The Ground
It was a field at the side of the colliery, overgrown
with weeds and rubbish and although the ground
work started late in 1919 and the following year
1920. At the bottom of the field was the colliery
sidings, at the top was the allotment gardens,
colliery buildings on one side, and a large field
at the other side. The area was 100yds by slightly
over 100yds.
A plan of campaign was drawn up, it sloped from
the gardens down to the railway sidings so the
wicket was levelled in the centre, rubbish and
weeds were cleared dozens of would be players
and officials worked from dawn until dusk.
The wicket table was levelled, quantity of soil
brought from Orgreave Coke Ovens site was used
to fill in any Hollows, and for the wicket, and
all available soil was put on below the wicket
to make the slope more gradual.
J.W.Cummings the milk man used his horse Tom to
pull the roller to level off the wicket in the
early spring of 1921, every able body was invited
to come and assist, site screens had to be made.
Much money had to be raised, to buy cricket tackle,
machines for the outfield and of course the wicket.
From the meeting in 1919, concerts, jumble sales,
raffles etc, deeds performed by the ladies, who
from the beginning up to present day have worked
hard.
1921
In January of 1921 the first committee was formed
and the officials were.
Mr A. J. Winspear - Chairman
Mr Tom Rossington - Secretary
Mr C Frost - Treasurer
W. Walker - 1st X1 Captain (butcher by trade)
A. Haynes - Vice Captain (miner)
H. Stewart - 2nd X1 Captain (colliery electrical
engineer)
T. Rossington - Vice Captain (office worker)
Groundsman Mr Rossington (known as Bit) he only
had one arm, the other only had a hook, on, why
Bit. Also Mr J Royle.
It was indeed Mr Rossington who first dressed
the wicket with ground up clay. Today marl is
used.
The colliery (Orgreave) was to make a pavilion,
and there is no doubt that the brains behind it
would be the chairman Mr A Winspear. Also Sir
Walter-Benton Jones he was to hold the office
of President of the club.
The work continued on the ground and the wicket
was ready for use, for J.W.Cummins had made sure
his horse Tom did its work well by fastening cloth
and sacking on its hoofs so it would not damage
the wicket.
The site screens and the pavilion were in place
by April 1921, although the pavilion was to be
opened officially in July by Mr W Kyle of the
Grange Treeton. Also present was the Manager of
Treeton and Orgreave Collieries.
Treeton 1st X1 was to play in the Wales and District
League and the 2nd X1 in the C Division of the
Sugg League.
The
season started with both teams playing away.
1st
X1 v Hartill
W. Walker - captain
A. Haynes - vice captain
B. Littlewood
A. Winspear
H. Rossington
A. Wright
F. Pye
J. Cummings
E. Cutts
H. Uttley
G. Walton
2nd
X1 v Stocksbridge
H. Stewart - captain
T. Rossington - vice captain
H. Cope
C. Pashley
S. Manship
A. Tinkler
S. Winspear
F. Hansen
H. Morgan
P. Manship
T. Pashley
The
club had purchased some tackle, Clem Pashley and
H Morgan was elected to see this, they went to
Sugg sports shop and bought bats at the price
of 3 shillings and sixpence, others at 40 shillings
and sixpence. The first match was on May 1st 1921.
The 1st X1 travelled to Harthill. Harthill were
the league winners in 1920 and Treeton won by
8 wickets.
The 2nd X1 playing at Stocksbridge were all out
for 28 and lost to the score of 29 for 9. Stocksbridge
were 23 for 9 a straight drive was thought to
have crossed the boundary. A Treeton player just
flogged after it, the batsman carried on running
and ran six to win the match.
