Cricket 1893

Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.5’— Byron . No. 3 2 8 v o l . xii. TTTTTRSDAYMAY1818G3 Registered for Transm ission A broad. 1 JH U A j IV-LxxA -LO, 1 0 ^ 0 P R I O E 2d» THE GRANVILLE (LEE) CLUB. S t a r t e d in 1866 in a very small way on Blacbheath on a pitch at the top of Granville Park, whence the club derives its name, for several years it plodded on without making much headway, in fact, the entire club com­ prised only about sixteen members, the whole of whom, bar one, were on the committee. A few years after, however, the club combined with the Montpellier C.C., and the newly organised body, still holding to the name of Granville, was able to secure a much improved pitch in a better position on Blackheath, near to that of the old Morden Club, against which team exciting games were played. In 1880 a step was taken which went far to show how the club had increased, for the committee decided, after a some­ what lengthy discussion, to make overtures for purchasing the lease of the enclosed ground at Lee then occupied by the Baring C.C. Large sums of money have been laid out from time to time both on the ground and pavilion, with the re­ sult that every reasonable comfort is offered to visiting teams, and, taken as a whole, there are few better managed clubs in the County of Kent, and no better wickets and outfielding round London. '1 he control of affairs is entrusted to a committee of eight, with cap­ tain, two vice-captains, two secre­ taries, and a treasurer (all ex officio ), a selecting committee of five, and a ground committee of the same number. The club’s most prominent players at the present time are Mr. W. Edwards (Kent), Mr. G. F. Gerds (Hant*), Mr. A. S. Johnston (Kssrx), Mr. C. J. M. Godfrey (Sussex), Mr. P. P. Lincoln, Mr. A. R. Layman, Mr. W. D. Morris, Mr. F. E. Lander, Mr. F. G. Bull, Mr. J. Wilson, and Mr. E. Furze. The various captains include Mr. F. Furze,. Mr. T. Downes, Mr. F. Furze, Mr. J. Wilson, jun., Mr. E. Rogers, Mr W. lidwards, and Mr. C. J. M. Godfrejvthe two last- named being county men. The club has been very f. rtunate in the choice of secretaries, 1he best known bein : Mr. T. Ferral Green, Mr. Pearse Morrison, Mr. ™ « i? h$8tou> Mr. H. George SmalJman, * L 10 ckhart> Mr- A. Lindlev, Mr. R. has 3'U8t gtam-up the cffice), and Mr. F. E. Glover. } For many years past the club has played cn the average about sixty matches each season, including a tour in Sussex, this latter having always proved the cause of great enjoyment to those concerned. There is a contest, nearly every Wednesday, and M.C.C. is played in the first week in July. Last season the record number *of nearly 10,000 runs were made by the club, a fact that goes far to prove how strong is the batting department. The highest scores that have been obtained for the club are 416 v. Hastings M r . C. J. M. GODFREY, Captaia tf Gi&LTil’e. and against it 404 for 4 wickets v. Clapton. The lowest fur the club, 39 v. Lewes; and against, 23 v. SiJcup. The highest individual score must be accredited to Mr. R. J. Pope, i.e., 189 v. Clapton. The bowling, however, is not so satisfactory, too much work being thrown upon the shoulders of two or three men* In wicket-keeping the club has at least two members who can hold their own with any amateur in the south .of London. The club has been a favourite one amongst Aus­ tralians whilst visiting London, and two or three famous cricketers from the Colonies have joined and rendered valuable aid. Tq Dr. R. J. Pope, the well-known Colonial, a debt of gratitude is due : to Mr. C. W. Hay­ ward, a gentleman who whilst home from Adelaide and when down from Oxford, was always to be found in the ranks of the club (we are pleased to see in Colonial papers that Mr. Hayward has since played for South Australia) ; and also to Mr. J. S. Clarkson, J.P., of Londop, and now of Croydon, North Queens­ land, a gentleman who for many years gave his best efforts to. biitfg about the successful management of the club. The social reputation enjoyed by the club has been well maintained by the dramatio entertainments and balls given annually, prin­ cipally owing to the indefatigable efforts of Messrs. A. R. Layman and Lewis. At the present moment numerous w’ell-known cricketers have joined its ranks, and it may be hoped that a long and successful future lies before it. The club has been for­ tunate in possessing for twelve years such a good bowler, bat, and groundman as Perch. But tbe suc­ cess of a cricket club, like that of every other organisation, depends on the ability as well as the zeal of its executive. Just now, the Granville C.C. is particularly for­ tunate in its skipper. Charles John Melville Godfrey is its captain, and a right good captain too, to quote from “ Pinafore.” One who has himself gone through every stage of the cricket curriculum , he is eminently fitted to be the guide, philosopher, and friend of young players. Though he has played for Sussex he is a Londoner by birth, having been born at Clapton on Nov. 24, 1862. Educated at Inverleigh House, St. Leonards, and subsequently at Magdalen Col­ lege School,at Oxford, he entered Hertford College at Oxford in 1881. Hertford at that time had a goodly array of athletes, among them li. Vassal!, If. B. Tristram, A. H. J. Ccchrane, and M C. Kemp. The Freshmen’s mutch of 1882 gave him his first chance in Oxford cricket. It was for the Sixteen Freshmen against the Eleven, though, that he first made Ms mark, and on this occasion he did the “ hat trick ” at the expense of W. A. Thorn­ ton, E. D. Shaw, and . Peake. His experi­ ence in the match against M.C.C. and G. that year was a remarkable one. His share