SLHCC vs MCC - Thursday 29th May 2025
Thursday 29th May 2025 will be a date remembered for many years by SLHCC and indeed the town of Stanford-le-Hope. It was the day that SLHCC played probably the most well-known cricket club in the world, Marylebone Cricket Club, in an all-day match at Stanford Rec. To be granted such a fixture is a rare honour and SLHCC was delighted to host an MCC team full of fine cricketers from the Home Counties, as it celebrated one hundred years of cricket being played at Stanford Recreation Ground.
For many months leading up to the match, a dedicated sub-committee under the leadership of Mark Nuttall worked on every aspect of the day. Prior to the matchday, every part of the clubhouse was scrubbed spotless with new club signs erected and some lovely hanging baskets were hung up outside thanks to Peter Wigington from the Bowls Club. With good weather for that time of year the ground was looking good and the outfield was finely cut by Thurrock Council on the morning of the match.
On matchday the sub-committee arrived early along with excellent car park marshals from the colts section in their splendid new SLHCC hi-vis jackets. Brand new club stumps, specially branded for the occasion, thanks to club sponsors, Senator Welding and Kalum Bodywork Ltd, were pitched on a very firm looking surface.
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Around 10am, players and officials started to arrive along with MCC’s official photographer following which pre-match tea, coffee and refreshments were served. The atmosphere was starting to build nicely and Stanford Rec looked magnificent in the May sunshine.
SLHCC 1st XI Captain, Thomas Willats, won the toss and in time-honoured tradition asked our prestigious visitors to bat first.
Umpires David Braulik (MCC) and Peter Victory (SLHCC) got play underway at 11:30am and MCC openers Charlie Lewis and Paul Hurworth survived some early scares.
MCC then proceeded smoothly through the morning session and when lunch was taken at 1:30pm, MCC had reached 141 for 3.
A delicious two-course lunch was served by Magpie Catering to a packed clubhouse of players, officials, SLHCC committee members and a number of guests, including two first-class umpires, Ben Debenham and Neil Bainton and internationally renowned chef, Mark Levy.
SLHCC Club Chairman, Bob Pearn, gave an excellent speech and in reply, MCC’s Match Manager & Captain, Danny Joyce, presented SLHCC with an MCC plaque which John Hicks has mounted on the wall in cricket corner together with two small commemorative cricket bats which were signed by players and officials.
Surprisingly after a heavy lunch and libations, SLHCC tightened up things after the lengthy break with Daryl Woodford bowling a very tight spell from the river end and Robert Page taking three wickets. MCC eventually declared at 199 for 8 and the chase was on for SLHCC.
Stanford made a decent start and by tea had reached 25 for only the loss of captain Tom Willats.
For the players’ tea, a special commemorative cake was organised by Club Secretary Dave Willats. This was both impressive and delicious. In fact, it was so impressive that MCC tweeted about it at tea on Day One of the World Test Championship 2025 Final!
Play got underway after the official tea and SLHCC made good progress in front of a crowd that had reached around 150 people. At 5pm, all attending the match were invited to SLHCC’s Community Tea in the clubhouse. This comprised some splendid and delicious cakes made by members & local cake makers and was very popular accompanied by cups of tea or something stronger. A happy consequence arising from this was the number of people seeing the SLHCC memorabilia that Club Historian John Hicks had set up for the day.
Unfortunately, SLHCC collapsed after reaching the promising position of 105 for 3 thanks to a fluent 49 by Robert Page and ultimately, they lost by 48 runs. But the result was almost irrelevant as Tom Willats and his SLHCC players did us proud & the Club put on a great day for all with many people staying on for a very enjoyable evening in the clubhouse to discuss many aspects of the day.
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Naturally, there were many people to thank for such a fantastic occasion for SLHCC, namely:
- The organising committee of Mark Nuttall, Bob Pearn, Dave & Tom Willats, John & Sue Hicks and Eileen Nuttall
- Danny Joyce and MCC for being such great guests
- Umpires David Braulik & Peter Victory and scorers David Gaylor (SLHCC) & Norman Bygrave (MCC)
- SLHCC photographer Chris Sharp and Rupert, MCC’s photographer
- The various sponsors on the day
- Elizabeth Joyce and all her staff from Magpie Catering
- All SLHCC members who contributed to such a memorable day
- All those who attended during the day
We look forward to many more years enjoying our cricket at Stanford Rec!