A NEW book telling the story of cricket in Evesham since 1831 has been written by two stalwarts of the club to mark the 150th anniversary of the club and the centenary of the Avon Street ground.

Ted Bradshaw and Bob Shaw's book includes a wealth of photographs, some of which date back to the early days.

Evesham Cricket Club was founded in 1854 but this was not the earliest date organised club cricket was played in the Vale, said Bob Shaw. As early as 1831, the Vale of Evesham Cricket Club was playing on a home ground at Wyre Piddle and drawing players from all over the Vale. In 1832, there was a Broadway & Evesham Cricket Club and the scorebooks of matches in that year still exist.

After Evesham Cricket Club was founded in 1854 by schoolmasters from Prince Henry's School as a club for people of the town, the Vale club continued for some years before eventually fading away, while the Broadway & Evesham Club probably became Broadway Cricket Club after the 1850s.

"Evesham Cricket Club prospered during the 19th century, only to fall on bad times around 1900," said Mr Shaw. The club was reformed in 1904 and established at the Avon Street ground where the club plays today. The pavilion, built in 1906, is in use to this day and was splendidly restored last year.

"Evesham became one of the strongest clubs in the area during the decades that followed. However, history nearly repeated itself at the Millennium when the club faltered with financial problems and relegation in three successive seasons. That has now been reversed and at the end of the triumphant 2003 season, Evesham Cricket Club gained promotion back to the Birmingham League, while fabric and fortunes of the club have been restored."

In the book there is mention of many of the old timers, and their triumphs on the cricket field. The book is studded with local names - the three generations of the Newbury family, Maurice, his father Vic the well-known singer, and grandfather Louis, and successive generations of the Righton family. It includes tables of centuries by batsmen and six-wicket hauls by bowlers since 1946, as well as club officers and captains.

A History of Evesham Cricket Club costs £5 and is available from local bookshops, on Amazon and from club members. Proceeds go to Evesham Cricket Club.