 6 wicket haul for the Club. 6 for 23 including 5 bowled dismissals.

Few records exist of the 1895 season but in 1896, Manton Bonser, one of the Club's leading bowlers took a superb 5-0 against Mountsorrel.

Bonser's spell included 3 bowled dismissals, a catch by all-rounder Beardmore and another from Hutchinson as he blew away Mountsorrel's top and lower order. In May of the same year James Rumsby hit 49 against West and Blackwell's.

The below team photo from 1899 shows many of the players featured above. Also visible are the classic Quorn caps featuring the gold fox logo which features on the current badge.

Back Row (L to R): H Orton, Manton Bonser, F Clarke, A Hutchinson, Herbert Waite, Sam Hallam, William Machin

Middle Row (L to R): W Thornton, LJ Collins, JA Hayward (Capt.), Herbert Percival, W Orton

Front Row (L to R): John William Davies, J Mee

In 1897 the Club moved to it's current home; Caves Field. The below team photograph was taken at Caves Field during the Club's first season at the ground wearing hooped caps which were presumably green and gold.

In July 1898, Quorn Captain J.A.L. Hayward struck the first club 50 on record, scoring 52 in a comfortable victory against Loughborough. This scorecard is also the first record of a Quorn score of over 100.

Controversy struck in 1899 when an incident in a North Leicestershire Cricket League Fixture against Sileby on May 27th 1899 led to the Club's withdrawal from the League due to a controversial umpiring decision. The Club denounced itself from the North Leicestershire league and played ‘competitive friendly matches’ for the remainder of the season.

By 1900, the Club had established itslef at Caves Field. The below photo shows the team during the 1900 season. Members of this team would go on to fight in the Boer War (1899-1902) sadly, club stalwart John William Davies (fifth left) was killed in battle.

Back Row (L to R): Herbert Percivel, tbc, tbc, Sam Hallam, John William Davies, tbc, tbc, William Machin

Front Row: Unkown

Davies, a player who featured heavily in the early years of the Club was well known as an excellent wicket keeper and a fast scoring batsman. Hayward, who's 50 against Loughborough is the first on record was the moist consistent batsman at the the Club whilst Herbert Waite, featured in the team photo from 1899 is considered one of the fastest and most successful bowlers to have represented the Club in it's early years.

During the 1910 season, the club erected a marquee at Caves Field as can be seen in the below photograph of the 2nd XI. The club is again sporting traditional green caps emblazoned with the gold fox.

Back Row (L to R): W Sinfield, A Darby, J Sewell, C Thornton, J Gamble, J Wykes, H Gamble

Middle Row (L to R): tbc, A Westley, A Dexter, J Mee, tbc

Front Row (L to R): G Holes, R Facer

We are unsure exactly how many League titles the Club has won in its long history. This League Table, dated to a July 1914 issue of the Loughborough Echo shows Quorn finishing as champions of the North-Leicestershire Division 1. This is is possibly the first title victory for the club who presumably finished ahead of Mountsorrel Castle due to having won more matches.

In the early 20th Century, the North Leicestershire League was well renowned for including some of the finest Clubs in the country and playing host to some of the best quality Cricket in the region. The Club's new captain; Harold Wright earned a call up to represent Leicestershire County Cricket Club, scoring 243 runs in 11 games with a high score of 44. Tragically, Wright was killed during the First World War aged 31 and remains the only Quorn CC captain to have represented his County.

In 1911 and 1912, Quorn lifted the Loughborough Charity Cup and continued their excellent form by winning the North Leicestershire Cricket League Championship in 1914 under the guidance of captain J Gamble.

Caves Field has played a huge role in the history of Quorn Cricket Club. In the below image of the 2nd XI in 1929, Caves Field is clearly recognisable as it is today.

Back Row (L to R): A Horsley, W Wykes, J Sewell, T Artridge

Middle Row (L to R): C Baker, R Kendrick (Capt), F Bream, C Thornton, G Homes

Front Row (L to R): Ted Ball, C Smith

In 1933 Quorn won the Sileby Cup, an evening league tournament. During the tournament, batsman Ken Hopwell scored a brilliant 72, an innings lasted 2 consecutive evenings. In the same season Douglas Beam scored 115 using a bat that had been presented to him for holding the Club's highest batting average the season before. According to records from the time, the same bat was used by Herbert Sutcilffe during the 1932-33 Ashes Tour to Australia.

In 1928 Caves Field was put on to the market for building purpose and purchased by Mr George Farnham who handed the ground to the school on the proviso the ground was used as a Cricket Field. As Caves Field was now committed to cricket, the Club set about to build a pavilion, restore the pitch and make general improvements to the ground.

On 11th August 1934, Quorn played in the Loughborough Hospital Cup Final against Shepshed Town. Starting on the evening of Monday 11th August, the game finally ended on Thursday 14th. Shepshed batted first and made 213/10 despite E Jollands' brilliant spell of 6/71. During the chase Ken Hopwell made 71* as Quorn fell 24 runs short of their target. The Quorn XI for the cup final was:

1. C Thompson 2. L Piggins 3. Ted Ball 4. J Sewell 5. J W Bream 6. Ken Hopwell 7. D H Bream 8. E Jollands 9. A Darby 10. J Reegan 11. A Horsley

On the final day of the 1934 season, Quorn beat Rothley to become North Leicestershire First Division Champions for the fourth time in their history.

In 1934, a Pavilion or 'Tea Room' was completed. Mrs Farnham, wife of the late George Farnham, opened the Pavilion using a ceremonial key presented by the architect; E.W. Parkinson.

In April 1939 the season began with a memorable encounter against Ellistown which was played un unseasonable snowy conditions. Ellistown batted first, making a formidable 207/6 Dec. During the chase club legend Ted Ball made 44, an innings overshadowed by Freddie Brown's mammoth assault. Brown scored 141 not out as Quorn ended 213/8. This is one of the highest individual scores in the history of the Club.

The 1946 season saw the reformation of the North Leicestershire Cricket League following the Second World War and in 1949 Quorn once again won the First Division in 1949 under the captaincy of Ted Ball. The below photo show Quorn's Championship winning side from the 1949 season.

Back Row: W Bishop (Scorer), A Dexter (Umpire), E Whitehouse, D Dean, N Gurney, R Colombe, L Crofts, F Hope

Middle Row: W Webster, K Swaine, Ted Ball (Capt), G Johnson, H Dermott

Quorn CC Captain Ted Ball is presented with Division 1 Championship Trophy

In the 1950 season Quorn won the Aronson Cup Final against Birstall, chasing 132 to win thanks to 58 from Dennis Freer.

Quorn CC 1st XI 1952

Back Row (L to R): W Wallace (Umpire), R Taylor, G Cross, S Caunt, M Sykes, S Freeman, S Crookes

Front Row (L to R): H Green, K Swaine, Ted Ball (Capt), R Footitt, H Benford

Quorn CC 1st XI 1953

Back Row (L to R): T Payne (Umpire), W Spencer, D Smith, D G Evans, D Freer, J Symington, R Bentley (Committee)

Front Row (L to R): J Burnell. R Taylor, Ted Ball (Capt), D Bentley, R Footitt, K Swaine

Quorn added to their First Division titles in 1957 and in 1958 finished second having been beaten by Mountsorrel in a play off final having finished level on points.

In 1960, Ted Ball handed the captaincy over to Ken Swaine but continued to make headlines as one of Quorn's finst ever player, taking 6-5 for against Rolls Royce CC. The Leicester Mercury running this brilliant back page story:

In the early 1960s, Quorn were relegated to Division 2 but bounced back quickly, winning the Division 2 Title in 1966. The below photo shows Quorn's Division 2 title winning side.

Back Row (L to R): M Spary, K Swaine, C Briers, Ted Ball, B Jollands

Middle Row (L to R): Dennis Ball, M Deacon, A Ball (Capt), R Taylor, T Noon

Front Row: A Dermott

Quorn CC 1st XI 1966

Back Row (L to R): Ted Ball, Brian Jollands, Tony Noon, John Shackel, Brian Woods, Stan Freeman, Walter Giles, Ron Taylor

Middle Row (L to R): Maurice Deacon, Dennis Ball, Alan Ball, Colin Briers, Mick Sparry, Andrew McDermott

In 1969, the Club was presented with a new scoreboard by Ted Ball's mum Ellen. Mrs Ball won first prize in the Monitor's "Where's the Ball" competition and used her winnings to purchase the board which stayed in place until the new 'Scoretress' was opened in 2016.

Quorn Cricket Club

Est. 1872

Caves Field . Cradock Drive . Quorn . LE12 8EP

Club History