Beverley Town Cricket Club caters for cricketers of all ages with four senior Saturday teams, a 5th XI playing on a Sunday, and junior teams from Under 9s to Under 15s. The 1st XI won promotion to the Yorkshire League North for the first time ever in 2018 and the other four senior teams all compete in the York & District League with the 2nd XI in the Premier Division; the 3rd XI in Holderness Division 2; the 4th XI in Holderness Division 3 and the 5th XI in the Sunday Conference.
Although the club takes its cricket seriously Norwood is without doubt a welcoming family place with a strong social aspect and an emphasis on coaching and guiding local youngsters through to senior cricket. There are two and sometimes three generations of families involved at Norwood which is great for progression and development. The club, though, is open to anyone to join. Children start at five years of age on Monday evenings from April to August having fun and learning the basic skills with a soft ball. An Under 9 team play in soft ball tournaments before the natural progression to the serious hard ball stuff begins at Under 11. Under 13s, and 15s follow and the senior teams almost always include some players from these two junior sides.
The club plays a prominent role in the community, not least through its fundraising efforts for charity. In recent years the club have raised thousands of pounds for local and regional charities with members and friends going through some gruelling challenges. All money raised is shared between the club, which is itself a registered charity, and a charity partner.
The business community, in turn, has the opportunity to support the club through sponsorship and, as well as some major contributions from local business, there are a number of generous club members who offer regular financial support. Running such a large concern is costly and any offer of financial support through sponsorship, advertising and donation, as well as in kind support, is always gratefully received.
In recent years this continued local support and financial backing from the ECB has allowed the club to construct new outdoor nets; build a new second pitch pavilion; level the second pitch outfield; and refurbish the main pavilion.
All of this is a long way from the first recorded Beverley cricket team in the 1770s; matches on the Westwood; and then at the tiny ground on Mill Lane. Cricket has been played at Norwood for over 100 years and the centenary of sport there was marked by a number of events in 2009. In 2012 there were further celebrations when the modern club, formed at a meeting at the Royal Standard in 1862, reached the grand old age of 150.
The club is keen to attract new players who want to play good quality senior cricket as well as youngsters who want to take up the game. New supporters are always welcome; all matches are free to watch, and social members play an important part in the club too.
Anyone requiring further information on the club as either a prospective playing or social member should go to www.beverleycc.play-cricket.com where you will find contact details as well as fixtures, results and other useful information or simply turn up at Norwood.
