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Grass Roots

Away from the county grounds, in the park or on the village green, on the beach or in the street, cricket is a social occasion.

From local league matches in parks or on village greens, to tip and run on the street or in the playground, away from the first-class game cricket is a social occasion with its own distinctive ceremonies: whether its deckchairs on the boundary or wickets chalked on a wall. This collection of mostly amateur films captures the enjoyment of the game at the grass (or concrete, tarmac or sand) roots. Witness the camaraderie of team mates ‘on tour’, a match in period costume and a fancy dress scramble on the beach from the comfort of your own pavilion.

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Playing Cricket on Blackpool Beach Playing Cricket on Blackpool Beach

Amateur film 1935 1 mins Silent Location: Blackpool

Sand between your toes, and the thwack of leather on willow, make for a traditional British beach scene.

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Troon Cricket Club Troon Cricket Club

News 1977 3 mins Location: Camborne

Troon CC compete in the National Village Championship

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Soldiers Play Cricket near Guildford Soldiers Play Cricket near Guildford

Amateur film 1935 2 mins Silent Location: Stoughton

Kenneth Lockwood's 1930 film shows men of the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment enjoying a game of cricket at Stoughton Barracks near Guildford

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Roger's Cup Winning Match Roger's Cup Winning Match

Amateur film 1973 3 mins Silent Location: Cawthorne

For local cricket players from a local cricket club playing in a local league, just playing is what matters; but winning is also nice.

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Sevenoaks Cricket Bicentenary Week July 16-21, 1934 Sevenoaks Cricket Bicentenary Week July 16-21, 1934

Amateur film 1934 6 mins Silent Location: Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks celebrates the bicentenary of the cricket match between the Gentlemen of Kent and Gentlemen of Sussex

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Six Points on Saturday Six Points on Saturday

Documentary 1986 27 mins Location: Pudsey

The enthusiasm of cricket lovers knows no bounds, as seen here with Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club and their rivals in the Bradford League.

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Astwood Bank Village Cricket Team Astwood Bank Village Cricket Team

News 1972 7 mins Location: Astwood Bank

Astwood Bank cricket team prepare for the pinnacle of the village game with a trip to the home of English cricket.

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Pentrebach: Festival of Britain Cricket Match Pentrebach: Festival of Britain Cricket Match

Home movie 1951 1 mins Silent Location: Pentrebach

The show is inaugurated in Llandrindod by various VIPs and a group of Africans are welcomed to this 3-day celebration of rural life in Wales.

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Indoor Cricket at St. Ives, Cambs Indoor Cricket at St. Ives, Cambs

Sport 1976 4 mins Location: St Ives

A sport for all seasons; Anglia TV report from St. Ives, Cambridgeshire on indoor cricket with Eaton Socon Cricket Side.

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Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun Fancy Dress Cricket and Beach Fun

Amateur film 1935 4 mins Silent Location: West Sussex

The arrival of summer means it's time for grown men to dress as ladies and play some raucous cricket - as Eric Norman's holiday camp film shows

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Cricket at Cuckfield Cricket at Cuckfield

Amateur film 1929 5 mins Silent Location: Cuckfield Park

Everyone's having a great time at Cuckfield Park in this charming film from 1929 - after the big match - everyone gets their own turn at the stumps

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Cricket at St. Davids Cricket at St. Davids

Amateur film 1953 8 mins Silent Location: Reigate

The Surrey Fire Brigade's cricket team delight their guests with a cricket match followed by an awards ceremony in this film from 1953

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Scout Camp and Cricket Scout Camp and Cricket

Amateur film 1952 8 mins Silent Location: Ardingly

Cyril Hayworth's jolly film shows cubs, scouts and adults playing games of cricket where enthusiasm and fun count for more than the rules

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Cricket at South Bersted I Cricket at South Bersted I

Amateur film 1964 10 mins Silent Location: South Bersted

Bob Burns' delightful film captures village cricket at its best - with a lovely lunch, beer on tap and a snooze in a deckchair

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Cricket at South Bersted II Cricket at South Bersted II

Amateur film 1968 5 mins Silent Location: South Bersted

Bob Burns' charming film captures another day's cricket at his local club - and while the men are at play their wives provide the lunch

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Old Collegians Versus Lyons CC Old Collegians Versus Lyons CC

Amateur film 1949 2 mins Silent Location: Surrey

There as much going on off the pitch as there is on in this remarkable film which features summer fashions, stripey blazers and pipes aplenty

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Old Collegians Devon Tour 1938 Old Collegians Devon Tour 1938

Amateur film 1938 16 mins Silent

Enjoy this barnstorming cricket tour around Devon with the Old Collegians - complete with pipes, stripey blazers and old Bertie's party trick

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Cricket Match Cricket Match

Amateur film 1971 3 mins Silent Location: Cawthorne

The difficulties of the non-professional filming a cricket match are evident in this film, as the ball gets wacked hither and thither.

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Youth Competition at Sherborne Cricket Club Youth Competition at Sherborne Cricket Club

News 1980 3 mins Location: Sherborne

A youth competition showcases young talent at Sherborne

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Exeter St Thomas CC v Barnstaple Nondescripts Exeter St Thomas CC v Barnstaple Nondescripts

News 1968 5 mins Location: Cricket St Thomas

The Rothmans Cricket Cup Final is a Devon Affair

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Family Cricket Family Cricket

Amateur film 1920 1 mins Silent Location: Exeter

All family members are out for this game of friendly cricket; man, woman and boy

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Helston Cricket Club Helston Cricket Club

News 1976 0 mins Silent Location: Helston

Helston Cricket Club play a match in the Cornish League

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Cricket Match Cricket Match

Amateur film 1945 3 mins Silent Location: Laughton

Brighton Council challenges Laughton House to a cricket match, in Winston Robinson's unique film made only weeks after VE Day

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Colden Common v Twyford Cricket Match Colden Common v Twyford Cricket Match

Amateur film 1955 9 mins Silent Location: Colden Common

This nostalgic film from Jack Francis captures the essence of village cricket as Colden Common battles it out with Twyford in 1955

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Cricket at Herne Hill and Kent Tour 1932 Cricket at Herne Hill and Kent Tour 1932

Amateur film 1932 14 mins Silent

Herne Hill Cricket Club enjoys a hectic month of matches and socialising in this marvellous film record of their 1932 tour of Kent

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Village life in Minstead with Weddings, Ladies Cricket, Folk Dancing and Coronation Celebrations Village life in Minstead with Weddings, Ladies Cricket, Folk Dancing and Coronation Celebrations

Amateur film 1937 12 mins Silent

Minstead's ladies enjoy a cricket match on the village green in this charming film that also features two weddings, a holiday and a giant crab

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Ed Cohen at Oval Nets Ed Cohen at Oval Nets

Amateur film 1939 3 mins Silent

A dream comes true for this schoolboy as he practices in the nets at the Oval, captured in wonderful Kodachrome

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Junior Nets at Taunton Junior Nets at Taunton

News 1962 1 mins Silent Location: Taunton

Bill Alley and Brian Roe coach young cricketers in the nets at County Ground

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A Cricket Match and a Children's Outing A Cricket Match and a Children's Outing

Amateur film 1930 4 mins Silent Location: Minstead

Lady Congleton's film captures the joys of country-house cricket in the 1930s - complete with servants, prams and New Forest ponies

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Horsham Cricket Week and Grand Carnival, Thursday July 24th Horsham Cricket Week and Grand Carnival, Thursday July 24th

Sport 1913 5 mins Silent Location: Horsham

Sussex take on Lancashire in this charming film of Horsham Cricket Week and Grand Carnival

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Isleham at the Haig National Village Cricket Championship Final Isleham at the Haig National Village Cricket Championship Final

News 1975 5 mins Location: Isleham

In true British sporting tradition, at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Fenland underdogs Isleham are out-bowled - and a streaker invades the pitch.

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Birchington, August 1932 Purkiss Family Film No.4 Birchington, August 1932 Purkiss Family Film No.4

Amateur film 1932 11 mins Silent Location: Birchington

Amateur film of tennis and cricket in a Kentish family garden, plus cricket at Canterbury's St Lawrence Ground.

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Caerleon Cricket Club Caerleon Cricket Club

Home movie 1937 4 mins Silent Location: Caerleon/Caerllion

Caerleon Cricket Club’s players enjoy the sport in the seasonal sunshine.

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Kent V Australia Cricket 1934 Kent V Derbyshire Cricket Purkiss Family Film No.15 Kent V Australia Cricket 1934 Kent V Derbyshire Cricket Purkiss Family Film No.15

Amateur film 1934 14 mins Silent

Lovely sport and leisure compilation of Purkiss family home movies, featuring cycling, swimming and top level cricket.

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Cricket 1952 (Featuring Locations in Ilkley and Sleights) Cricket 1952 (Featuring Locations in Ilkley and Sleights)

Amateur film 1952 8 mins Silent Location: Ilkley

The 1950s, the zenith of cricket as the perfect expression of the English refinement of leisure, along with smoking a pipe and having a beer.