Staff at the Stumps: The University Staff Cricket Club Archive

The archive revisited

In 2012, the Secretary of the University Staff Cricket Club donated the club’s existing records to Hull University Archives. Some work was undertaken to catalogue the material at the time; however, we revisited the collection as part of our University Records Project. As archivists, we sometimes revisit previously catalogued collections to enhance the descriptions. Our aim in doing this is to make collections more discoverable to researchers. Having completed this work, we have now relaunched the collection under the newly assigned reference number of ‘U DSCC’.

Work on the collection prompted great interest amongst the cricket fans on our staff, who were fascinated by the old score books, playing records, and fixture lists. We wanted to know more about the Club’s history, and it occurred to us that others might be equally interested.

First scoring book of the University Staff Cricket Club, 1949-1958 [U DSCC/2/1]

The openers

The story starts in 1949. A group of like-minded employees from the University College of Hull (as the University of Hull was then known) met in the Senior Common Room on campus to form a cricket club run by committee. K.R. Bull, a lecturer in Physical Education within the Adult Education Department was appointed as the first secretary, treasurer and captain. Others in attendance at this meeting were H. H. Lucas (lecturer in French), H. W. Parsons, O. A. W. Dilke (assistant lecturer in Classics), G. Bond (lecturer in Geology), J. Webster, A. R. White (lecturer in Philosophy), and A. W. Green (lecturer in English). Together, they formed the University Staff Cricket Club and invited the University College Principal, Professor A.E. Morgan, to act as President of the club. 

These first officers drafted a constitution to guide the running and activities of the club, the same being approved by the committee on 14 May 1949. It was agreed that the membership should be open to all academics and research students, plus guests by invitation. The club’s ethos was inclusive. The aim of the founding members was not to field the strongest possible team, but rather to provide opportunities for anyone who wished to play cricket. Although at first glance the exclusion of administrative staff and non-research students might seem at odds with such an inclusive approach, it can be explained by the fact that several other University cricket teams appear in the score books of the club, suggesting multiple teams existed on campus at simultaneously.

Fixtures

From 1956 to 1985, G. A. S. Bunker from the Department of Educational Studies served as Fixture Secretary, ensuring that the annual scheduling of matches ran smoothly. It stands as testament to Bunker’s organisational skills that we have surviving fixture lists from 1955, though nothing before then.

Fixtures list for 1955 [U DSCC/5]

Over the years, members of the club played regular matches against numerous local teams. Until the mid-1950s, a match against the University Employees Cricket Club was one of the earliest fixtures of season and was always held on or around the University’s Founders Day in May. 

Scoring card for the club's first recorded match, which was played against the Employees Cricket Club, 1949 [U DSCC/2/1]

Other University of Hull sides featured regularly in the programme, including teams fielded by the Students Union, Law Society, Liberal Society, History Society, and Research Students Association. Works teams were a staple in the programme, and the club regularly played against sides fielded by Hull Town Clerks, Northern Dairies, Hull Education Department, Wilson Line Company, and Earle's Shipping Company. Regular fixtures were arranged with local school and college sides, including Hymers Staff, Old Hymerians, Hull Training College, Kingston High Staff, Malet Lambert, Sir Henry Cooper Staff, and Riley High. Matches were also played against local town and village teams, including Hull Zingari, Melton, Welton, Brantingham, Yapham, Hutton Cranswick, South Holderness, and various Cottingham sides. There were even regular matches played against sides fielded by other universities, namely Sheffield, Leeds, and Durham. It’s a demonstration of just how popular cricket has been locally that the club had such a large pool of teams to play against. 

Surviving fixtures cards from the 1980s [U DSCC/6/4]

Regional university cricket

One element of the club’s history that fascinated us in the office, was the role Hull seems to have played in kickstarting annual festivals played between cricket teams fielded by universities in the north. These festivals began in 1969, when Hull hosted an inaugural Universities Staff Cricket Festival. 

Material sent to prospective participants in the inaugural Universities Staff Cricket Festival, 1969 [U DSCC/5/3]

The idea for the festival originated at Hull. It had been proposed at the club's 1969 AGM by two members, J. W. Owen and R. W. Walker, in the wake of a tour of Newcastle and Durham which had taken place in June 1968. Four sides participated: Hull, Keele, Leeds, and a combined Newcastle/Durham team. 

Fixtures played during the inaugural Universities Staff Cricket Festival, 1969 [U DSCC/5/3]

Inaugural Universities Staff Cricket Festival results table, 1969 [U DSCC/5/3] 

The festival became an annual event. Hull took part whenever possible, though low membership and financial issues during the 1970 and 1980s caused problems with fielding teams. Additionally, Hull’s participation in the 1989 festival was prevented on political grounds. The University was, at this time, involved in an employment rights case over the dismissal of a lecturer, Edgar Page. Nottingham, the hosts of the festival in this year, informed Hull that they could only field a team if Page’s case had been resolved, which it was not.

Correspondence between Nottingham and Hull regarding Hull's participation in the 1989 Universities Staff Cricket Festival [U DSCC/5/5]

Captains

Over the years, club players have been captained by K. R. Bull (1949-54), H. K. Bevan (1955-57), H. W. Parsons (1958-59), J. M. A. Barker (1960-61), T. T. B. Ryder (1962-65), R. Walker (1966-68, 1974, 1976, 1978), K. J. Toyne (1969-70), J. Dunning-Davies (1971-72), J. W. Owen (1973), W. Owen (1975), A. Lee (1977), and M. Smith (1979-85). Research undertaken in 1985 by the club secretary, Mike Turner, collated match results to show the club’s wins, losses and draws by decade as follows: 1950s - 49/48/32; 1960s - 65/54/26; 1970s - 74/131/10; 1980s - 45/61/5. His research suggests that club sides had the highest success rate under the captains of the 1950s and 1960s, but played the most matches under the captains of the 1970s.

That’s lunch!

Taking a break from the playing of cricket, there was also a social side to membership of the club. Members met annually at an Annual General Meeting, first held in 1950, and an annual club dinner was instituted in 1967. A Mr. Bower served as 'Master of the Revels' between 1967-1984, making sure that this social activity took place. 

Receipt for payment of expenses for an annual dinner held at the Pearson Park Hotel in November 1975 [U DSCC/5/2]

In 1998, a special anniversary dinner was held to mark the club's 50th birthday, with many former players returning or sending messages of support.

50th anniversary dinner invite response sent by Alan Boner, 1998 [U DSCC/5/8]

There was even a double page spread printed in the University Bulletin.

50th anniversary article printed in the University Bulletin, 1998 [U DSCC/5/8]

All Out! Not yet…

In 2023, the club marked its 75th anniversary with a free Indoor Cricket event at the University Sports Centre. It continues to operate, providing an outlet for members of staff interested in playing cricket.

Bowled over by cricket? 

Discover the collection yourself by consulting the online catalogue for a description of the records, and by visiting the History Centre to see the original material.

Hull History Centre also holds the records of Hull Zingari Cricket Club [C DSZC], Hull Cricket Club [C DSHC], East Riding Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association [C DSUS], East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance [C DSEC], East Riding Amateur Cricket League and East Yorkshire Cricket Alliance [C DSAC], and Wilson Line Cricket Club [U DX360].

Claire, Archivist (Hull University Archives)