The Sports Club history - Revision history

Joan at 07:15, 18 August 2025

2025-08-18T07:15:27Z

Joan at 09:27, 16 August 2025

2025-08-16T09:27:25Z

Joan at 09:18, 21 April 2024

2024-04-21T09:18:57Z

Joan at 18:55, 21 December 2023

2023-12-21T18:55:42Z

Joan at 15:58, 21 December 2023

2023-12-21T15:58:46Z

Joan at 10:29, 5 December 2023

2023-12-05T10:29:04Z

Joan at 11:59, 1 September 2023

2023-09-01T11:59:33Z

Joan at 11:50, 1 September 2023

2023-09-01T11:50:38Z

Joan at 09:03, 25 August 2023

2023-08-25T09:03:37Z

Joan at 09:00, 25 August 2023

2023-08-25T09:00:38Z

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 '''From the minute books'''
-The Club have graciously allowed me to consult records going back to 1920 from which I have been able to trace the main sequence of events since that year. Incidentally, as I looked through the first Minute Book, a small slip of aper fell out bearing the simple statement 'Concert at [[Lacey Green School]] in aid of Cricket Club Funds Wed. 15th Nov. 1906. But our story really starts on 23rd September 1921, when a public meeting was called at [[The Reading Room]]. (This was between [[Gordon May]]'s bungalow and Lacey Green School; it was demolished in the seventies when a private residence.) The meeting was to consider the formation of a new club to be known as 'The Lacey Green and Loosley Row Sports Club' and it was to cater for Cricket, Football and Tennis.
+The Club have graciously allowed me to consult records going back to 1920 from which I have been able to trace the main sequence of events since that year. Incidentally, as I looked through the first Minute Book, a small slip of aper fell out bearing the simple statement 'Concert at [[Lacey Green School]] in aid of Cricket Club Funds Wed. 15th Nov. 1906. But our story really starts on 23rd September 1921, when a public meeting was called at [[The Reading Room]]. (This was between Gordon May's bungalow and Lacey Green School; it was demolished in the seventies when a private residence.) The meeting was to consider the formation of a new club to be known as 'The Lacey Green and Loosley Row Sports Club' and it was to cater for Cricket, Football and Tennis.
-The meeting was chaired by [[Harold Edward Carter]] who was elected President of the new Club: officers and committee were also elected and a committee meeting called for three days later. At that meeting the Sports Club really got underway. Negotiations were already in for the fencing-off the 'new ground' by the members themselves. A.E. Lacey, Hon. Sec. was authorised to buy oak posts from the Hampden Estate and Lawrence Brown (landlord of [[The Crown]]) (click [[Lawrence & Sarah Brown]] for the life story of Lawrence) who shared the post of Hon. Treas. with H. Hickman (click [[Harold & Emily Hickman]]) was to obtain plain and barbed wire with staples and was to be prominent in the work of erecting the new fence. The little pavilion was brought round to the new ground and erected near Charlie Currell's hedge from where it was to make one more move to become the present cricket scorer's booth. Loam for the new pitch was entrusted to Horace Adams for the princely sum of three pounds.
+The meeting was chaired by Harold Edward Carter who was elected President of the new Club: officers and committee were also elected and a committee meeting called for three days later. At that meeting the Sports Club really got underway. Negotiations were already in for the fencing-off the 'new ground' by the members themselves. A.E. Lacey, Hon. Sec. was authorised to buy oak posts from the Hampden Estate and Lawrence Brown (landlord of [[The Crown]]) (click [[Lawrence & Sarah Brown]] for the life story of Lawrence) who shared the post of Hon. Treas. with H. Hickman (click [[Harold & Emily Hickman]]) was to obtain plain and barbed wire with staples and was to be prominent in the work of erecting the new fence. The little pavilion was brought round to the new ground and erected near Charlie Currell's hedge from where it was to make one more move to become the present cricket scorer's booth. Loam for the new pitch was entrusted to Horace Adams for the princely sum of three pounds.
-Secretary, Miss [[Nancy Hawes]] was elected and 29 members joined the Tennis Section in 1922, enthusiasm for the latter sport was not to last long. However, a grass court was made near the School boundary, surrounded by a high 'chicken wire' fence, a tennis net and other gear was purchased and some tennis was played there for two or three years when it seems to have fizzled out. The wire was taken down, the net put away and no more was to be seen of tennis at the Club until 1962 wen the first of the existing three courts was laid. Village tennis in the intervening years was confined to a court in the [[Vicarage]] garden and one or two other private courts.
+Secretary, Miss [[Nancy Hawes]] was elected and 29 members joined the Tennis Section in 1922, enthusiasm for the latter sport was not to last long. However, a grass court was made near the School boundary, surrounded by a high 'chicken wire' fence, a tennis net and other gear was purchased and some tennis was played there for two or three years when it seems to have fizzled out. The wire was taken down, the net put away and no more was to be seen of tennis at the Club until 1962 wen the first of the existing three courts was laid. Village tennis in the intervening years was confined to a court in the Vicarage garden and one or two other private courts.
 Although the minutes of the committee meetings in 1923 reveal some despondency about the finalisation of the lease on the new ground sufficient to make them hesitant about spending more money on improving the ground, this must have been settled satisfactorily because there is no further reference to it and the work seems to have gone ahead with a will.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:27, 16 August 2025
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−	click [[Sports ~~and Social~~ Club]] for list of articles about the club	+	click [[The Sports Club]] for list of articles about the club

	'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''. Research by [[Miles Marshall]]. Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg\|thumb\|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]		'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''. Research by [[Miles Marshall]]. Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg\|thumb\|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]

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 Before 1921, both games were played in a field of some six acres part of Windmill Farm The field is the second meadow to be crossed on the footpath from the bus shelter to Lily Bottom.
-The year 1911 was to be an important one both for the village and the players, for John Forrest of Grymsdyke (click [[John & Evelyn Forrest]]) had died the previous year and his estate was broken up. [[Lane Farm, Lacey Green]] was taken over by the [[Reverend William Robson]], Harold Hickman staying as his tenant (click [[Harold & Emily Hickman]] for Harold's life story).
+The year 1911 was to be an important one both for the village and the players, for John Forrest of Grymsdyke (click [[John & Evelyn Forrest]]) had died the previous year and his estate was broken up. [[Lane Farm]], Lacey Green was taken over by the [[Reverend William Robson]], Harold Hickman staying as his tenant (click [[Harold & Emily Hickman]] for Harold's life story).
 [[Stocken Farm]] was bought by William Saunders (click [[William Saunders & Bethia Janes]]) and more importantly to the sports teams Harold Carter bought [[Grymsdyke]]. for more about Harold Carter click [[Harold Edward & Eliza Carter]].

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 click [[Sports and Social Club]] for list of articles about the club
-'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''.    Research by [[Miles Marshall]].    Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987.[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|thumb|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]
+'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''.    Research by [[Miles Marshall]].    Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|thumb|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]
 It must be more than a year since Eric Boorman ([[Eric & Jessie Boorman]]) suggested to me that I should write the story of the Sports Club for our magazine. Since then I have talked to a score or more of local people which have all been most helpful and no doubt there are many whom I could and perhaps should have consulted had time permitted. I am most grateful to all those who have helped me put the story together though there is just not space to mention names. Similarly, I have had to omit the names of the many outstanding players, long-serving officers and dedicated members who have given their time and talents unstintingly over the last 66 years to make the Club a success.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 21 December 2023
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−	~~The '''Sports and Social Club''' is divided into 4 sections.~~	+	click [[Sports and Social Club]] for list of articles about the club
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−	~~[[The Cricket Club]]~~
−
−	~~[[The Football Club]]~~
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−	~~[[The Tennis Club]][[File:Old Hanger Sports Field.jpg\|thumb\|cricket on the new 1949 permanent site]]~~
−	~~also~~ click [[Sports Club ~~Photos~~]] for ~~photos~~ of ~~players and spectators~~

	'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''. Research by [[Miles Marshall]]. Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987.[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg\|thumb\|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]		'''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''. Research by [[Miles Marshall]]. Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987.[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg\|thumb\|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]

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-[[File:Old Hanger Sports Field.jpg|thumb|cricket on the new 1949 permanent site]]
+The '''Sports and Social Club''' is divided into 4 sections.
-also click [[Sports Club Photos]] for photos of players and spectaters
 '''The History of Lacey Green and Loosley Sports Club'''.    Research by [[Miles Marshall]].    Published in [[Hallmark]] in 1987.[[File:Old Hanger via Stocken Farm.jpg|thumb|Football on the club ground in 1960s]]

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 The year 1911 was to be an important one both for the village and the players, for John Forrest of Grymsdyke (click [[John & Evelyn Forrest]]) had died the previous year and his estate was broken up. [[Lane Farm, Lacey Green]] was taken over by the [[Reverend William Robson]], Harold Hickman staying as his tenant (click [[Harold & Emily Hickman]] for Harold's life story).
-[[Stocken Farm]] was bought by William Saunders (click [[William Saunders & Bethia Janes]]) and more importantly to the sports teams [[Harold Edward Carter]] bought [[Grymsdyke]].
+[[Stocken Farm]] was bought by William Saunders (click [[William Saunders & Bethia Janes]]) and more importantly to the sports teams Harold Carter bought [[Grymsdyke]]. for more about Harold Carter click [[Harold Edward & Eliza Carter]].
-Mr Carter was a wealthy young city merchant and shipper and very soon patronised the local sportsmen, finding both cricketers and footballers a good playing field in Bottom Green Meadows which are now bisected by [[New Road]].    A small pavilion was built there and the field was in regular use until well into the first World War when players were called up.
+Edward Carter was a wealthy young city merchant and shipper and very soon patronised the local sportsmen, finding both cricketers and footballers a good playing field in Bottom Green Meadows which are now bisected by [[New Road]].    A small pavilion was built there and the field was in regular use until well into the first World War when players were called up.
 Then around 1918, William Saunders, not to be out-done by a 'city gent' offered the clubs the use of his home pasture, now known as 'Front Field' between Stocken Farmhouse and Main Road, where Dick West built his bungalow '[[Cotswold]]'. Although Mr. Saunders soon repented of his generosity, he found he had lent the players the handiest little field on the farm for a calving cow or a sick bast, but the little pavilion was moved there and they continued to enjoy his hospitality until about 1921.

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 In earlier times, a wagonette had been used to take players to away matches but now a lorry was hired and about 1s 6d collected from each player so that a modest profit was usually returned at the end of the season.  The minutes of 1923 however reveal an interesting social change - many of the younger players now had motor-cycles and there was a loss for the year on transport of £2 16s 6d. The lorry hire was to be given up and if necessary a taxi hired from Charlie Witcher.  Many familiar village names recur again and again in the minutes and batting averages, etc. Names such as :- [[Adams]], [[Baker]], [[Biggs]], [[Barefoot]], [[Boorman]], Brown, [[Chilton]], Darville, [[Dell]], [[Ginger]], Gregory, [[Hickman]], [[Janes]], [[Lacey]], May, [[Rixon]], [[Saunders]], [[Tilbury]], Weller and so on, names which are often carried by a younger generation though happily a few of the originals are still with us.
-In 1933, William Saunders, the Clubs landlord, died. [[Stocken Farm]] was bought by Ernest Smith of Naphill, who let it the following year to [[Dick & Hilda West]]. A considerable acreage of Stocken Farm was taken over during the war for an airfield which also spread over the Sports Field. This was released early in 1946, just in time for cricket though the ground was in poor condition.
+In 1933, William Saunders, the Club's landlord, died. [[Stocken Farm]] was bought by Ernest Smith of Naphill, who let it the following year to [[Dick & Hilda West]]. A considerable acreage of Stocken Farm was taken over during the war for an airfield which also spread over the Sports Field. This was released early in 1946, just in time for cricket though the ground was in poor condition.
 The committee at that time had a great ambition to own their own ground and an approach was made to Mrs Millward about a piece of ground at [[The Windmill]], and to [[Harry Floyd]] respecting land behind the [[Village Hall]]. A deputation also waited on Ernest Smith who owned large tracts of land in the area. But all to no avail, land in 1946 was just not for sale!
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 [[File:Geoffrey Bateman .jpg|left|thumb]]
 [[File:Geoffrey Bateman 02.jpg|thumb]]
-Dick and Hilda West bought Stocken Farm from Ernest Smith in 1948 and in October that year a special committee meeting was called to consider the offer by Dr and Mrs. Bateman of a gift of the field that the Cub then rented. In the event, to ensure that the land remained as inalienable as possible, the Batemans retained the freehold which they had purchased from Dick West and presented the Club with a 99 year lease at the annual rent of two peppercorns. A formal presentation of the lease was made by the Club's generous Patrons in the presence of Dr Bleadon at a public ceremony on the field on 30th July 1949.
+Dick and Hilda West bought Stocken Farm from Ernest Smith in 1948 and in October that year a special committee meeting was called to consider the offer by Dr and Mrs. Bateman of a gift of the field that the Club then rented. In the event, to ensure that the land remained as inalienable as possible, the Batemans retained the freehold which they had purchased from Dick West and presented the Club with a 99 year lease at the annual rent of two peppercorns. A formal presentation of the lease was made by the Club's generous Patrons in the presence of Dr Bleadon at a public ceremony on the field on 30th July 1949.
 Work on improving the ground could now go ahead with an enthusiasm hitherto undreamed of. The bottom hedge was laid at a cost of £5 a chain and in 1951 a second-hand pavilion was purchased from Princes Risborough Parish Council for £170. How the mammoth task of transporting this building on a borrowed lorry, its rebuilding by volunteer labour and subsequent enlargement and improvement was all accomplished, makes an epic story on its own.