Shenfield Cricket Club: Club History

Club History

This was taken during the Inaugural Season

Shenfield Cricket Club was founded in 1921, the ground then being located opposite the Rose Inn.

The objects of the Club are exactly the same as when founded in 1921, and they are to provide facilities for the playing of cricket and such other ancillary activities, for the benefit of the members.

The Club moved to its present location adjacent to the Courage Playing Fields in the early 1930s.

The name of Courage has been synonymous with Shenfield Cricket Club since its inception, Raymond Courage being President until his death in 1952.

The mantle was then assumed by his son, Richard Courage, until 1978, when heavy business commitments as Chairman of Courage Breweries and an increasing level of civic duties led to him relinquishing his presidency. Richard Courage invited John Burrows to become our President and he remained in this position until his death in 2008. Read the article about John.

Michael Wright was elected as President in 2009, when he had been at the club for 60 years. He started very young! He has been Captain of the Saturday and Sunday Elevens, but now scores for the Saturday 1st XI as well as being Ground Manager and League Delegate.

The Club has good reason to be grateful to the Courage family, since at the time the Courage Playing Fields were gifted to Brentwood Council, a request was inserted that whilst a Shenfield Cricket Club was in existence, it should have the use of the ground that we now occupy. It is therefore apparent why the Club emblem is the 'Courage Cockerel'.

The original pavilion was used until 1967, when a new pavilion was built after much fundraising, ready for the 1968 season.

An extension was added in 1996, partly funded by a grant from the National Lottery, which was officially opened by the Rt. Hon Eric Pickles MP.