Paultons Cricket Club

Whitemoor Lane

Ower

Southampton

SO51 6AJ

The earliest newspaper report of a match involving Paulton's Park, as it was the known, was the

18th.July 1890. The match was against Downton. It is thought, however, that the club was

founded much earlier than that by the Sloane-Stanley family who at the time owned the Paulton's

Estate.

 

The first ground used was a few hundred yards from our present ground at Whitemoor Lane.

The club really came to life when the young Mr. R. C. H. Stanley engaged Tom Soar, one of

Hampshire's fast bowlers, to construct a new ground in the present gardens of Paulton's Park,

and part of the original pavilion still stands today.

 

Situated amid Azaleas, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, and many other shrubs, this beautiful ground

was in the shape of a horseshoe with seats set in the box hedging, to represent the nail holes and

with a six-inch high iron railing to indicate the boundary. The huge pavilion was set well back from

the wicket, and was indeed a very long walk for a golden duck.

 

Press reports of matches played in the early 1900's spoke of the hospitality, which included a hot

lunch, which was dispensed at Paulton's Park.

 

In the early twenties, Captain Lester, an American millionaire, became the tenant of Paulton's and

made a great impression in his efforts to become a "Country Squire". His gardeners carried out

ground maintenance, including wicket preparation. He also provided all the playing gear, sweaters,

blazers, and caps for the Club members. Any youngster not possessing the proper gear was

despatched to Toomers in Southampton to be fitted out at the Captain's expense. County

professionals were engaged for coaching. Phil Mead, Sam Pothercary, Walter Livesey were among

those used. There was a break in 1939 when the ground was kept going by Calmore Cricket Club

until the club was reformed in 1951.

 

In 1957 it was learned that the ground was to be turned over to agriculture. Crisis meetings were

held until it was finally decided (grudgingly) to go ahead with a plan to clear an area of Copythorne

Common. It was a close run thing, with the Chairman's casting vote carrying the day.

 

The last match on the famous "Horseshoe Ground" was played in 1958. In 1959, 60, and part of

61, we kept going by playing away matches on Saturdays and working on the new ground on

Sundays.

 

With just £27 in the kitty in 1951, some enthusiastic fund-raising was called for. Dances, draws,

jumble sales and the like, brought in £100 or so in the 1957-58 winter. It was then decided to run

a football pool commencing in the 1958-59 football season. Coupon's and result sheets were

printed with the aid of a duplicator (bought on the never- never) and by April 1961 the pool had

raised £1,030. This was spent, as it became available on machinery for levelling and seeding the

area and laying the square. Thousands of man-hours were put in., mainly on drainage and fencing,

by the members (all 14 of them, later reduced to 12 by National Service).

 

The first match at the new Whitemoor Lane ground was played in late summer 1961. A marquee

was used as a pavilion till it was replaced by a proper structure costing £492, which was erected in

the autumn of 1962. Assisted by grants from the N.P.F.A. and the Lords Taverners, a new kitchen,

flush toilets, and a gear store were added in 1965.

 

Over the past 36 years the clubhouse and club have evolved and grown, to the present one we

have today. Where we now run three Saturday sides and three colts' teams.

 

The club is still run for its members by its members, so the valiant efforts of all are still greatly

appreciated.