Milton Cricket Club play in the village of Milton, just north of Cambridge. We are easily accessible with excellent facilities which include a club pavilion, two outdoor nets, a roll-on net, a bowling machine plus a professionally maintained square.
The club actively welcomes new members of all ages and abilities.
Milton CC History
Early Years
The Milton & District Cricket League is known to have been in existence as early as 1911. Teams taking part included Milton, Landbeach, Histon, Girton, Waterbeach, Lode, Bottisham, Willingham, Horningsea, Swavesey, Cottenham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior, Elsworth, Haddenham, Chittering, Wilburton, Stretham, Eversden, Bourn, Papworth, Teversham, Dry Drayton and Coton.
A handbook dated 1935 still exists, with a copy kept in the club room. There is also a club photograph held in the Milton Collection within the Cambridgeshire Collection at Shire Hall, Cambridge. Taken in the early 1900s, it shows the team of that era. When the Second World War began, the league was suspended and was not resumed after the war ended.
Reforming After the War
The Cambridgeshire Cricket Association was established in 1889 and played an important role in local cricket. In 1947, when most Milton men had returned from the war, Frank Burling and his brother Fred decided to reform the cricket club. A meeting was called, and it was agreed to enter a team into the Cambridgeshire league.
A large collection of the Association’s history is also held within the Cambridgeshire Collection, where records are available for anyone interested.
Years Without a Home Ground
When the club reformed, it did not have a suitable ground within the village. As a result, all home games were played at Parkers Piece, Jesus Green, or the Magdalene College Ground on Milton Road in Cambridge. As the league expanded and more town teams joined, pitches became increasingly difficult to hire, as town teams were given priority.
In 1950, the club decided to amalgamate with Landbeach, and games were played there for a short time. However, the pitch at Landbeach proved unsuitable for cricket, and with no regular ground available, the club withdrew from the league. Players subsequently joined various other clubs.
Between 1951 and 1965, Milton played only friendly matches, all of which were played away from the village.
Rebuilding the Club
In 1966, the club was reformed once again and entered the Cambridgeshire Minor League, playing all home games at Jesus Green in Cambridge.
By 1967, the team had strengthened and entered the Junior League. They left Jesus Green and began playing home matches at Impington Village College.
Establishing a Home and Growing Success
In 1968, Milton finally secured its own home ground within the village, using part of the Coles Road recreation ground. That same year, a 2nd XI was formed and entered into the Minor League.
The 1st XI achieved promotion to Division IV in 1971, followed by another promotion to Division III in 1973. The club enjoyed a successful period from 1977, and in 1978 the 2nd XI shared the Minor League Cup after a tied match with Thriplow II.
By 1981, the 1st XI had been promoted to Senior League 2, and in 1982 they won the Walker Invitation Cup at the first attempt. They went on to win the cup four more times and were also beaten finalists on two occasions. In 1996, they reached the final again, narrowly losing to Burwell by one run.
A Landmark Year
The year 2001 marked a pinnacle of success for Milton Cricket Club and stands as one of its most successful seasons. The foundations for this achievement had been laid three to four years earlier when Maurice Claydon-Wallace established a Colts team.
All three Colts sides—Under 10, Under 11 and Under 13—won their respective leagues. The 2nd XI and 3rd XI also built on this success, aided in part by Colts players, and achieved promotion for their teams.