Hampshire Guides and Handbooks

THE HAMPSHIRE CRICKETERS’ GUIDE

Introduction

Nearly every County Cricket Club currently issues an annual publication covering the previous and current year with a variety of titles. For Hampshire it is currently called the Hampshire Handbook. The first county to issue such a publication was Kent in 1878 with the Kent County Cricket Club (commonly called the Blue Book). The second being Surrey in 1882 with the Surrey County Cricket Club.

                                  The third county was Hampshire issuing The Hampshire Cricketer’s Guide in 1885.

1885   

This first edition was published by Geo. Buxey, “Observer Office”, 21, Bridge Street, Southampton.  

It was approximately 4 x 5 inches with a dark brown cloth cover and cost six pence. 

The Guide is edited and compiled by George Bagshaw, Hon. Sec. The Ordnance Survey Cricket

Club. The purpose of the Guide was to document the history and memories associated with cricket played in and for Hampshire.

The Guide is “Respectfully Dedicated to W. W. B. Beach, Esq., M.P.,

        President of the Hampshire County Cricket Club from 1868 to 1884, By Permission.”

        The Hon. Sec. J. Fellowes, Major, R.E. opens his Preface:

        “Following the example of other Counties, I am issuing “THE

         HAMPSHIRE CRICKETER’S GUIDE” in the hope that it may be of some use in making Cricket more popular in the County, and thus,

         perhaps, bringing the County to its old position”

         The latter comment refers to the fact that Hampshire lost their first-class status, which was not reinstated till 1895. They also relocated

         from the Antelope Ground to the new County Ground. 

         The President was The Earl of Northesk with eleven Vice-Presidents.

         The area committees were listed followed by the Match Committee, Captain – Mr A. H. Wood, Hon. Treasurer – Mr R. Bencraft and

         Hon. Secretary – Major J. Fellowes R.E.  

         There follows a one-page summary HAMPSHIRE – 1885 and the Results of Matches (played 8, won 2, lost 6) and the Batting and

         Bowling averages for 1884. Two performances stand out. F.E. Lacey scored 211 against Kent, the highest score in County Matches. He went on to

score 92 not out in the second innings and had an average for the year of 75.4. 

The other was a team total of 645 against Somersetshire, the second highest on record.

         The fixtures for 1885 are listed followed by the scorecards for each match in 1884. The last being Gentlemen of Philadelphia v. Gentleman

          of Hampshire (won by the Gentlemen of Hampshire).  There is a List of Clubs situate within the County showing their

          Officers and details. Of note: Portsmouth (Borough) Captain, Dr. A.C. Doyle.

         Notable Batting and Bowling Performances of Hampshire Cricketers.  (H.N. Dumbleton scores 325 for Royal Engineers against Royal     

          Marines).  Then a page on 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment Season. 1884 (played 9 won 4, lost 2 drawn 3).

    The Cricket Diary 1885 follows taking up many pages. Then The Laws of Cricket, Laws of County Cricket. There are four of these latter laws

         established in June 1873 at a meeting in the Surrey County Pavilion.

        Cricket Diary for 1885 for completion. Lastly a few pages for Memoranda and Addresses.

          At the back of the Guide are 34 pages of advertisements.

1886   

Second year. Dark brown cloth cover and price of sixpence, but this year printed by the Southampton Times Steam Printing Works, 

Note: The apostrophe has moved from Cricketer’s to Cricketers’. A brief table of Contents is also included.

         The Preface by Lt.-Col. Fellowes opens “At the request of a large number of Secretaries of Cricket Clubs, and others, I am again

         issuing the HAMPSHIRE CRICKETERS’ GUIDE”. He thanks Mr. J. Burgess Brown (the Editor of the Kentish Cricketers’ Guide)

         “for his kindness in allowing me to take his Guide as my model”.

         The President was The Earl of Northesk with thirteen Vice-Presidents.

         The area committees were listed followed by the Match Committee,

          Captain – Mr A. H. Wood, Hon. Treasurer – Dr. R. Bencraft and Hon. Secretary – Lieut.-Col. J. Fellowes R.E.  

          A two-and-a-half-page summary again headed HAMPSHIRE-1885.

          “It cannot be denied that the first step for the real resuscitation of County Cricket has been taken in the acquisition of a permanent

          headquarters at Southampton.”. It goes on to say that the site was nine acres with a handsome pavilion and replete with all the necessary

          accommodation for members and cricketers. “On the occasion of the opening of the Ground, on May 8th and 9th, a Grand Bazaar was held,

          opened by the Countess of Northesk” and the substantial sum of £177.15s. 9d. was realised.”

There follows a review of the season and matches. After which comes a list of fifteen Hampshire Umpires headed by H. Holmes of Totton, Hants with an asterisk saying “Holmes Benefit, July 2 and 3 Hampshire v. Hertfordshire, at the County Ground”.

Hampshire Results of Matches. County: played 10, won 2, lost 8. Club: played 7, won 2, lost 2, drawn 3.

         Batting and Bowling Averages in 1885

         Last Year’s Matches

         Fixtures 1886

         List of Clubs

         Notable Bowling Performances of Hampshire Cricketers, 1885

         Notable Batting Performances of Hampshire Cricketers (one double century A. Banbury 216 for South Hampshire Rovers)

         Cricket Diary 1886

         The Laws of Cricket.  As amended by the MCC 1884

         Laws of County Cricket

         Cricket Diary for 1886 (for completion)

1887

Third year. Light brown cloth cover and price of sixpence, printed by A.J. Dyer “Hampshire Independent” Office, Southampton.

         Contains a full list of Contents for the first time, however the Contents are not in the same sequence as the Guide:

          The first List of Advertisers. There are fifteen advertisements at the front of the Guide and thirty-five at the end and one on the

back cover. Plus four interspersed totalling fifty-five.

         The Preface starts with “I am glad to say that there was a larger demand for the Guide last year, but still, financially, it has not

         been a success”.  It ends with “Before this Edition will be out of the hands of the Press I shall have retired from the post of Hon.   

         Sec. to the H.C.C. Club, owing to circumstances over which  Ihave no control”. (The circumstances being his military appointment).

         The first sentence under HAMPSHIRE-1886 is “There was nothing in the season’s cricket to call for any special comment.”

         A new wing has been added to the pavilion and a concrete pitch has been laid down to practice on a fast wicket.

         Results of Matches. County Matches: played 10, won 3, lost 6, drawn 1. Other Matches: played 10, won 4, lost 1, drawn 5.

         Three centuries recorded in the averages: F.E. Lacey 185, Dible 114, E.O. Powell 111.

         President Mr. A.H. Wood, Treasurer and Secretary unchanged. No note of Club Captain.

         List of Fixtures has, in addition, the fixtures for Northlands Rovers Cricket Club, of which Lt.-Col. Fellowes is Secretary

         (pro. tem.) and the ground is the County Ground.

          A new competition entitled the County Challenge Cup Competition was adopted in April 1887 and is added to the

          Preface as a P.S. The Cup was generously offered by the President  Mr A.H. Wood.

          The fixtures for the First Round of the Competition (in May) are printed followed by the Rules.

          The Laws of Cricket as amended by MCC 1884 and the Laws of County Cricket are included. 

1888       

Fourth year. Change of Secretary. Change of colour. Same size. Light red colour. Price sixpence.

Printed by A.J. Dyer, “Hampshire Independent “Office, Southampton

         The new Secretary, Russell Bencraft, opens the Preface with “At the request of a large number of Secretaries and others, I

         have decided to continue the publication of the Hampshire Cricketers’ Guide. Then the first line under HAMPSHIRE 1887 is

         “The Season, 1887, can hardly be said to be a brilliant one so far as Hampshitre is concerned.” It ends “There’s an old saying that “it’s

         a long lane that has no turning,” It’s been a long lane for Hampshire, but it is to be hoped we are near the end of it.”

         Results of County Matches: played 10, won 1, lost 8, drawn 1.

         Other Matches: played 7, won 2, lost 1, drawn 4.

         F.E. Lacey finished with an average of 66 helped by a highest score of 323* against Norfolk. E.G. Wynyard scored 237 in an

         innings for his regiment and 233 for Incogniti.

         President Mr. F. Ricardo, Treasurer Dr. Russell Bencraft, Secretary Dr. R. Bencraft and Mr. Hugh K. Grierson, Captain Mr. F.E. Lacey.

         For the first time an Executive Committee appears with twelve Members and a Ground Sub.-Committee of five.

For the first time the Guide contains Receipts and Expenditure and this extends back to 1868:

        Results of each round of the Challenge Cup Competition, 1887. 5th Round (Final) Ordnance Survey beat Basingstoke and won the Cup.  Fixtures for first round 1888 by June 9th.

1889           

Fifth year. Dark red cloth cover. Printed at the Southampton Times Steam Printing Works, 11, Above Bar. Price sixpence.

Similar content to previous year. Preface states the Guide “has now reached its fifth year, and without doubt it has proved to be of great value to Cricketers throughout the County.” The first sentence in the review of the season is “The Season 1888 has been no exception to the ill luck

attending the efforts of the County Club in the field – a solitary win over Norfolk being all that can be claimed.” It also states that the cost of the new ground has been paid off.At the bottom of the page it states:

CAB FARES.

From the Docks to the County Ground, 1s. 6d.

6d. extra for each person over two.

This is the first guide to contain page numbers, though not mentioned in the Contents. The page numbers reach 76 before the advertisements and diary at the end.

         President Mr. F. Ricardo, Treasurer Dr. Griffin, Secretaries: Dr. R. Bencraft & Mr. H.K. Grierson, Captain Mr. F.E. Lacey 

Results of County Matches: played 9, won 1, lost 5, drawn 3.

         Three centuries scored: Dible 188, H.W. Foster 125, C.R. Seymour 120.

        Challenge Cup Competition won by Winchester beating Portsmouth.

1890          

Sixth year. Dark red cloth cover. Printed at the “Southampton Observer” Office, 21, Bridge Street. Price sixpence.

Similar content to previous year.

  Preface by Russell Bencraft. Review of the year opens “It cannot be said that the tide of misfortune that has followed our County

         Eleven in the field of late years has yet turned, but there was evidently some improvement on the previous year.”

        Want of funds has greatly handicapped the County of late.

  Cab fares again mentioned, but page numbers have disappeared.

         President A.F. Jeffreys, Esq., M.P., Secretaries H.W.R. Bencraft and H.K. Grierson, Treasurer J. Griffin, Esq., M.D. Captain H.W. Forster, Esq.

         For the first time Auditors are mentioned Messrs. F.J. Blundell and C. Goldstone.

         Results of County Matches: played 10, won 1, drawn 3, lost 6.

         F.E Lacey tops the batting averages with 44 including 100*

         Followed by Dr. R. Bencraft with and innings of 195.

         Sergeant-Major Jeffkins scored 205 for Ringwood against Southsea Rovers

        No details of the 1889 matches in the Challenge Cup Competition. Just the first-round fixtures and winners since the competition commenced. 1889 Hartley Row.

         Two pages on The Southampton Public Parks Cricket Association. The Association was formed by an amalgamation of the ten Park

         Clubs, which participate in the ballot for the Grounds. Mr. G. Bagshaw, who first made the suggestion acted as Hon. Sec.

         The Parks was opened by a Grand Opening Match with a London Team, Waltham Green, and Mr. Tankerville Chamberlayne presented the Association with a magnificent silver-mounted Challenge Bowl, which was competed for by the Clubs affiliated to the Association. 

It was eventually won by Adelaide.

This was the first series of The Hampshire Cricketers’ Guide.  

 1891        No publication

The second series began in 1892.