Cricket club celebrates as it hits 200 not out

Walsall Cricket Club is preparing to celebrate its 200th anniversary with a series of events.

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The club is one of the oldest in the country. Founded in 1812, the Gorway Road club was originally based in Chuckery. During its history it has played host to an array of talent.

WG Grace, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest cricketers of all time, played against Walsall as his team famously travelled the country, and England stars Michael Atherton and Freddie Flintoff, played there in their younger days when the club's Gorway site played host for games between other sides, while Noddy Holder even frequented the ground as a youthful spectator.

As a founder member of the Birmingham League, the club remains the only one to never have been relegated from its Premier Division.

Former chairman and subscriptions treasurer Sam McFarlane, aged 62, who has been involved with the club for about 25 years, said it was a lovely place to be.

He said: "There are many others who have been associated with the club significantly longer than I have, it's that sort of club, and the game itself still remains popular.

We are really looking forward to celebrating this year. When the tickets went on sale for the Grand Ball they were sold out in a week."

The bi-centenary season will open with the first round of the Graham Williamson Trophy at home against Wellington on April 14, which will be seen off by Mayor of Walsall Councillor Garry Perry, and culminates with the Grand Ball on September 22.

The first cricket match for which details were recorded was on August 30, 1833, when the club entertained Bilston at the Chuckery. Walsall won by an innings and 20 runs.

It began its rise to pre-eminence in Midlands cricket in the 1970s, and the Youth Section in particular continued to flourish to the extent that the Sunlife Under 15s National

Knock Out Competition was won three years running in the early 1980s and the club continues to move from strength to strength today.