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Following a late entry into league cricket in 1988, Henley Cricket Club has emerged as one of the leading clubs in the Home Counties.
The club runs four sides on Saturdays, with the 1st Xl competing in the Home Counties Premier League and the 2nd 3rd and 4th Xl sides competing, from 2007, in the Thames Valley League. We also run a Sunday side playing against a mixture of local village sides and leading wandering clubs. The Club also enters the National Club Knockout and takes part in the Oxfordshire Cup, a countywide 20 over Competition.
Henley Cricket Club has a comprehensive youth policy with a large number of professional coaches who coach a colt's section of up to 200 youngsters between the ages of 7 and 17. Competitive matches, at all age groups, are run each season.
The club is also heavily involved in bringing cricket to most of the primary schools in the Henley area. At the last count we were providing coaching in 8 local schools, plus a club/school partnership with Gillotts School.
As well as West country tours, we have enjoyed 3 major overseas tours in recent years, visiting Barbados, Capetown and, most recently, Sri Lanka.
Our ground is considered to be one of the prettiest in England and our dedicated grounds men have developed a fine wicket allowing us to host representative cricket from Under 11's to Minor Counties.
The club prides itself on being exceptionally friendly and sociable, with our mid-summer Marquee Ball on the riverbank being the hottest ticket in town!
Henley Cricket Club welcomes all new members, both players and social members. Please come and join us.
Henley Cricket Club was founded by Archibald and George Brakspear in 1869, with a ground at Barn Cottage, Remenham Lane [the old pavilion can still be seen in the cottage garden]. This was a club for gentlemen and so in 1886 Henley Town Cricket Club was formed for the working man and they played at the present ground in Matson Drive.
The Great War ended cricket for both clubs and it was not until 1931 that Henley Cricket Club was reformed by Bill Brakspear and he had the grounds man, Lew Rose, build the pavilion which still stands to this day.
As the Brakspear family involvement declined and the Brewery sides ceased to Participate, in 1974 the brewery granted Henley CC a 30 year lease on the ground. As the end of that lease approached it appeared that the ground might be used for some other purpose than cricket, however, after protracted negotiations the club was offered the opportunity to purchase the ground and after much fundraising this was completed in December 2005.
After many years of playing friendly cricket, the club decided, rather belatedly, to embark on league cricket in 1988 and has made extraordinary progress in the two decades that have followed this decision.
The Club initially joined the 3 Counties League and rapidly progressed through the divisions to become league champions in 1994. We then moved to the Cherwell League and eventually won the first division title in 1999, so winning promotion to the Western Feeder League of the newly formed Home Counties Premier League. Two short years later we were again Champions and so promoted to the First Division.
We have consistently finished in the top half of the table and in 2004 we won the Championship, just 16 years after setting out on our journey!
We have come a long way since 1974!
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