JUST over 124 years ago, on May 4, 1899,  Worcestershire County Cricket Club played its first County Championship match at its now much photographed New Road ground, where the majestic Cathedral provides an imposing backdrop. The visitors were Yorkshire and they won by 11 runs.

Before that the club, which was formed in 1865 with Lord Lyttleton the prime mover, had played its home gamers at what was known in Victorian times as Boughton  (old spelling Boulton) cricket ground, but subsequently became the Cinderella ground in Bransford Road.

Among several wealthy local families who supported Lyttleton’s venture were the Isaacs, possibly because one of their number, EW, was good at cricket. Descended from bankers, they lived in Boughton House, which came with an estate and plenty of land to create a cricket ground.

Head of the family JS Isaac agreed to provide a suitable field and a pavilion and Worcestershire CCC had a home ground, something that considerably raised the profile of the game in the locale.

It was here WG Grace made his first appearance in the Midlands. Although only 20 years old, he was already the best cricketer in the country. The occasion was the meetig of “the Twenty Two” of Worcestershire and the United South of Englnd XI.

The home team won by 57 runs and according to records “fielded such notable players as the Hon CG Lyttleton, H Foster, AB Martin, the Hon HG Allsopp and EW Isaac”. 

WG Grace also played at Boughton in 1870, this time for a Worcestershire XI against the North of England.

In 1878 there was great excitement caused by the visit of an Australian team to Boughton and cricket being the statistics game it is (is any other more so?) full details of that encounter, which the tourists won by 174 runs, are naturally available.

Apparently Albert Bird got six wickets for Worcestershire after Australia won the toss and decided to bat, making 274. They then bowled out Worcestershire for 202 despite a last wicket stand of 62 between wicket keeper George Gaukrodger (who was Irish and also an international footballer) and fast bowler Robert Burrows.

At the end of the second day, the Australians had added a further 169 for the loss of five wickets, and though they lost their final wickets for 30 runs, Worcestershire were bowled out for 97 in their second inning.  Ernie Jones taking 6-53 and Warwick Armstrong 4-34

Boughton went on being used by WCCC until 1899, when the move to New Road was made as it had greater potential for increased revenue.

Presumably this was because it was mile or so nearer the city centre and not because it offered more parking space, a factor that was hardly an issue in those days when you just needed space to hitch your horse or park your bike.