The earliest matches that took place would be very informal affairs and were not played on properly laid out pitches. First recollections include a match played on the terraced slopes in Longley Park (against 'Old Man Taylors' lot) and another on a very uneven piece of ground in Firth Park. Equipment was very meagre and restricted to the few possessions owned by the participants plus whatever else could be borrowed.
Mike Smith's father was also a keen cricketer and was able to provide Mike with addresses of clubs in the area who would be interested in playing against a very young team. In addition he was also able to pass on some of the older equipment no longer required by his club. Thus it was that in 1956 the club formed officially and started playing organised matches on "proper" cricket pitches.
Transport in those days was somewhat limited and usually meant traveling by bus or tram. However sometimes the minibus owned by Jack Smith (Mike's Dad) was available which was a real boon. This was followed by a consortium of 8 of the players purchasing a vehicle which was being "retired" from ambulance duty. Although the reliability of the ambulance was somewhat uncertain, it nevertheless provided the means of transporting a full team to various locations in Sheffield and north Derbyshire. The vehicle led to some well disciplined routines, such as the "Le Mans" start, and the "Everyone out and push!", not to mention the extension to the starting handle that allowed increased manpower to turn over the heavy engine. (Notwithstanding all this the ambulance did tour the Continent twice before being laid to rest).
From these humble beginnings the team went from strength-to-strength, frequently playing 4 matches per week, but at all times staying by its basic principles in that the team was selected from those who wanted to be a part of the group rather than on cricketing ability alone. Most games were friendly matches apart from a short venture into the Mid Week Alliance in the early 1960's.
But all things have to change and when Mike Smith, who had hitherto been Fixture Secretary, Treasurer, Team Selector and Captain, left the country to take up a job in Brazil, the club went into decline. A number of the "lads" had been overtaken by other commitments (such as marriage and work) and were no longer able to devote as much time to the game. This combined with the fact that Mike had been everything to the club, meant that in his absence it struggled to survive. However during the winter of 1966/67 a meeting was arranged to see if there was enough interest to keep Firvale CC alive. Fortunately the meeting was well attended and several volunteers came forward to form a committee to run the club.
The team then enjoyed a successful period, Mike Smith returned from Brazil, and the club went from strength-to-strength. Cricket tours were mentioned for the first time and a long standing member of Firvale, Mick Stringer, organised a weekend in Loughborough. Matches were played on the Saturday against British Gypsum and Sunday against Loughborough College Lecturers???. Accommodation for the whole team was provided on the floor of the Stringer residence on Saturday night.
This was to be the forerunner of the many and varied cricket tours undertaken by Firvale CC . Mike Smith took up a job in London, married, and moved to live in Harpenden. He was immediately put under pressure to host a "Southern Tour", to which he agreed. The first tour proved such a success that it was followed by many more. These became regular events twice a year, each tour lasting a full week. This was then supplemented by a weekend Christmas party at Smithy's. The number of residents in Harpenden would increase by about 40 (players, wives and children) for these events, all accommodated in the house, garage, or garden of the Smith residence.
The next Firvale "export" to be put under pressure was Cliff Handley who had chosen to move to St Annes. Yet another household had to contend with the marauding cricketers and families albeit only for a weekend at a time.
Another former Firvale player was Dick Hickling, who unfortunately died at a young age of motor neurone disease. Before he became ill, he helped organise tours to his final town of residence, namely Poole in Dorset. These tours provided a new experience to Firvale players in that for the first time they had to organise their own accommodation - initially this was in 1 Star hotels! Dick was an incredible character and retained a tremendous sense of humour to the end. When he was no longer able to walk he insisted on visiting the pubs with the team and boasted that he was the first Firvale player ever to be carried INTO a pub!
No-one who participated in any of these tours can forget the merriment, camaraderie, and banter enjoyed by all, not to mention some memorable cricket.
Mentions:-
Vaughan Hill
Dick Hickling
Mike Smith
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