The history of Winnington Park Cricket Club

Cricket has been played at Winnington Park from the 1880s. 
However, it was not until 1891 that a Cricket Section was formed in conjunction with Winnington Park Recreation Club. A committee was set up to organise both Tennis and Cricket. The two sports were run independently after 1892 when the Recreation Club took over the original Winnington Park Recreation Club. In 1895, a second team was formed and in the following season the first Club Coach, R Denton, was appointed. Until his death in 1914 he performed a dual role of groundsman and occasional  coach.
Only “friendly” fixtures were played prior to the Club joining the Manchester and District Cricket Association, in 1921 however Winnington cricketers held their own in the association without coming close to winning the title.
1929 saw the Club at the centre of an occurrence worthy of inclusion in Wisden.
A tie is a rare result in cricket but against Bollington, in 1929,W.P.R.C forced a tie not only in the first XI fixture but also in the second eleven match played on the same day at Bollington. As the Cricket Secretary A H S Guthrie remarked in his report to the A.G.M:
” This extraordinary coincidence has no parallel in Manchester and District Cricket”.
In 1933, W.P.R.C reached their (at the time) highest position in the association when they finished as runners – up, winning twelve of their thirty fixtures with fourteen draws and only four defeats. This achievement was in no small measure due to the fine batting of T B Woodcock who in 16 innings amassed 1,020 runs at an average of 63.75. This Club record included three centuries, with a highest score of 152 against Timperly.
T B Woodcock’s sons, Tony and Keith, were to figure prominently in the most successful period in the Section’s history, from the late 1950s until the mid – 1960s. In 1959, the Northwich Knockout was won. Then, in 1960, under the captaincy of R L F Woodhouse, the Stockton Trophy of the Manchester Association was won for the first time. In 1964, the feat was repeated and in the following seasons the Stockton Trophy was retained without a single defeat.
Several Club players figured prominently in the Manchester Association Averages.  In 1962, Trevor Gibson topped the bowling list with a 50 wicket haul at the miserly cost of only 7.16 runs per wicket.
The W.P.R.C of the 1960s had a good record in Knockout competitions winning the Northwich K.O. In 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1963.
They were also finalists in 1962 and 1964, as well as being runners-up in the John Summers competition in successive seasons, 1965 and 1966 a season in which they also finished second in the Manchester Association. 
In 1970, the Club were runners-up in the Mid Cheshire K.O but won it in 1975, the year they left the Manchester Association to become founder members of the Cheshire County Cricket League.
The Club has since enjoyed little success at senior level and in 1977 all three teams finished at the foot of their respective divisions although the local indoor Cricket League title was won.
However, the 1980s has seen great progress at junior level with successful teams at under 13s and under 15s. The latter won the Mid Cheshire League for the fourth successive time, in 1988 and the All England Championship in 1989.
Winnington is not a highly populated area, and with the abundance of local Cricket Clubs,the strength of Winnington Park Cricket Club always depended on whom I.C.I. employed.
In the early 1990’s the Recreation Club was sold to its members, allowing profits to be used to improve the clubs facilities. The Clubs facilities are constantly improving. The Cricket Club has compiled a three-year plan to improve the facilities and surroundings of the club.
Winnington Park Cricket Club has always invested the majority of its time and money into junior cricket. The future of the game rests with the new generations. This has been reflected in the success of their junior teams and number of quality players produced from these teams. The club now see an additional area for improvement in the facilities for young children and mothers, which is currently being investigated.
If you want to find out about our current setup go to our Teams page