Tendring Cricket Club

The Club was founded in 1927, playing it's home games at Hollyhead House until 1982, where unfortunately the club was asked to relocate.

Fortunately, the membership pulled through, renting the field next to the original ground and quickly building a pavilion at Crow Lane. The club has played on this picturesque ground to this day, and is regarded by most of the teams that visit as one of the more attractive grounds in the league.

In recent history, the club has bounced around the middle leagues of the PDQ League. After entering the league in the late 80's, the team saw quick progress from Division 6 up to Division 3. However, at this point the mixture of a tougher coupled with the side that had progressed through the division beginning to slow down, led to a slight downturn in the club's fortunes. However, thanks to the stream of younger players the Division 6 2nd team provided, the club was able to stabilise in Division 4.

The struggles of the 1st team reached it's nadir in 1998, with the news that the League would lose a division the following year meaning that any side relegated from Division 4 would end up in the bottom Division, which would have resulted in the loss of our 2nd team and huge damage to the future prospects of the club. Despite a long hard season, Tendring clinched a tight victory at West Mersea, allowing them to join Division 3 and keeping the 2nd team's place in the league.

Starting the following season, the club began to rebuild under the leadership of Stuart Huckle, and despite being possible favourites for relegation at the start of the season, the club went through a remarkable run of success in the middle of the summer, lead by the strong bowling attack of Mike Puntschart, Steven Starling, Huckle and Andrew Flood, and at one point threatened promotion. A run of defeats ended that hope, but the club had reason to be hopeful for the future, with high mid-table finishes in 1999 and 2000

The club started 2001 with hope of promotion, but started the season slowly. However, starting in June, the club won a record nine league games on the trot, and a strong showing in the game that ended that run gave us the bonus points nessacary for promotion. The major difference from previous seasons was that a strong batting line-up became a consistent one, with Doug Flood, Gavin Warner and Steven Starling being ably supported by Charlie Flood, Nick Watkinson and Colin Day. The bowling remained strong as ever, and the club looked forward to only it's second season in Division 2.

However, 2002 and 2003 would prove to be huge disappointments. The club was relegated in successive seasons, with a number of players leaving the club to join Two Counties sides. The 2nd team, a long time source of young players for the 1st team, had to withdraw from the league due to a loss of players. Fortunately, at this time Nick Watkinson and Doug Flood took it upon themselves to begin a youth section, which greatly stregthened the club at the time and continues to play a huge part in the club's ethos.

After a 2004 season of solidifying in Division 4, the club began to move forward in 2005. The 1st team improved in performance if not in League position, and the youth system bore fruit with a 2nd team playing friendlies becoming more prominent, and putting up resilient performances in the face of strong opposition. This translated into a hugely successful 2006 season, where the club was promoted back into Division 3. Whilst the batting struggled, the bowling, led by vice-captain Gary Jenno and finished off by captain Ian Robinson decimated most sides we played, and a late run of victories saw us promoted.

In 2007, the club continued it's success. The 2nd team continued to provide the 1st team with youngsters that could compete at the Division 3 level. The bowling remained strong, with captain Robinson often able to leave accomplished bowlers out of the attack. Whilst again the batting remained dissappointing, it was led by three players - Doug Flood, Steven Starling and Mike Haywood. Flood and Starling were established run scorers, but they were joined in spectacular style by 15 year old Haywood, whose punishing attack of the ball left him both the highest run scorer in the club and the only centurion of 2007. By finishing 4th in Division 3, the club was promoted to Division 2 once more.

The other noteworthy moment of 2007 was a semi-final Plate run, capped by a remarkable quarter-final result. Playing Little Bardfield, unbeaten all season, away from home with a much weakened side, we managed to hold them to 221 on a small and fast ground. With little batting we were relying on a big score, and remarkably, the side got two, with Flood and Haywood putting on 185 unbroken for the 2nd wicket to lead us to a shock victory, Flood finishing on 87 and Haywood 82.

As for the 2008 season, the club is looking to build on it's success in the 1st team with a strong showing in Division 2. The 2nd team prepares for Two Counties entrance in 2009, and looks to give a number of players a chance to either stake a claim for a 1st team place, or to enjoy a game of cricket in a social atmosphere.