List of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club grounds explained

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire, is one of the 18 member clubs of the English County Championship. The club was established in 1846 following the merger of the Mangotsfield Cricket Club and West Gloucestershire Cricket Club and played under the latter name until 1867, after which it became the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.[1] It has played first-class cricket since 1870, List A cricket since 1963 and Twenty20 cricket since 2003.[2] [3] [4] Unlike most professional sports, in which a team usually has a single fixed home ground, county cricket clubs have traditionally used different grounds in various towns and cities within the county for home matches, although the use of minor "out grounds" away from the club's main headquarters has diminished since the 1980s.[5] [6] Gloucestershire have played home matches at eighteen different grounds.

The club's first home match in first-class cricket was played at Durdham Down in the Clifton district of Bristol. This was the only time the county used this venue for a match. The following year Gloucestershire began to play matches at the Clifton College Close Ground in the grounds of Clifton College in the same part of the city, and this remained a regular venue for the county until the 1930s, hosting nearly 100 first-class matches. In 1872 the county used a venue outside Bristol for the first time when they played at the College Ground in the grounds of Cheltenham College. This venue has continued to be used regularly for the county's annual "Cheltenham festival" event, which in the modern era incorporates additional charity events and off-field entertainment.[7] In 1889 Gloucestershire began to play matches at the County Ground in Bristol, which has subsequently served as the club's main headquarters and hosted the majority of the county's matches. It was here that the club played its first List A match in 1963 against Middlesex, and its first Twenty20 match forty years later against Worcestershire. Bristol is not officially part of Gloucestershire and has been considered an independent county since 1373, though it was officially part of the county of Avon from 1974 until 1996.[8] Somerset have played first-class matches at other venues in the city.[9] [10]

In the 1920s Gloucestershire ceased playing at the Spa Ground in Gloucester, which had been in use since 1882, and switched to the Wagon Works Ground in the city. This ground remained in use for nearly 70 years, hosting over 150 first-class matches, until its use was discontinued in 1992. In 2012 the club investigated the possibility of returning to the Wagon Works Ground and making it their permanent headquarters after being refused permission for extensive redevelopment of the County Ground in Bristol,[11] but ultimately this did not occur. In 1993, the club moved its base in Gloucester to Archdeacon Meadow, a ground owned by The King's School. This venue was only used for first-class matches until 2008 but was used for four Twenty20 matches in 2010 and 2011, the most recent county games to take place in the city. All subsequent matches have taken place in either Bristol or Cheltenham.

Grounds

Below is a complete list of grounds used by Gloucestershire County Cricket Club for first-class, List A and Twenty20 matches. Statistics are complete through to the end of the 2020 season. Only matches played by Gloucestershire CCC at the grounds are recorded in the table. Matches abandoned without any play occurring are not included.

NameLocationFirst-classList ATwenty20
FirstLastMatchesFirstLastMatchesFirstLastMatches
scope=rowDurdham Down[12] Cliftonno other matches to date [13]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowClifton College Close Ground[14]
Clifton[15]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowCollege Ground[16]
Cheltenham[17] [18] [19]
scope=rowCirencester Park[20] Cirencesterno other matches to date [21]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowSpa Ground[22]
Gloucester[23]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowBatsford Road[24] Moreton-in-Marsh[25] [26]  -  -
scope=rowEast Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground[27] Cheltenham[28]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowBristol County Ground[29]
Bristol[30] [31] [32]
scope=rowGreenbank Cricket Ground[33]
Bristol[34]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowWagon Works Ground[35]
Gloucester[36] [37]  -  -
scope=rowVictoria Ground[38]
Cheltenham[39]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowErinoid Ground[40] Stroud[41]  -  -  -  -
scope=rowRecreational Trust Ground[42] Lydney[43] [44]  -  -
scope=rowCounty Ground[45]
Swindon -  - [46]  -  -
scope=rowSwilgate[47] Tewkesbury -  - [48]  -  -
scope=rowCounty Ground[49]
Trowbridge -  - no other matches to date [50]  -  -
scope=rowDowty Arle Court[51] Cheltenham -  - [52]  -  -
scope=rowArchdeacon Meadow[53]
Gloucester[54] [55] [56]

Notes

A. First-class cricket matches are designed to be contested over multiple days, with each team permitted two innings with no limit to the number of overs in an innings.[57] List A matches, also known as limited overs or one-day matches, are intended to be completed in a single day and restrict each team to a single innings of between 40 and 60 overs, depending on the specific competition.[58] Twenty20 matches restrict each team to a single innings of 20 overs.[59]

B. The County Ground, Swindon is located in the adjacent county of Wiltshire.[60]

C. The County Ground, Trowbridge is located in the adjacent county of Wiltshire.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Rae, Simon. W.G. Grace: A Life. 89. Faber & Faber. 1998. 9780571178551.
  2. Web site: First-Class Matches played by Gloucestershire . CricketArchive . 7 July 2015 . 8 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150708024316/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/0/118/First-Class_Matches.html . live .
  3. Web site: List A Matches played by Gloucestershire . CricketArchive . 7 July 2015 . 7 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150707205045/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/0/118/List_A_Matches.html . live .
  4. Web site: Twenty20 Matches played by Gloucestershire . CricketArchive . 7 July 2015.
  5. Web site: Remembering Yorkshire County Cricket Club's out grounds. Andrew. Glover. BBC News. 10 April 2013. 24 May 2015. 25 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925215926/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21952809. live.
  6. Web site: Out of town but not out of favour. ESPNcricinfo. Edward. Stockton. 13 June 2006. 26 June 2015. 27 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150627161925/http://www.espncricinfo.com/countycricket/content/story/250329.html. live.
  7. Web site: Plans unveiled for 2015 Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival. Bristol Post. 27 May 2015. 8 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714170758/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/PLANS-UNVEILED-2015-BREWIN-DOLPHIN-CHELTENHAM/story-26581356-detail/story.html. 14 July 2015.
  8. Web site: City of Bristol . High Sheriff's Association of England and Wales . 2010 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110526160040/http://www.highsheriffs.com/City%20of%20Bristol/City%20of%20BristolHistory.htm . 26 May 2011 . dead . dmy-all .
  9. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Knowle Cricket Club Ground, Bristol (3) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703224032/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/561_f.html . live .
  10. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Imperial Athletic Ground, Bristol (9) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704065732/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/355_f.html . live .
  11. Web site: Gloucestershire's future in doubt. 11 January 2012. ESPNcricinfo. 10 July 2015. 1 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150801235229/http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2012/content/story/549003.html. live.
  12. Web site: Durdham Down, Clifton . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015.
  13. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Durdham Down, Clifton (1) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704031813/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/353_f.html . live .
  14. Web site: Clifton College Close Ground, Clifton . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703232416/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/351.html . live .
  15. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Clifton College Close Ground, Clifton (96) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704010510/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/351_f.html . live .
  16. Web site: College Ground, Cheltenham . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704031112/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/398.html . live .
  17. Web site: First-Class Matches played on College Ground, Cheltenham (328) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704025320/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/398_f.html . live .
  18. Web site: List A Matches played on College Ground, Cheltenham (88) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015.
  19. Web site: Twenty20 Matches played on College Ground, Cheltenham (5) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703223119/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/398_tt.html . live .
  20. Web site: Cirencester Park, Cirencester . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704040538/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/416.html . live .
  21. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Cirencester Park, Cirencester (1) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703233628/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/416_f.html . live .
  22. Web site: Spa Ground, Gloucester . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704004722/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/492.html . live .
  23. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Spa Ground, Gloucester (56) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704024348/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/492_f.html . live .
  24. Web site: Batsford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015.
  25. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Batsford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh (6) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704015637/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/638_f.html . live .
  26. Web site: List A Matches played on Batsford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh (21) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704050229/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/638_a.html . live .
  27. Web site: East Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground, Cheltenham . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704021830/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/400.html . live .
  28. Web site: First-Class Matches played on East Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground, Cheltenham (2) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704055858/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/400_f.html . live .
  29. Web site: County Ground, Bristol . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 2 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150702134950/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/352.html . live .
  30. Web site: First-Class Matches played on County Ground, Bristol (804) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704063221/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/352_f.html . live .
  31. Web site: List A Matches played on County Ground, Bristol (298) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704000748/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/352_a.html . live .
  32. Web site: Twenty20 Matches played on County Ground, Bristol (49) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704050327/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/352_tt.html . live .
  33. Web site: Greenbank, Bristol . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704062245/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/354.html . live .
  34. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Greenbank, Bristol (20) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703223251/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/354_f.html . live .
  35. Web site: Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704003808/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/493.html . live .
  36. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester (155) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704032111/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/493_f.html . live .
  37. Web site: List A Matches played on Wagon Works Ground, Gloucester (27) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704052009/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/493_a.html . live .
  38. Web site: Victoria Ground, Cheltenham . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704033752/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/402.html . live .
  39. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Victoria Ground, Cheltenham (20) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703231457/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/402_f.html . live .
  40. Web site: Erinoid Ground, Stroud . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704064536/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/769.html . live .
  41. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Erinoid Ground, Stroud (14) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704034052/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/769_f.html . live .
  42. Web site: Recreational Trust Ground, Lydney . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704052614/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/610.html . live .
  43. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Recreational Trust Ground, Lydney (8) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704035910/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/610_f.html . live .
  44. Web site: List A Matches played on Recreational Trust Ground, Lydney (8) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704005341/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/610_a.html . live .
  45. Web site: County Ground, Swindon . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703224707/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/781.html . live .
  46. Web site: List A Matches played on County Ground, Swindon (7) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703235036/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/781_a.html . live .
  47. Web site: Swilgate, Tewkesbury . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704055618/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/786.html . live .
  48. Web site: List A Matches played on Swilgate, Tewkesbury (1) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704041901/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/786_a.html . live .
  49. Web site: County Ground, Trowbridge . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703133630/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/799.html . live .
  50. Web site: List A Matches played on County Ground, Trowbridge (1) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704064536/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/799_a.html . live .
  51. Web site: Dowty Arle Court, Cheltenham . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704000211/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/399.html . live .
  52. Web site: List A Matches played on Dowty Arle Court, Cheltenham (2) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704013431/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/399_a.html . live .
  53. Web site: Archdeacon Meadow, Gloucester . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 28 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150628211636/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/491.html . live .
  54. Web site: First-Class Matches played on Archdeacon Meadow, Gloucester (15) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704060130/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/491_f.html . live .
  55. Web site: List A Matches played on Archdeacon Meadow, Gloucester (11) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 3 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150703222832/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/491_a.html . live .
  56. Web site: Twenty20 Matches played on Archdeacon Meadow, Gloucester (4) . CricketArchive . 3 July 2015 . 4 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150704021520/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/11/491_tt.html . live .
  57. Web site: The LV= County Championship, Other First Class Matches and Non-First Class MCC University Matches against Counties. 3 September 2015. England and Wales Cricket Board. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011149/http://www.ecb.co.uk/sites/default/files/3486_fc_domestic_lvcountychamp2015_p17-64_lr.pdf. 24 September 2015.
  58. Book: Knight, Julian. Cricket for Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. 2011. 3 September 2015. 9781119996569.
  59. Web site: NatWest T20 Blast. 3 September 2015. England and Wales Cricket Board. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011236/http://www.ecb.co.uk/sites/default/files/royal_london_one_day_cup_-_july_2015_update4.pdf. 24 September 2015.
  60. Web site: Historic Trowbridge photos. BBC. 4 September 2015. 19 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151019053513/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/image_galleries/historic_trowbridge_photos_gallery1.shtml. live.