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SLIGHTLY re-arrang-ing the words of awell-worn phrase,it’s not just cricket…

Though the Fortfield isknown locally, nationallyand even globally as thehome of SidmouthCricket Club, it is alsohome to tennis and cro-quet.

And before hockey be-gan to be played on syn-thetic turf, that was con-tested there, too, when theclub was known as Sid-mouth Cricket, Tennis,Croquet and Hockey Club.

The hockey part wasdropped when the Sidmouthand Ottery clubs merged acouple of years ago to be anindependent entity, althoughteams still stage post-matchhospitality at Fortfield.

But it is cricket that occu-pies centre stage on aground described by well-loved cricket commentatorHenry Blofeld as ‘one of themost beautiful in the coun-try’ after he stayed a nightat the adjacent BelmontHotel during one of his one-man-show tours.

The ground, and its tim-ber-clad, thatched pavilion, issteeped in history, too, andwhen a Sidmouth team went

on a tour to Nottinghamshirein 1989 and met the eminentcricket historian, PeterWynne-Thomas, at TrentBridge he said that the club,formed in 1823, was amongthe 20 oldest in the country.

A quirk of history is thatalthough Sidmouth has al-ways been well inside the De-von border it was the place in1875 where Somerset CountyCricket Club was, if not born,certainly conceived.

That was prompted by avictory over The Gentlemenof Devon by The Gentlemenof Somerset with the win-ning players committing toform the county side.

While it cherishes its tra-dition, Sidmouth CC hasstriven to move with the

times and has become one ofthe pre-eminent forces inDevon cricket, with the fo-cus on the Francis Clark De-von League in which threeteams are fielded.

Though a respected De-von club, Sidmouth was nota founder member of theLeague but joined in theyear after its inceptionwhen it became clear goodfixtures against other lead-ing sides in the county hadbeen lost.

Until 1990 Sidmouth en-joyed generally good for-tunes in the League’s top di-vision, winning it once in1988. From 1990 to 2007 theclub yo-yoed between thePremier and ‘A’ Divisions.

Then in 2007 came an un-precedented run of successfor the club at the highestlevel.

While the Second XI hadbeen a dominant force in itsPremier Division the firstteam had never been able toreplicate it at the higherlevel.

The maturing of a num-ber of young players, whohad prospered in the club’svibrant Colts section, helpedthe club win promotionfrom the ‘A’ Division andthen become Premier Divi-sion champions for the nextthree years, doing theLeague and Cup double ontwo occasions.

Now the club boasts theDevon captain, Josh Bess, inits squad and the countyregularly considers three ofhis team-mates, Liam Lewis,Scott Barlow and CharlieMiles for selection.

Adam Dibble became the

first Sidmouth player sinceFrank Irish, in the early1950s, to go on to play forSomerset, although othershave come to Sidmouth aftercareers with the Cidermenside.

This year, Adam Dibble’ssister, Jodie, became thefirst Sidmothian to play forEngland when she was se-lected against West Indiesin the Women’s WorldTwenty20.

Going into yesterday’smatch at North Devon, thefirst team was the only un-beaten side in the PremierDivision and is targetinganother League and Cupdouble.

The Seconds continue tobe a competitive member ofits division and Third XIplayers Graham Munday

and Robbie Powell have justset a League partnershiprecord of 325 after comingtogether for the secondwicket with the score at 0-1.

Key to the club’s standingis its ground, currently un-der the auspices of ColinWhitehall. The playing condi-tions he creates complementthe idyllic coastal siting.

Sides from all over theworld, who visit to play inan extensive midweekcricket programme, con-tinue to marvel at a locationwhich enjoyed exposure onSky tv during the 2012 Ashesseason when a number ofAustralian club sides werehosted.

Devon county sides of allage groups and both sexesplay games at the Fortfieldand an upcoming highlight

is the three-day Minor Coun-ties match against the cur-rent champions, Cheshire,starting on Sunday, July 6.The following Sunday, July13, Cheshire are back again,this time for the semi-final ofthe Unicorns Cup one-daycompetition.

The golden age of cricketin Sidmouth is said to havebeen in the 1920s when lumi-naries such as Sir JackHobbs, a candidate for anybest-ever England team, andFrank Woolley graced theground.

Other great names suchas West Indian RichieRichardson and SouthAfrican Barry Richardshave since played at theFortfield but there is a feel-ing that now there is a newgolden age.

dv ☎ sports desk (01579) 341 862 (wed-sat) ☎ fax (01579) 341 851 53Sunday Independent June 29, 2014

advertising feature . . . CRICKET

FORTRESS FORTFIELD: The Sidmouth first team who played at NorthDevon in the Francis Clarke Devon League’s Premier Division yesterdayand will be at home to Bovey Tracey on Saturday. Back row, left toright: Nick Gingell, Charlie Miles, Josh Bess, Dan Babula, AnthonyGriffiths, and Will Sobczak; front: Tony Denny (scorer), PeteRanderson, Will Murray (captain), Liam Lewis, and Matt Cooke

Picture: Paul Clayden

SPONSORS’ SIDE: The Brewin Dolphin sidewho were successful in a recent charity matchat Sidmouth. Back row, left to right: JamesEvans (Foot Anstey), Richard Pike, JamesOsborne, Sean Priestley, Ed Fowler (StephensScown), and Richard Wheeler (SouthernhayFinancial Planning); front: Stephen Walker(Ashfords), Graham Cridland (Ashfords), AndyWelch (Francis Clark), Richard King, (Tozers),and Kirill Kruchinin (Ashfords)

Picture: Guy Richardson

by Chris Gray

SIDMOUTH CC

BLOFELD RATES GROUNDAS ‘MOST BEAUTIFUL’

A WORTHY cause was bowled over when theyreceived a cheque for £500 raised at a charitycricket match.

The event, held at Sidmouth Cricket Club, wasorganised by Sean Priestley, assistant director of theBrewin Dolphin Wealth Management Company’sExeter office, who is a long-term player and memberof the club.

The Exeter office of Brewin Dolphin, one of the UK’slargest independently-owned private client wealthmanagers, chose the Children’s Hospice South Westas their charity of the year 2014 and has raised morethan £2,500.

Brewin Dolphin Directors and staff donned theirwhites and challenged Kitsons Solicitors to aTwenty20 match in aid of charity.

Said Tim Walker, divisional director and head ofoffice at Brewin Dolphin Exeter: ‘We are delighted tobe shirt sponsor of Sidmouth Cricket Club and thankthem for their support at this charity event.

‘Although on the day we were the winning team, thereal and deserving winners are CHSW.’

Sponsors raise £500

For more information, please contact Sean Priestley on 01392 440 450 or emailsean.priestley@brewin.co.uk

www.brewin.co.uk/exeter

Brewin Dolphin is proud to sponsor Sidmouth Cricket Club

The value of investments can fall and

you may get back less than you invested.

Brewin Dolphin Limited is a member of the London Stock Exchange, and is authorised and regulated

by the Financial Conduct Authority(Financial Services Register reference number: 124444).

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