Looking back to 1928 (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Hugh Formby's sports ground closes for good after cricket row

12:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in Andover By Sports editor Kerry Miller

The Village Cricket League reached the semi-final stage and Longparish played Vigo Road at Middleton House in an all-day game.

The ‘Parish side was Cob Snow, PC Preston, T Ryder, A Tubb, H Gay, J Brown, J Smart, R Dobson, G Taylor, H Bendall, L Bendall, WH Dalton.

Vigo lined up as Tom Burton, Roland Parfitt, A Miles, A Palmer, F Palmer, W Choules, H Fry, G Jerome, J Burton, Fred Clarke, H Keeping.

After Vigo made 133 then bowled Longparish out for 83 before returning to make 78 and set a target of 129 to win. Longparish were bowled out again at 7.30pm for 97 putting Vigo into the final.

Sadly, the reporter was less than impressed with the final against Chilbolton and described it as having ‘no excitement whatsoever’ as the Sports Ground crowd saw Fred Clarke score 82 and take 6-26 as Vigo made 110 and 165 and bowled Chilbolton out for 53 and 95.

It was another blow to league cricket which was in steep decline.

Worse was to follow in the Wallop League, which was always run under the auspices of Hugh Formby who loved the game and believed in fair play and good conduct.

In his league’s semi-final at Over Wallop, Broughton made 135-4 at tea and were all out for 184 after two and a half hours against Ludgershall Sports.

Stumps were set at 7.56pm but with no chance of a win Sports played for a draw and were eight wickets down when the last over started.

On the fifth ball Plank was out but stumps were drawn with one ball and one wicket left as the Ludgershall captain claimed a draw.

The scenes in the pavilion were rowdy and arguments raged, but Ludgershall won and a replay was ordered a week later.

Broughton won the replay by six wickets and set up a final with Over Wallop, both teams having won all their games.

But by then the damage was done as Hugh Formby, who had provided free cricket for all on his superb private ground, was saddened and angry.

Broughton easily won the final by an innings, which did not help, but Mr Formby stood on a makeshift stage and addressed the crowd, saying the ill-feeling and unpleasantness after what was an unsporting incident was a bad example and he was thoroughly disgusted.

He went on to state that he wanted nothing more to do with league cricket.

Eventually he was persuaded by his wife to reconsider, but sadly more controversy later was to tip him over the edge.

The Border League final pitted Andover Albion and Collingbourne after Albion had beaten Vigo Road in the semi-final.

Albion’s 125 was plenty as ‘Bourne were bowled out for 46 and 42 in yet another disappointingly one-sided final.

There was sadness at Broughton where George Bendry, stalwart of the cricket club for more than 30 years, died in August.

He was a saddler and a bell ringer who lived in the High Street and was the father of Willie Bendry, who was killed in the Great War.

 

More nostalgia in Friday's Advertiser