WHILE Evesham Cricket Club is having an excellent season - currently topping the League by some distance - interest continues in the history of the club, with more coming to light following the recent article in the Journal.

Back issues have enabled club officials to trace back the history of the club to 1860, the year the Journal was founded.

Now, files of sister paper Berrows Journal show that Evesham Cricket Club was active as early as 1855, when there is a detailed report of a match with Malvern.

Dr Bob Shaw said: "It appears Evesham Cricket Club had their own ground but from the scores, the pitch wasn't very good - Evesham scored 14 and 18 and Malvern 38."

He said: "From this report, it is evident that Evesham was an established cricket club with its own ground in 1855. However, there is no mention of Evesham Cricket Club in earlier years. As it seems unlikely that the club could have been established, obtained its own ground and started playing fixtures all in one year, then it seems reasonable to suppose the Club was found no later than 1854."

Evesham Cricket Club's headed letter paper now claims: "Founded circa 1854."

Dr Shaw said that as mentioned in the Journal, the Club has clear evidence that its present cricket ground, whose entrance is at the junction of Avon Street and Albert Road, was established in 1904.

"So, in 2004," Dr Shaw said, "the club will be celebrating the centenary of its ground and 150 years of Evesham Cricket Club. To mark this occasion, it is proposed to produce a full history of Evesham Cricket Club.

"The appeal for information continues. If anyone has any documents such as old scorebooks and minute books, photographs and mementoes, personal memories or press cuttings about Evesham Cricket Club, they are asked to contact Dr Bob Shaw on 01386 852059 or Ted Bradshaw on 01386 443398.