HISTORY OF MOCHDRE C.C.

In 1948 a number of enthusiasts, some new to the area, and mostly chaps who had returned from service in H.M. forces got together and started to organise cricket games on what had been the Colwyn Bay Football Club field - just behind what used to be the J.K.Smits factory but now it is the J.Williams Glass Company. The teams were comprised from various streets in the village - each team being known by colour, for instance, Bryn Marl Road would be Red team, while the Estate would be known as Green team etc. Only evening games were played and later fixtures were arranged against braids, Crosville and Coldrator (now Hotpoint) - and so Mochdre Cricket Club was born.

In those days the rules stated that only players residing between Dolwyd and Brompton Avenue were eligible to join the club, thus restricting members to actual residents of the village.

Our first Saturday fixture came in the 1950 season and was against Bangor 2nd - a team containing quite a number of Denis Ferranti Meters players. Needless to say all games were friendlies and indeed it was only during that season that all members were requested to wear white flannels - in keeping with the tradition of the game.

In those days there were no changing or tea facilities, these being provided by the Church room - so tea interval lasted about 45 minutes!! Eventually we obtained an old Victorian bathing hut which accommodated about 12 players and could be used as a shelter should the game be affected by rain at any time.

The wicket was maintained by the players on a rota basis and was not always of the best quality, as there was no water laid on. We relied on the Council to cut the outfield and there were many occasions when it could have been cut a little closer. I recall a game Abergele when it had to be called off, after about six overs because of the dangerous state of the wicket. Our only consolation was that it made headlines in the Sunday press.

When Smits was built in 1954 the Council arranged that we move tp the next field, behind the abattoir (this is the land on which Gordon Ford now stands). I recall one occasion when we had to water the wicket by borrowing hose pipes from the local Fire Brigade, soaking it from the abattoir water supply. On the other side of the river the tip was now in full swing, and when the weather was warm we were constantly reminded of the fact!! However we did now have a small pavilion, which represented a step in the right direction so far as we were concerned.

About 1954 we were invited to enter a team in the Colwyn Bay Cricket Club Trios, which at that time was a most popular Annual event, and attracted taems from such clubs as Birkenhaed Park and Wilmslow and the Manchester area. We did nothing spectacular in our first year but on our second visit we had good wins against Prestatyn, Wilmslow and lost to Birkenhead narrowly. they went on to win the competition. From then on our credentials were accepted and we were rewarded with saturday fixtures against Colwyn Bay.

On all away games a coach was hired as there were only three players who owned a car. Some of our original members had left in the meantime, at least two emigrated, and others moved in connection with work while others gave way to Anno Domini, but we were now seeing the young players coming through and becoming team players. In those days of cousre, there was just the one team.

Once again, building was taking over, and in 1967 our field was required for that purpose. For one season, until such time as the tip could be prepared as a cricket pitch, we played our hmoe games at the Civic Centre, and if our wickets up to now had been doubtful - this one was diabolical!!

Yet again we moved - this time to the Council tip which had been levelled to a resonable extent and was certainly an improvement on the Civic Centre. A mobile toilet was provided by the Council and the Pavilion was increased in size so that we were able to have tea in the pavilion - albeit a little congested. How the ladies coped with only a minute kitchen was nothing less than ingenious. Although the wicket was an improvement, the outfield did dip in parts - in fact anyone fielding deep was only visible from the knees up from the pavilion.

Despite these handicaps our standard was improving and the sons of founder members were now firmly established in the team proving capable cricketers.

In 1975 the North wales League was formed and we entered as Second Division members. Two years later we tied with Ruthin at St Asaoh for promotion to the first division only to lose on the toss of a coin at the league A.G.M. In 1976 we lost to Skewen in the Final of the Welsh Cup. This was a memorable day in the history of Mochdre C.C.

A new clubhouse was opened in December 1978, the complex was designed by David J Williams, who, in the future would become an outstanding architect and is now one of the leading golf cousre designers in the U.K. In July 1998 we moved to our present clubhouse.

From that humble beginning in 1948, we now have sporting complex and teams respected by all clubs. We have two evening league teams, an under eleven team, an under thirteen team and a ladies team. Our players have represented Denbighshire, North Wales and North Wales Colts teams.

I have not mentioned any one individual in this short history as I feel we are a family club, and although obviously players move on for one reason or another, they always retain a certain loyalty to our club.

RON WILLIAMS

PRESIDENT MOCHDRE CRICKET CLUB