1965 to 2013: THE PHOENIX RISES

9 July 1965:

A general meeting took place in the Church Hall with the aim of forming a village cricket club. Nineteen interested people attended and elected the following officers of the club:

Chairman: Mr Proud
Assistant Chairman: Mr. Waistell
Secretary: Mr Hull
Assistant Secretary: Mr. Wearmouth
Treasurer: Mr Wallace
Committee: Messrs Bussey, Tate, Welsh and Parkin

It was suggested that the secretary write to the Welfare Committee and obtain permission to use the cricket field and to organise a meeting with them to clarify arrangements. With this, Evenwood Welfare Cricket Club was established with a view to joining a league the following season.

7 May 1966: THE FIRST MATCH

Mid Durham Senior League Division III: Evenwood defeated Eppleton by 7 wickets. Roy Jacobs took 4 for 17 and Les Sams, 3 for 16. Ronnie Hull scored 73 not out in Evenwood. The team was – A. Welsh; A, Thompson; R.B. Hull; R. Tate; R. Proud; J. Wearmouth; M. Parkin; R. Mason; R. Jacobs; L. Sams & P.W. Teesdale.

At some stage, Evenwood dropped “Welfare” from its name. Evenwood C.C. won the Div. III League at the first attempt.

Below: Back Row left to right: Denis Waistell; Norman Robson; Roy Proud; Ronnie Hull; Ronnie Tate; Brian Longstaff; Les Sams; Roy Jacobs; Johnny Jacobs; Jack Robinson

Front Row: Walter Wallace, Jack Wearmouth; Denny Jacobs; Malcolm Parkin; Alan Welsh; Alf Teesdale; Alwyn Thompson; Eric Proud.

Below: Walter Wallace and the tea ladies admiring the trophy.

1967:

6 June: A Second XI was formed which competed in Div. III. Their first game, versus Coundon IIs was lost by 8 wickets. The team was – R. Tate; A.D. Jacobs; T. Sowerby; A. Welsh; R.T. Law; J.P. Hull; E. Proud; J. Robinson, R. Mason; R, Jacobs & L. Sams.

Mid Durham Senior League Division II: The First XI won the title.

Below: Second XI Back Row: Eric Proud; Les Sams; Ronnie Tate; Denny Jacobs; Roy Jacobs; Alan Welsh

Front Row: Peter Hull; Tommy Sowerby; Jack Robinson; Bobby Mason; Ray Law.

1968:

Evenwood formed a Junior Team (under 18s), which played friendly matches.

1969:

Evenwood finished runners-up in Div. I and were beaten finalists in the Northern Echo & Sports Despatch Cup.

Evenwood IIs won Div. II and were beaten finalists in the Ralph Watson Memorial Trophy.

10 March 1970: THE COUNTY LEAGUE

A Special General Meeting was held in the “White Swan” to vote on a motion to join the Durham County League. The vote was carried and the club was duly elected into the County League.

2 May: The first game as a Second team match versus Etherley IIs. The old rivals won by 3 wickets. The team was – M. Peart; P. McAdam; E. Proud; B. Longstaff; A. Teesdale; R. Mason; M. Garraway; K.G. Gill; C. Birch; R. Gill & L. Sams.

3 May: In Div. I, Evenwood played Etherley and gained revenge securing a 7 wicket victory. The team was – K.B. Wiles; A. Teesdale; P.W. Teesdale; G.V. Cherry; H. Mordue; A. Graham; A. Welsh; M. Peart; A.D. Jacobs, J. Teesdale & R. Jacobs.

8 May: Evenwood Juniors played their first game in the Coxhoe & District League and defeated Tudhoe by 6 wickets. The team was – J.P. Hull; A.M. Whitton; C. Birch; J. Peddelty; J. Wren; R. Gill; D.N. Rutherford; M. Simpson; W. Hull; K.N. Richardson & N.R. Gill. The team won the Coxhoe & District League and the Welch Cup by beating Tudhoe by 7 runs.

Since joining the Durham County League in 1970, between then and the end of the 2013 season, Evenwood have won the title on 5 occasions – 1977, 1979, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and have won the Division A Knock Out Cup 5 times, 1989, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

Below: 1977 County League Champions

Back Row left to right: John Teesdale; Rod Gill; Stan Thompson; Denny Jacobs; Stuart Land; Derek Atkinson, Billy Teesdale

Front: Laurie Rutter (scorer); Alf Teesdale; T.D. Rajapaksa; Roy Jacobs; Harry Mordue; Barry Clark (Robin Gill was absent, playing football)

Below: 1979 County League Champions

Back Row left to right: Laurie Rutter (Scorer); Stan Thompson; Rod Gill; Billy Teesdale, Derek Atkinson; Avadhoot “Alum” Zarapkar; Stuart Land

Front Row: Alf Teesdale; Ray Howe; John Teesdale; Alan Chapman; Harry Mordue. Robin Gill was absent, playing football.

Below: 1999/2000 The Millenium Men

Back Row left to right: Colin Birch (Chairman) David Priestley (Scorer) Kevin Richardson (Secretary) Billy Teesdale; Alf Teesdale (Treasurer)

Third Row: Karl Dargue; Craig Rutherford; Barren Wallace; Steven Dowson; John Maughan; Gavin Kellett; Michael Townsend; Jonathan Gill; Ernie Redfearn; Neil Teesdale; Craig Dargue

Second Row: Chris Gill; XX; Paul Townsend; Paul Watson; Gary Dowson; Kevin Watson; Billy Teesdale Jnr.; Neil Thompson; Ben Howe

Front Row: Adam or Daniel Dowson; Tommy Holmes?; James Alderson; Richard Houghton; Craig Sams?; Gary Sowerby; Mathew McConnell; the other Dowson twin.

Below: 2002 Champions

Back Row left to right: Chris Peareth; Craig Dargue; John Maughan; Billy Teesdale Jnr.; Darren Wallace; Neil Teesdale; David Priestley (Scorer)

Front Row: Craig Rutherford; Kevin Watson; Jonathan Gill; Deighton Butler; Kevin Watson.

Below: Captain Craig Dargue receiving the League Trophy from Roy Coates (Durham County League Secretary)

Below: 2003 Champions

Back Row left to right: James Alderson; Darren Wallace; John Maughan; David Wilkinson; Billy Teesdale Jnr.; Deighton Butler; David Priestley (Scorer)

Front Row: Chris Peareth; Jonathan Gill; Kevin Watson; Craig Rutherford; Neil Teesdale

Below: 2004 Champions

Back Row left to right: Darren Wallace; John Maughan; Billy Teesdale Jnr.; David Wilkinson; Chris Peareth

Front Row; Deighton Butler; Jonathan Gill; Kevin Watson; David Smith; Paul Watson. Neil Teesdale and James Alderson had also played during the season but were unavailable for this match. There are only 10 men in the photo. Paul Maughan played in the final game but didn’t think he should be on the photo since he hadn’t played many games.

The Second XI have been League Champions three times, in 1992, 1996 and 2006 and they have won the Division B KO Cup on 7 occasions – 1972, 1973, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2006.

Below: 1992 Evenwood Second XI: Won the League and KO Cup double and 4 other trophies. The photo shows squad members,

Back Row left to right: Denis Wright; Rod Gill; Craig Rutherford; Darren Wallace; Michael Peddelty; Ali Milroy; Stan Thompson; David Priestley (Scorer)

Front Row: Neil Thompson; Ian Sowerby; Steven Dowson; John Teesdale; Jona Milroy; David Smith; Paul Watson.

During the period 1970 – 2013, the First XI has won 25 other trophies and the Second XI has lifted 14 other trophies.

The year 2013 has been selected as a cut-off period because there was a significant change in the league system. Three cricket leagues in County Durham amalgamated to become the Durham Cricket League, as part of the Durham pyramid system. Two local leagues did not join the pyramid namely the North Yorkshire & South Durham League and the Darlington & District League. In 2019 there was another change in the leagues. Evenwood C.C. now play in the Durham & North East Cricket League.

Evenwood Juniors

The cricket club has placed great emphasis on developing local talent and to this end formed junior teams as follows:

1995: an under 13 team
2000: an under 15 team

During the time period up to 2013, the under 18 team has won their league title on 5 occasions – 1970, 1985, 2002, 2003 and 2006 and won 8 other trophies. The under 15s have won 3 trophies and under 13s 1 trophy.

A SUMMARY

It is beyond doubt that local cricket relies on the enthusiasm brought by local families and Evenwood is no exception – the Peddeltys, the Clennells, the Waistells and Watsons, the Prouds, the Jacobs, the Longstaffs, the Gills, the Parkins, the Thompsons, the Sowerbys, the Teesdales, the Bannisters and the Hulls have all spent many hours “up the cricket field.” Apologies if an obvious family has been missed out. The groundsmen, the scorers, the tea ladies, the fund raisers, the sponsors and the committee all make massive contributions. The important point here is that without such keenness, cricket in Evenwood would not exist.

Below: 1973: From the Northern Echo – Robin and Rod Gill; Billy and John Teesdale; Denny and Roy Jacobs. At the time, Alf was in hospital so was unavailable for the photo shoot.

In order to compete in the County League, professional cricketers were employed at Evenwood. However, the over-riding ethos of the club has been to nurture local talent. This attitude was recognised by Jack Chapman in his mammoth work, “Cream Teas and Nutty Slack: A History of Club Cricket in County Durham 1751-2002”. Evenwood had just won the Durham County League (2002), the first time since 1979, a wait of 23 years! Spirits were high as players, supporters, tea ladies and regulars celebrated in the Swan. Mike Amos, the Northern Echo chief sports reporter, wrote a complimentary article about Evenwood C.C. which was picked up by Jack and the following passage appeared in his book:

“ Kimblesworth and Evenwood fought a fascinating race. The leadership changed frequently and Evenwood held the upper hand with 2 to play. The first was lost. It set the scene for last day heroics by local lad John Maughan who hit a century as Evenwood knocked off 236 at Tudhoe. Mike Amos excused their boisterous merriment in “The Swan” because they, “celebrated what sport is about”.

Of the 23 who made appearances 19 had progressed from the Juniors. They included Billy Teesdale, Neil Teesdale and Jonathan Gill, sons of Billy and Alf Teesdale and Rodney Gill who each played in the Evenwood title sides of 1977 and 1979, together with Paul and Kevin Watson, nephews of Denis Waistell, a founder member of the 1965 reformed club.

Evenwood’s success is a timely reminder that a club’s most wholesome rewards come from within.”

The club enjoyed another successful season in 2003 and of the 46 players who appeared in the first and second teams, 41 had come through the juniors, one was the overseas pro and the other 4 were so elderly that they’d turned 18 while the juniors were but a twinkle. Of the 22 first and second team players in the season’s final game, only West Indian pro Deighton Butler hadn’t grown up with the club. Of the 52 players in the pre-season team photo, there were 8 sets of brothers, 4 father and sons and even a brother and sister, Ben and Toni Ord in the under 13s.

Remarkably, the following season, 2004, was the most successful. The First XI won the league and cup double again, the Second XI finished 4th, the under 18s won their league and cup and the under 15s won their league and play off final. The heights of the 2001 – 2004 era may not have been reached since but this is not to diminish the efforts of all involved. Hopefully, others will contribute and write their own histories about the post 2013 period when the time is right.

Below: 2003 Evenwood Cricket Club

Back Row left to right: Gavin Kellett; Billy Teesdale Jnr.; Darren Wallace; David Wilkinson; Billy Teesdale Snr.; David Priestley (First Team Scorer); Kevin Watson; John Maughan; Kevin Richardson (Secretary); Alf Teesdale (Treasurer)

Fourth Row: Jonathan Gill; Craig Rutherford (First Team Captain); Michael Peddelty; Paul Townsend; David Smith; Chris Coatsworth; John Teesdale (Second Team Captain); Ali Milroy; Jona Milroy; Neil Thompson

Third Row: Neil Teesdale; Ian Sowerby; Michael Townsend; Paul Watson; David Jacobs; Deighton Butler (Professional); James Alderson (Under 15 Captain); Chris Peareth (Under 18 Captain); Mark Little; Kurt Bailey; Craig Sams

Second Row: Sean Bailey; Lee Forster; Drew Sams; Ben Ord; Tommy Holmes; Mathew McConnel; Michael Robinson; Gary Close (Under 13 Captain); Warren Bailey; Ross Crawford; Colin Welsh; Scott Flowers; Jamie Cummins

Front Row: Daniel Dowson; Adam Dowson; Toni Ord; Robert Raine; Matthew Raine; David Armour; Bryoney Welsh; Owen Peddelty; Jack Rutherford; Andrew Carrick.

10 August 2011: Sky Sports programme about Evenwood CC aired on TV.

Sir Ian Botham, England cricket legend, Sky sports presenter, fund raiser and “all round good guy” visited Evenwood Cricket Club, 28 July, with a TV crew to meet members. Despite a healthy membership, the club struggled with poor facilities. Jo Osborne, Sky Sports producer, said: “We look at the highs and lows of club cricket and, having heard about the problems Evenwood Cricket Club have been facing, we decided to make them a part of the series.”

The crew filmed over 3 days, culminating in a home match against Langley Park. The mini documentary was shown on Sky Sports during the Third Test between England and India on Wednesday 10 August. The Northern Echo report can be viewed at:

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9166936.cricket-legend-sir-ian-botham-visits-club/

Below: Sir Ian with John Teesdale and Michael Peddelty

Below: Sir Ian talking to some of the lads

Below: Sir Ian with Jonathan Kellett and Thomas Teesdale

BELOW WILL BE A RANDOM COLLECTION OF PHOTOS TO SHOW SOME OF THE PLAYERS AND CHARACTERS ASSOCIATED WITH EVENWOOD CRICKET CLUB OVER THE YEARS.

NAMES WILL BE ADDED IN DUE COURSE.

Below: 1968 Presentation Night at the Morrit Arms, Alan Welsh; Tommy Sowerby; Malcolm Parkin; Avril Welsh; June Parkin & Dot Sowerby

Below: 1969 Presentation Night at the Heather Brae, Middleton-in-Teesdale. Alan & Avril Welsh; Alf Teesdale; Dot & Tommy Sowerby. At the table are Alwyn Thompson and his wife.

Below: 1972: Second Team: Back Row left to right: Eric Simpson; Eric Proud; Andy Gordon; Noel Jackson; Ray Law; Brian Longstaff

Front Row: Rod Gill; “Maley” Simpson; Eric Ward; John Wren; Alan Walker

Below: Names with photo at the bottom

Below: 1976 Back Row left to right: Denny Jacobs; Trevor Atkinson; Roy Brown; Kenny Kitchen; John Longstaff; R. Thompson; Eric Proud; Ian Longstaff (Scorer)

Front: Michael Truman; Tommy Sowerby; John Teesdale; Gary Dowson

Below: 1977 Tea Ladies

Below: 1987 Junior Team

Back Row left to right: Mark Ord; Neil Thompson; Simon Sowerby; Mark Webb; Michael Vennard; Steven Anderson

Middle Row: Alf Teesdale (Coach); Paul Webb; Martin Lamb; John Maughan; David Wilkinson; Tony Driscoll; Brett Whiteaker (Pro/Coach)

Front Row: Steven Dowson; Darren Wallace; Jona Milroy; Neil Bolton (Captain); Neil Teesdale; Stuart Pickering

Insert: Ali Milroy

Below: 1989 Ali Milroy

Below: 1994 Ian Sowerby’s painting of CRITICS CORNER

Below: 1977 Junior Team Bob Hay Memorial Trophy

Back Row: Jeff Bannister; Keith Bolton; Neville Wallis; Paul Agar; Alan Firby; Ian Dowson

Front: Michael Peddelty; Michael Longstaff; John Longstaff; Ian Longstaff; Gary Dowson

Below: about 1983: Back Row left to right: Stuart Land; Robin Gill; Dennis Wright; Alf Teesdale; Roy Jacobs; Billy Teesdale

Front Row: Ian Sowerby; Steven Vickers; Ronnie Horner; Craig Rutherford; Ian Longstaff.

Scorer: Steven Jacobs

Below: Jack Maughan; Bill Clennell; Norman Wren and George Wright

Below: Eric Priestley looking after the bairns – Emma Davis and Gary Sowerby

Below: 1972/73: The Swan: Alan Walker; Brian Longstaff; Rod Gill; John Teesdale; Tommy Sowerby; Eric Simpson

Below: Eric Vickers; Norman Gill & Les Vickers

Below: Tea Ladies

Below: Marjorie and Norman Robson

Below: 1989: to the left include Duncan Coates; Clint Yorke; John Teesdale; Ian Sowerby; At the back Bill Clennell; Eddie Seery; Billy Teesdale; Ian Davis, Norman Gill. To the right – Rod Gill; Paul Maughan; Robin Gill; John Maughan; David Priestley; Ian Longstaff

Below: 1967: Ronnie & Hilda Tate; Val & Stan Thompson; Dot & Tommy Sowerby; Les Sams and his wife; Dorothy & Eric Proud; Avril Welsh.

Below: The Swan: Billy Teesdale Junior; Dean Cummins; Rod Gill; Chris Geddes; Ali Milroy; Ian Rutherford

Below: Denny Jacobs & Jack Hawkins

Below: An Evenwood Social Team

Back Row left to right: Tommy Million; Barry Bishoprick; Billy Weir; Alf Teesdale; Eric Lamb

Seated: Johnny Weir; Ian “Wendy” Rutherford; Paul Watson; Dave Dowson; Ian “DC” Davis; Kevin Richardson

Front: XXXX Donald Wallace

Below: Tea Ladies

Below: Craig Rutherford

Below: 1988, Clint Yorke

Below: P.W. Teesdale (Billy)

Below: 1990, John Longstaff v Crook

Below: John Pollard & Paul Maughan after scoring lots of runs to break the league opening partnership, undefeated and both scored centuries.

Below: Ann & Tommy Million

Below: Steven “Dev” Dowson

Below: David Smith – Player of the Season (maybe)

Below: 1989: Back Row left to right: Jona Milroy; Darren Wallace; David Wilkinson (Captain); Steven Anderson; Neil Pybus; Craig Sams; XXXXX

Front: Neil Teesdale; Paul Bowman; Wayne Firby; Gary Dowson; X Sams; Michael Dunn; Steven Dowson

Below: The Swan: Mr. Dalton (Staindrop Comprehensive PE Teacher) with some of his former pupils and Evenwood cricketers Paul Maughan; Gordon Nicholson; Gary Dowson; Kevin Watson; Darren Wallace; Paul Watson; David Smith and Steven Nichol; Jonathan Gill squatting.