HISTORY

‘Twas back in the Summer of 1990 when a nascent Limpley Stoke Cricket Club emerged on to the grassy plains of Odd Down to first put bat against ball. A drunken challenge issued by the formidable Drainage Systems CC was gallantly taken up by a motley crew from the public bar of The Hop Pole Inn, and the writers of cricketing folklore were about to commence a new chapter.

Needless to say, defeat was inevitable on that overcast opening night, but a belief and desire was born that assured success was soon to follow. Top scoring for the runners-up was the local shopkeeper, Mr. Closure, an unassuming left hand bat, but one who now had a thirst for Butcombe laced with victory. In the company of Captain Phillip Pearce, affectionately known as ‘The Man From Mars’, plans were hatched to carry this band of barflys to a permanent place on the fixture card of any CC worth its salt.

Greg Closure

	Together they ventured to the local sports emporium, where the skipper ‘knew a bloke’, and purchased every available piece of cricketing equipment from balls to bails to boxes. They even bought a rounders set in case they turned out to be useless at cricket. Surrounding themselves with loyal team men, rural stalwarts like ‘Sumo’ Dawson and Harold Bishop, they now had the building blocks for fame and glory.
'Sumo' Dawson
	The next great leap forward came with the arrival of ‘Rhino’ Roberts as landlord of the Hop Pole Inn. A cricketing fanatic, he threw open his doors and beer taps to the boys in white, and himself became a pivot in the team’s middle order. The pub’s exceedingly sociable hours provided all the hospitality they needed, and the founding fathers knew they had discovered their very own clubhouse.
Harold Bishop

The fixture list rapidly expanded. Captain Pearce ‘knew a bloke’ in Priston whose team were ready for a mighty challenge, and revenge on the Drainage boys was eagerly sought by all. In the Summer of ’91 they fought four intense battles, one of which stood out as a maiden victory coated in crispy vengeance.
	Howard Roberts

Word spread, the crowds arrived, and they all knew the scoreboard would continue ticking over for a thousand years to come. From fat cats to church mice, everyone now wanted to be a part of the famous Limpley Stoke Cricket Club.

Greg Closuit