The pre-war years were a golden period for Radlett, first under Fred Watson’s inspired captaincy (1910-12) and then under G. E. Timins (1912-13).
This newspaper clipping from the 23rd August 1919 edition of the Slough, Eton and Windsor Observer shows the probable Herts team to play Bucks in a two day match the following week. It includes Radlett’s G G Dumbleton and also L J Reid who joined Radlett in the early 1920s.
The Nineties were a time of great achievement for the Club both on and off the field. It was a decade when the Club could rightly call itself the best in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire League Champions in ’89, ’91, ’95, ’96, ’97. Knockout cup winners in ’94, and ’97.
The Club was also preparing itself for changes that would have to come in the way cricket at Club level was organised by the new England and Wales Cricket Board, of which our own John Carr was Director of Cricket Operations.
The core of the 1st XI remained throughout the first half of the nineties; Blundell (Captain) Robinson, Edwards and Hanson. Indeed Hanson was still playing well into the next millennium with Robinson and Edwards also performing at a good level into the 2010s. Blundell stopped playing regularly because of a back injury but continued his partnership with President, Fred Taylor and between them they built Radlett into a phenomenal force in cricket in the South East of England. So successful were they that when the ECB invited clubs to join the new Home Counties Premier League in 1999, Radlett were on top of their list because of performances and facilities.
At the beginning of the decade, there was no sign of what was to come by the end of the decade. Radlett was still a sleepy backwater of Hertfordshire cricket, stuck in the mid to lower reaches of the then Bryan Hertfordshire League. There were however two new recruits to the club in about 1983, both from the Middlesex League; Martin Edney from Brondesbury and Roger Morgan from Hampstead.
Both these players were near the end of their playing days but brought with them a wealth of experience and contacts. Edney encouraged his ex team mate and also a former captain of Brondesbury, Mark Blundell to join the Club in 1986. Morgan took over as 1st XI captain in 1987 and also encouraged an experienced keeper batsman, Richard Baker to join.
Combine these players with established members like David Hanson, Dave Hickman, Ian Holland, Andrew Radcliffe and the signs of a more than competent team were emerging. It should be stated that in the early eighties Ian Holland had been captain and had worked tirelessly for the club without either the success or recognition he deserves. He was a fine left arm seam bowler and competent batsman on the field as well as a good administrator off of it.
Apart from a poor year in ’74 when Radlett left the Herts Competition to join a breakaway league of 16 clubs (which became the Bryan Grasshopper League), the early and mid ’70s were a strong period: 21 wins against five losses in ’72 and in ’73, the firsts’ best ever season, 23 wins and nine defeats. The picture is of the 1973 team.
Results of some midweek 20 over cup matches (click on result for scorecard):
| Date | Opponents | Venue | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 13 Jun 1973 | Old Albanians | Home | JAL Cricket KO Trophy | Won |
| Wed 21 Jun 1978 | Old Albanians | Away | Herts Advertiser KO Trophy | Won |
| Thu 12 Jul 1979 | Old Albanians | Home | Herts Advertiser KO Trophy | Won |
Awaiting further content.
The years 1950-63 were Leslie King’s as first team skipper. John Cutts captained the seconds from 1951-59, taking over from E. W. ‘Hutch’ Hutchings, who was promoted to first team vice-captain.
‘Hutch’ was the Club’s raconteur and leg-spinner. In his late forties he would wear shin pads to field as bending was a problem. And he was always immaculately dressed. Blazers were quite the fashion and players used to “dress” to go up to the Clubhouse.
His successor, Cutts, took his responsibility for match teas very seriously and often used to disappear at 4.30 pm. to check they were being made. If he did not return, he was making them.
The early ‘fifties recorded many draws and few losses (just three in 1953 out of 32 played).
Radlett’s bar, a large hatch in those days, was run single-handed by Evo Sanger from 6 p.m. until the last customer left on match days. She was a small woman and her head came just above the bar top. Musical accompaniments were provided by her husband Ronnie, vice-captain of the seconds and a dab hand at a rugby song.
After the Second World War, Radlett was fortunate to have a band of players who also worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the viability of the club. They were Leslie King, Ivor Golby and Chris Dexter.
Thanks to the influence of Leo Reid, four minor counties matches were played at Radlett’s ground at Porters Park (picture left taken around 1931) between 1929 and 1934. Other Radlett men to be honoured by the county included steady R H Baucher (ex-captain of Harrow), dashing Peter Woodbridge and R Postill, a very fast bowler who taught at Aldenham school.
At the end of the lease in 1937, the ground was required by Shenley hospital for the use of its own staff and the club was without a home. Miles Brunton came to the rescue by buying some land on Cobden Hill for £1,000 and letting it to the club for 99 years at a most favourable rent. A fair was held which raised £100 and enabled work to begin on a new pavilion. That rough field has now become our fine cricket ground, admired by the Australian test team when they played on it in 1993.
The early 30s were a lean period. Shortage of players had much to do with the 20 first team wins out of 99 games played — and only two wins in 1931 and in ’32. But this did not stop some players from blossoming, notably R. Postill, a master at Aldenham School, who was “the fastest bloke I’ve ever seen” according to a new recruit in 1934, 17-year-old Ivor Golby who in 1984 played his 51st season. And there were also the Woodbridges — father Bob and son Peter.
Little is known of the early ’20s, only that Leonard Reid, Herts captain for several years, joined the Club. He and Miles Brunton, both first team captains, were to see that the Club prospered.
Despite two changes of location, the club made great strides forward between the two world wars. It changed from being a modest village set-up to being one of the leading clubs in the county. Much credit for this is due to Miles Brunton (after whom the current ground is named), Leo Reid and Bob Woodbridge.
The old ground at Newberries which had been restored to use after the First World War, proved too small by then modern standards. In 1928, the club seized the opportunity of moving to a magnificent ground on the Porters Park estate.
The cricket ground had been built by Cecil Raphael in 1909 to the same dimensions as the Surrey Oval. The site is better known today as Shenley Cricket Centre. The estate had been sold to Middlesex County Council for development as a mental hospital. The council gave the club a 10 year lease of the ground at £10 per year. The ground had not been used since before the First World War and had deteriorated to little more than open pasture. However, club members set to work and amazingly it was in full use by mid-season, 1928.
Fixtures increased rapidly. 1903 saw 26, 1906 33 games and 1907 42 games. Results were poorish in the mid 1900s, particularly in 1907 when the 1st XI lost 12 out of 20 matches (however, the club did manage to play a total of 42 matches).
Existing records state that, “wet Saturdays without even the element of warmth militated against the talents of many of the Club’s members, at least this seems to have been the excuse – why is should not have been the same for the opposing teams is a little astonishing”.
The best player at this time was the opening bat, G G Dumbleton, from the large house at Organ Hall, who appeared for the County fairly regularly from 1902 to 1912. Mostly, he averaged over 20; in 1904 he headed the county batting averages with 38.83.