The History of Blankney Cricket Club

It is highly unlikely in 1873, that the Blankney Cricket Club could have been established without the patronage of Sir Henry, who, apart from being a local Conservative MP and a Cabinet Minister, was a Derby winner in 1867 with "The Hermit" which saw him win, in one race, the equivalent of £28 million today. Henry was very much into sport, being a hunting and country sportsman, as it is noted he was buffalo hunting in Canada when he became aware of his inheritance.

Through these interests it was he who formed the Blankney Hunt, becoming the First Master. Along with his love for hunting, which it is suggested he did every day of the week, there is no doubt it was he who created the tranquil setting of the cricket ground in the village back in that time. It has been further suggested that, along with a number of other projects, money from his Derby win enabled all the wrought iron fencing to be erected around the "estate" including that still sited around the cricket ground today.

Despite Chaplin's high profile connections, he fell on hard times by living an exceedingly extravagant lifestyle. Crippled by debts, he was forced, in 1882, to sell Blankney Hall and the estate, to Charles Denison, the 1st Earl of Londesborough. The Estate, in turn, then saw a succession of Earls through to the 4th and final Earl Londesborough, who died in 1937.

Fortunately for the village of Blankney the "new" owner was a keen sportsman and the cricket club continued to flourish into and through the 1900s under the patronage of the "Londesboroughs". The 1st Earl was a founder of Scarborough Football Club and the 2nd Earl, patron of Yorkshire Cricket Club. This saw them mix in some top sporting circles and for several years "invitation" games were played, usually during the "Scarborough Festival Week", against touring sides, including the Australians and South Africans.

It is a known fact that these Aussie Touring sides then came along to play games at Blankney, with the Earl's side most likely including ex-England player Captain Reginald Spooner. Being the Estate land agent Spooner lived at Metheringham Manor, and was, at his height, one of the greatest cricketers of Edwardian England. In those heady days of the Edwardians it has further been suggested that during some of these high profile "match days" a line of chauffeur driven Rolls Royce cars would line the roads adjacent to the cricket ground for the specially arranged two day matches.

In later years Hugo, the 4th Earl, was known to watch the cricket from the north wing of Blankney Hall. In his day he was a dashing, brave young man, who served as a Captain in the 1st Life Guards in the Great War. In 1935 he married Marigold Lubbock, daughter of the Lord Lieutenant of the City of London, and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. They made the perfect couple. However, tragedy was to strike when in May 1937, Lord Londesborough died suddenly and unexpectedly just 18 months after their wedding, aged only 42. Sadly, the Londesborough title died with Lord Hugo, as he was without male heir.

The widowed Countess continued the Londesborough tradition of patronage of the cricket club as Club President during the late 1930s. At this time, the club also enjoyed patronage from other distinguished aristocrats and gentry, notably Lord Barnby, politician and decorated soldier in the Great War, and Sir Victor Warrender, later to be Lord Bruntisfield, another politician and decorated soldier, who was awarded the Military Cross in the Great War.

During the Second World War the effects of the mobilisation and utilisation of all able bodied cricketers in the struggle against Nazi Germany resulted in the club falling on hard times, and, in 1945, the pavilion doors were closed for seemingly the very last time. Lady Londesborough had already severed her ties with the club while also relinquishing the title of Countess on the date of her second marriage in 1948 to Polish nobleman Captain Zygmunt Stanislaw de Lubicz-Bakanowsi. She had already moved away from the area, where by kind permission of the Parkers (the new estate owners), she had lived in a section of the Hall and she died in 1973, aged 73.

The Club's original Pavilion was situated behind the cottages on the East side of Lincoln Road. In recent times these were last used for the 1977 Silver Jubilee Celebrations before being demolished shortly afterwards. Prior to this, after the demise of the club at the end of the 1940s, the ground was converted from a cricket ground to a soccer pitch, used by a newly form Blankney estate team formed by the workers. This team played for some 15-20 years before folding in the late 1960s.

During the late 1980s it was a known fact that a number of estate employees were playing friendly cricket matches on other local cricket grounds. Then in 1989 the "Blankney Weekend fund raising" event took place when it was suggested by Richard Parker that a charity cricket match be played against Metheringham Cricket Club. Richard asked Tony Fox and the Golf Club Green keepers if they could prepare one wicket for this match on the old square and subsequently 18 matches were played that season on this one strip. This obviously proved there was a demand for cricket locally which had to be fulfilled. During October of that year an inaugural meeting of the "cricket club" was held and the "Club" re-formed, going from strength to strength ever since.

It is not surprising, due to the long established history, generosity, support and patronage of the Denison family, that on the club reforming, members sought permission to use the Londesborough coat of arms as its badge. This was approved and it continues to be worn with pride.

In the early days club facilities were limited. Initially a generously donated mobile home was used as a Pavilion for the following two years, the chassis of this being made into wicket covers. The Pavilion which now stands on the ground today was originally two and a half Sir Robert McAlpine site hostels which the Club purchased for £50 each.

Work started on the "new" Pavilion in the Spring of 1991. The new club house was officially opened later that year by the then President, Mr Eric Parker. Since then a bar was added and the building completely re-roofed.

After taking part in friendly fixtures in the early days, including invitation games against an Australian Touring side for four successive seasons, the club entered a side in the Lincoln Mid Week League. This team saw success immediately, being Division One champions in 1997 and also Senior Cup Finalists. The success of the side saw a second midweek side formed and also entry into the Lincoln Saturday League. The first silverware won in this league was the lifting of the Major Hoult Cup in 1997.

Over subsequent years the club lifted the midweek Division One title a further three times in 1998, 2004 and 2005 whilst finishing runners up in 2003 and 2006. The side also featured in a further three Senior Cup finals without ever lifting the trophy. The second mid week XI went one better though as they lifted the Junior Cup in 2004 and then on promotion to the top flight was losing finalist in the Senior Cup in 2008. After the initial cup success of the weekend side the team was league champions of division four, three and two in successive seasons from 1998 to 2000. Then in 2005 they were Division One runners up which saw them rise, from their formation in 1996 in the bottom division, to the Premier League inside a decade.

The club is indebted to the Parker family, who have owned the 12,000 acre Blankney Estate now for over 60 years. Their patronage and support for the cricket club, similar to the Chaplins and Londesboroughs before them, over the years has been immense and it would be difficult to see a future for the club without this backing.

The club is further delighted that on the passing of Mr Eric Parker, son Richard Parker agreed to be Club President, and his grandson James Parker is on the committee, while James' father, Michael, is a vice-president, thus continuing the family tradition of patronage and support of the club. This without doubt has ensured that one of the most successful eras of Blankney cricket continues and firmly cementing the Parker family name in club history, placing them in some very distinguished company as patrons and supporters of the club alongside Viscount Chaplin, The Lords Londesborough, Lord Barnby, Sir Victor Warrender, The Countess of Londesborough............

.....................................And possibly even HRH King Edward VII !!!