Didsbury Cricket Club;                                                                     author Peter Pearson.

A brief History    
                                          
The Club was founded in 1858 and originally played on a leased ground now partly covered by Beaver Road School. This land was sold for housing development at the end of the 19th century forcing a move to the present ground at East Didsbury.

The Ground at East Didsbury was also on a lease and the owners decided in 1923 to sell it, again for housing development. Having nowhere else to go the club developed a plan to buy the land by forming the Didsbury Cricket Club Ground Company Limited in 1924 in which people, mainly members bought shares.
The required sum of £1700 was raised to make the purchase and the ground company exists today, having provided proved its worth several times particularly in raising capital to build the new pavilion and also to add extensions to the club house.

The old wooden pavilion opened in1900, was destroyed in an arson attack on the 3rd of April 1981.Aspecial sub-committee was formed to plan and build a new pavilion.
This was on a much more ambitious scale than the old one and was opened to members on the 23rd of December 1982, a tremendous achievement considering the capital to be raised, architects appointed, plans approved, land sold and a contractor employed.

During Hostilities
In 1939 just after the outbreak of World War II it was recorded in the Minutes of the General meeting “that due to the grave national emergency the forthcoming darts match would be cancelled”
Formal Cricket competitions were also cancelled for the duration, friendly games only being played. Games were staged to raise funds for war charities, involving such teams as 
The North of England, London Counties, Lancashire and the Royal Air Force. These games attracted large crowds to watch leading players such as Leary Constantine, George Duckworth, George Pope and Winston Place.
Examples of funds raised from these games:-
1940 £64.4s.0d - The War Comforts Fund.
1940.£27.0s.3d – for The red Cross.
1943. £207.0s.61/2d for the War relief Fund.
1943 £1535.1s.1d for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Benefit Matches
 Games involving the Cricket Writers Association, usually lead by E.W. Swanton were played, mostly on the vacant test match Sunday, to raise funds for the Lancashire beneficiary of that year, Many famous players have played on the ground, Leary Constantine, Jack Fingleton, Bill ORielly ..
As many as 5000 spectators have been recorded at the ground to cram in to watch benefit matches for Cyril Washbrook, Dick Pollard, Brian Statham, Jack Bond, Ken Higgs and in last such game Peter Lever.
In recent times although not for benefit games; Didsbury have seen in action on the ground England internationals Mark Butcher. Glen Chapple  and local Lancashire favourite Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff.

Didsbury CC People
George Harold White loomed large over the club in the first half of the 20th Century. He was treasurer 1902-04. Secretary 1905-35, Captain of the 1st team 1911-27, Alderman of the City of Manchester from 1937. Lord Mayor in 1940 and a JP.
He was a member for 53 years from 1900.

Richard B. Atty is the longest  serving current member having been elected on ther 28th April 1951.He has served the club as President and is now a life member. His father and Grand Father were members, the latter being a committee member before WW1.

Didsbury  Cricket Trophies.

The Club Joined the Manchester and District Cricket Association in 1906 and won the Stockton Trophy (Championship) in 1933, 1948, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1983, and 1998.

The HC Smith Cup was won at Old Trafford in 1975.

The Cricket Section left the MDCA in 1999 and in the annus mirabilis of 2001 won the County League Premiership, The Cup and the Cheshire Cup.

Didsbury CC Today
The Club has today a buoyant and successful 5 senior teams and 4 junior sides playing in the differing league structures of local cricket in South Manchester and Cheshire.

Today’s Club is made up of Didsbury Cricket Club, Manchester Waconians Lacrosse Club and Didsbury Greys Hockey Club and the Social Section that is vital to the overall wellbeing of today’s Didsbury Cricket Club.

(If you have any items that can be added to the club history please do not hesitate to contact the webmaster or club officers.)

Thanks to the Manchester City Libraries, Manchester Archives and Local Studies.http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk