Club History 5 of 15

5. 1888 – 1913


The 1890’s with Leeston-Smith no longer at the club, were difficult times for Weston with an uncertain existence and modest results. H. T. Gillmore was a tower of strength and William Smith the professional, who played occasionally for Somerset, performed some prodigious bowling feats for the club. The innings of the decade was played on July 22nd 1893 by E. J. Whitting at home against Cheddar when he scored 235 out of just 300 while he was at the wicket and Weston went on to score 399 for 8 wickets

From 1898 to 1902 the club barely existed although there was a great deal of local and school cricket. Several of the many private schools had teams. In 1903 a team called Weston Commercials began playing matches on the Recreation Grounds and on the Lewisham House School pitch. Although the Commercial Travellers continued to play in 1904 most of their leading players were playing for the reconstituted Weston-super-Mare CC. D. Beak was the Secretary and an accomplished bowler.

In 1905 Weston moved to a new ground in Charlton Road and from this date a continuous existence is apparent. On June 2nd 1906 Weston put 3 teams into the field almost certainly for the first time. The 1st XI beat Worle, the 2nd XI were thrashed by Schoolmasters ‘A’ while the 3rd XI beat local school Brynmelyn. Harry Saunders, one of Weston’s great servants as player and secretary emerged during this decade as a forceful batsman who played as an amateur for Somerset. During this period, C. W. Pinton was assessed by the press as ‘without doubt the most accomplished all round cricketer in the district’. A Thursday XI played regular fixtures. This was the golden age of cricket nationally and Weston was part of it running, as we have seen, 3 Saturday sides and a Thursday XI (part of the commercial tradition). In 1909, Weston embarked on a Devon Cricket Tour for the first time playing Exmouth, Paignton, Exminster County Asylum, Exeter City Asylum and Dawlish (their only defeat). This tour was repeated in 1910.

Somerset CCC were approached by the Weston Club with a view to providing Westonians and summer visitors additional facilities for witnessing county cricket and to test the revenue that could be made away from the Taunton County Ground. On July 30th & 31st 1910 a special match between Mr. G. L. Jessop’s XII against S. M. J. Woods’ XII was arranged and played on Weston’s Charlton Road ground. The fixture had more than paid for itself, despite bad weather.

In the years immediately before the 1st World War, Weston had a very strong team. In 1913 they had a particularly good year at Charlton Road with several playing for Somerset from time to time – Holland Gibbs, Harry Saunders and Harold Hippisley. Towle was an excellent all-rounder who had headed both batting and bowling averages in 1912. Taylor and H. J. Westell were fine batsmen, Nightingale and Stokes excellent bowlers and the side was shrewdly skippered by W. L. Carver