A History of the Bristol & District Cricket Association
A History of the Bristol & District Cricket Association
Trevor Crouch and Edwin Morris
As a sport, Cricket has a reputation for sometimes being slow to embrace change and this seems to be true of the early years of local Bristol cricket.
With evidence of matches being played in 1752, the movement towards some form of organisation progressed somewhat sedately. It took another 140 years before the Bristol & District Cricket Association was formed by a group of local clubs, many of whom are still in existence today.
This book attempts to chart the BDCA through from its formation to the inception of league cricket in 1973. Along the way we acknowledge the support of many clubs and the efforts of so many outstanding individuals, without whose efforts the Association as we know it would be so much poorer.
INCLUDES:
Chapter 1 – Cricket in Bristol before 1892
Chapter 2 – The Foundation of the Bristol & District Cricket Association -1892
Chapter 3 – First Steps, Failure and Recover: 1892-1900
Chapter 4 – Consolidation - 1900 to World War 1
Chapter 5 - World War 1 1914-18
Chapter 6 – The Inter War Years 1919 to 1939
Chapter 7 – World War Two
Chapter 8 – Post-War Recovery 1945-1950
Chapter 9 – The Road to League Cricket 1951-69
Chapter 10 – League Cricket Established 1970 – 1973
““An essential read for anyone interested in the history of club cricket in the Bristol area - a painstaking piece of research into what has become one of the biggest cricket leagues in the country.””
““This local history fills in an important part of the picture of how league cricket developed in England.””
ISBN: 9781909446489
Format: Softback, 210mm x 280mm (portrait)
164 pages
Publication date: July 31st, 2025
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Trevor Crouch
Born in Luton, Trevor graduated from Southampton University and moved to Bristol in 1969. He played for Old Georgians CC in the league from 1973 until retiring from playing in 1999; since then he has umpired in the BDCA. In 1988 he became Chairman of the BDCA before standing down in 2023 and becoming President.
The rich history of the BDCA needed to be recorded and, although several clubs have produced their own anniversary ones, this is the first attempt at an overall account. It is hoped this will encourage individuals and clubs to add further memories and details.
Bristol should be proud of the BDCA and it is hoped that this publication ensures that it will continue to be remembered.
Edwin Morris
Born in Newport, South Wales, Edwin came to Bristol in 1977 to study and eventually settled here in 1981. He has played for Bristol United Banks since 1983 and, at different times, held almost every post in the club. In 2018 he joined the management of the BDCA and in 2023 was elected Chair of the Somerset Seniors Cricket Association.
During lockdown he started researching the history of BUBCC and there was soon a collaboration between Trevor and Edwin as they pooled their research. In 2022 Trevor asked him to become more formally involved and act as both editor and “critical friend”, a role he was honoured to undertake.
