A Short History of D.A.C.D Cricket Club

	In the beginning …
	Peter Gray forms a team from the employees and friends of Portsmouth City Council's Department of Architecture and Civic Design hence D.A.C.D Cricket Club.
	Our first match is against Harris & Porter on 24 June 1987 and is played at King George V playing fields at Cosham. ·
	The team that day comprised Pete Gray Capt., Dean Nicholls, Duncan Hawkes, Dave Hawkins, Alan Langridge, John Gray, Ray Lamb, Meredydd Hughes, Gareth Holden, Tim Gardner and Rob Haughey.
	D.A.C.D win by 8 wickets. Meredydd 27*, Alan 16, John Gray 12 and Dave Hawkins 9 score the runs and John Gray, Gareth Holden, Dean Nicholls and Tim Gardner take wickets
	In addition the great tradition of apres match refreshment starts as the victorious team samples fine (?) Ales and buffet food at the nearby Portsbridge public house.
	Another match is arranged against Austin & Wyatt but D.A.C.D are defeated by 57 runs
	Gareth Holden is the first batsman to get a Duck.
	Mike Rushin scores D.A.C.D.'s first 50 and heads the seasons batting. John Grey and Tim Gardner are the leading wicket takers with 2 each.
	1988
	D.A.C.D play 2 matches and lose both
	Andy Lewis scores 48 runs and is the leading run scorer.
	Nobody copied the scores across for the 2nd match so Gareth Holden, Richard Maidment - yes the same - Meredydd Hughes and Andy Martin (?) head the bowling with 1 wicket each
	1989
	Out of the 4 matches played, 2 are won and another is tied.
	Meredydd scores a club record 73* against Wilson Homes and finishes the season top scorer with 101 runs
	Dave Eastwood takes 3-12 in the same match and finishes equal leading wicket taker with Mike Rushin (4 Wickets).
	1990
	Only 1 match played and D.A.C.D lose to the Planners by 13 runs.
	Ray Smith captains the side but does not bat due to a bad back.
	All rounder Richard Maidment top scores with 25 and Ray Stead heads the bowling with 2-21.
	1991
	Of the 10 matches played, D.A.C.D win 4 and lose 6 including twice to the Planners.
	The sadly missed Trevor Thomas takes the club's first hat trick and 5-wicket haul against Wilson Homes. He goes on to take a record 15 wickets in the season.
	The first annual awards dinner is held at the Standard Tandori restaurant, Southsea. Trevor Thomas is voted our first player of the season and Ray Smith is awarded the most improved player trophy.
	1992
	A 50/50 season with 5 wins, 5 defeats and a draw
	Dave Lee scores a record 186 runs in the season including 73 against P.C.S
	The team hits a new low and is dismissed for a pathetic 16 against S.E.B
	David Lee is the outstanding player of the season and Paul Roberts is the most improved.
	1993
	D.A.C.D complete their worst season ever with only 3 victories (2 against P.C.S) in 14 matches
	Captain Meredydd Hughes vows never again and arranges winter nets and coaching at Cowplain School during the early months of 1994
	Meredydd Hughes scores a record 204 runs in a season and with Neil Bennett takes a record equalling 15 wickets in the season.
	Dave Lee takes a record 4 catches in a match against P.C.S.
	Meredydd is player of the season and Matt Jennings is awarded the most improved player trophy.
	1994
	Winter nets do the trick and a new golden era of D.A.C.D cricket begins. The boys have their first winning season and lose only 9 of their 23 games
	Student Simon Blaydon becomes the clubs first centurion with 101* not out against Angmering C.C. and shares the first century partnership 110 with Dave Lee
	Meredydd Hughes scores a record 697 runs in the season including 8 half centuries and takes a record 26 wickets in the season.
	The Department of Architecture and Civic Design ceases to exist at Portsmouth City Council. The club's executive management committee decides against a name change
	Colin Lord takes a hat trick against H & S Aviation
	Meredydd scores his 1000th run for the club
	Richard Maidment is cut twice during the season; both injuries require stitches to his chin and are caused by the skipper and his Dad
	Meredydd is player of the season and Guy is awarded the most improved player trophy.
	1995
	Another winning season with 10 victories in 19 matches.
	The boys play and beat Clanfield C.C in their debut season but lose in the semis of the Junior Chamber cup to Nat West Bank
	Carwyn Hughes is the club's oldest player at 58 years and 6 months
	Gareth's spills blood against the customs and later in the season the team enjoys a quite evening sampling the produce of the Gales Brewery, Horndean.
	Meredydd is player of the season and Knotty is awarded the most improved player trophy.
	1996
	A bit of a blip as D.A.C.D suffer a losing season with only 9 victories in 21 games.
	Guy moves house and takes over as fixture secretary.
	Someone invites Robbo to play for us.
	The club purchases Cricket statistics for windows by Graham Giddings and the club averages get that professional feel.
	The D.A.C.D drinking club was founded - they know who they are
	Guy performs a castration with a cricket ball and without anaesthetic against one poor young Clanfield batsman (?) at Penn's Place
	Meredydd takes his 100th wicket and scores his 2000th run for the club
	Knotty is player of the season and most improved player.
	1997
	D.A.C.D celebrate their 10th anniversary season with brand new embroidered cricket shirts and 12 victories in 20 games.
	The boys play the Ladies in a specially arranged fixture and hold the inaugural D.A.C.D Cricket Club invitation six-a-side competition at Penns Place
	D.A.C.D enter 2 teams with the Oldboys losing gallantly in the final to Raytheon Marine
	Stuart got married - we enjoyed his stag night
	Alan Langridge becomes the first D.A.C.D player to appear in 100 matches
	Guy Andrews takes a record equalling 4 catches in the win over Westbourne C.C. and a club record 30 wickets in the season. Not surprisingly he is voted player of the season and Paul Maidment is awarded the most improved player trophy at the annual awards dinner held at the Bat & Ball
	1998
	Another blip where after a good start the boys fade and only manage 9 victories in 20 matches
	Meredydd is injured and misses a large chunk of the season including the sixes again
	The sixes move to Hollybank for the one and only time and are won by the South 2 Lions
	D.A.C.D play at the wonderful surroundings of West Dean House and win
	Wicket Keeper Richard Maidment performs a club record 3 stumpings against Pegasus Airwaves.
	Meredydd is player of the season and Knotty is awarded the most improved player trophy.
	1999
	An excellent season all round as the boys win 15 of their 22 matches
	Meredydd Hughes becomes the club's second centurion with 104* in the unbelievable 6 wicket win over Old Hambledonians. A good night was had by all in the Bat & Ball.
	Guy Andrews takes a record 5-6 in a mid-week match against the Wheelwrights but D.A.C.D still manage to lose the match.
	Meredydd scores his 3000th run for the club
	We nearly lose Stuart in the compost at Penns Place
	The D.A.C.D Oldboys lose out again to winners Raymarine in the sixes
	Gareth Holden takes a hat-trick for the D.A.C.D Dirt Trackers
	Jon Law appears in one man and his dog at Tangier Road
	Meredydd is player of the season and Stuart Barden is awarded the most improved player trophy
	2000
	An excellent start to the new Millennium with a record number of victories 17, 2609 team runs, 200 wickets and 79 catches
	The boys celebrate the new Millennium with a new club badge and embroidered shirts
	Russell Philips takes the first hat-trick for 6 years and Meredydd Hughes takes a club record 6-14 against Clanfield C.C. They take revenge by beating D.A.C.D Oldboys in the final of the D.A.C.D invitation sixes Competition
	Dave Richardson gets to 25 wickets in just 44 overs
	Andy Robinson takes a club record 14 catches in a season
	Guy, Knotty and Colin pass 1000 runs and 100 wickets for the club.
	D.A.C.D hold a Christmas dinner for the first time.
	The boys have a great day out at the Oval test match and Andy Robinson is voted player of the season. Dave Richardson & Russ Philips are jointly awarded the most improved player trophy at the annual awards dinner held at the Bat & Ball.
	2001
	Another record breaking season for D.A.C.D With 17 victories in 26 matches, 2779 runs scored by the team and a record highest score of 199-5 against Compton C.C
	Richard Maidment passes 100 wicket keeper dismissals for the club
	The Boys tour for the first time and enjoy (?) a fantastic long weekend in Devon losing both tour matches but performing at the highest possible standard off the pitch and in particular at their public house base. Read the tour report here.
	The D.A.C.D Cricket Club invitation six-a-side competition were held for the 5th year running with Clanfield C.C defending their trophy successfully and D.A.C.D Dirt Trackers finishing as runners up
	Paul Maidment suffers a nasty shoulder injury against South 2 Lions and misses the last month of the season, he still manages to win the Duck cup.
	Meredydd and Stuart share a record equalling 110 run partnership against Clanfield C.C
	Meredydd takes his 200th wicket for the club
	10 members of the D.A.C.D diplomatic Corp attended the Oval test match with the highlights including the Rolf Harris fancy dress, naked man, assisting in Ricky Ponting dismissal and getting the bird from Mark Waugh. Read the full un-edited story here !
	Meredydd changes job in June; there are now no representatives from Portsmouth City Council Architects Department in the club.
	Matt Jennings is voted player of the season and John Law is awarded the most improved player trophy at the annual awards dinner held at the Bat & Ball
	John Tasker starts the D.A.C.D website at www.dacd.co.uk

Britney Spears guide to......
The History of Cricket

It is a well known fact that once Britney Spears has put her school uniform in the wash and finished gyrating around the stage with snakes, she is in fact an excellent cricketer and a respected Cricket Historian, having written many books and thesis on the subject and has lectured at many of the Worlds leading Colleges and Universities.

Only her truly ardent fans are aware that many of her songs are actually about the game of cricket. "Ooops I did it again" is actually a reference to her regularly no balling when bowling around the wicket, especially to left handers! Her hit "Crazy" refers to a night watchman who stupidly ran the delectable Britney out when he nudged one to square leg and called for the run. Her 2nd single "Sometimes" features the chorus line "Sometimes I run....." "Lucky" makes reference to being adjudged "Not out" after she clearly nicked one through to the keeper in a limited overs match last year. In fact her latest release "Overprotected" is actually a critical comment on crickets use of helmets, thighpads, forearm protectors and boxes !

We, at DACD Cricket Club are very proud & honoured that Britney found time in her busy schedule to contribute to these pages with her Guide to the History of Cricket !

"The origins of cricket are rather obscure, and there are a number of theories on how it started. One theory is that shepherds used to play it - one would stand in front of the wicket gate to the sheep fold, and another would bowl a stone or some other object at him, and he would have to hit it with his crook, which was known as a cricce.

Another theory is that it derives from a game called club-ball, or was originally a game played in churchyards. Unfortunately there is little documentation to accurately detail how crickets origins began. Maybe they should have written it down, as I have to do, when I get a good idea for a song.

The first reference to cricket being played is thought to be in 1300, between Prince Edward and his friend Piers Gaveston and the first recorded match took place in the Kent village of Coxheath in 1646. However, the first real cricket club to be established was the Hambledon Club in England, which flourished in the second half of the 18th century. The Hambledon Club, a small club in Hampshire, near to where DACD play their games, brought attention to the sport, as they challenged the larger clubs. The team played its final recorded match in 1793 at the Lord's pitch in London, which was , and still remains, the most important cricket site in the history of cricket.

Lord's was begun in Dorset Square as a private cricket field by Thomas Lord, a Yorkshire man who bowled for the club. In 1813, the club was moved from its second location at St. John's Wood to its present field. However, the original Dorset Square turf was relaid with each change. The Marylebone Cricket Club, (MCC) with Lord's as its 'home base', is considered the international cricket authority. In 1969, cricket administration underwent a dramatic change with the formation of the Cricket Council, this included the M.C.C., the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB), and the National Cricket Association. The MCC still holds responsibility for the laws, but it is no longer the sole governing body. The TCCB controls both the county matches and the international tests. Delegates from the Women's Cricket Association, umpires, Royal Air Force, Army, and Navy cricket are on the Council. There is now no distinction between amateur and professional clubs. The county cricket matches are large attractions among people in England, but surprisingly has little following in Scotland, Ireland or Wales. In addition, the Oxford vs. Cambridge match is played as a major event every summer at Lord's. Cricket is truly England's national summer sport and is now played at the school, club and professional level all around the world. Cricket has followed footballs (in my hometown of New Orleans we call it, Soccer) lead and has organised it's own World Cup. This is a knockout competition featuring the World's best cricket nations of The West Indies, Australia, Pakistan, India, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and South Africa and many smaller and more obscure cricket nations such as Holland, & Scotland.

The detailed conduct of the game is governed by the Laws of Cricket. The Laws were revised in 1744, but before that cricket was being played under a commonly accepted code. In 1719, the first "county" match was played, with the Londoners (Middlesex) vs. the Kentish. It gained publicity in the southern counties of England, but was eventually transplanted to be mainly in the London grounds of wealthy patrons. During this time, crowds were often rowdy, with high monetary stakes on important matches.

The earliest known cricket photographs were taken in 1857, by Roger Fenton at the Artillery Ground, when the Royal Artillery played Hunsdonbury. As well as shepherds' crooks, early bats were clubs and sticks. These gave way to long, thin battes, which looked a bit like straightened-out hockey sticks, because the ball was bowled under-arm, and the batters swung their bats like clubs!! By the 18th century, the batte had developed into a longer, heavier, curved version of the one we know now, carved out of a single piece of wood.

Today's bat was invented around 1853, with the blade made of willow, and a cane handle, which is layered with strips of rubber, tied with twine, and covered with rubber to make a grip. The 'V' shaped extension of the handle into the blade is the splice. A modern bat is much easier to hold when you're hands are sweaty than that snake I had when performing my single "Slave 4U" - which is available in all good music shops by the way !!

The early balls were stones and other missiles. Rather dangerous really, kind of like when I performed with that snake at the awards show recently !! It's not surprising that someone came up with an alternative! They're now made of cork, and covered with hand-stitched leather quarters dyed red.

The wicket - the stumps are the three posts. Originally there were two, and at one point, four. The size has varied too - in the 17th century, were up to two metres wide!! The bails are the two bits of wood on the top, and if they fall off, the batsman's out !! This can be very disappointing for the batsman, rather like me not winning a Grammy, a Brit or a Smash Hits Poll Winners award. "

Britney xx

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All references to Britney Spears on this website are for comedic purposes only. We have never met Miss Spears, nor associated with her at any time nor do we have any idea as to her knowledge of the sport of cricket or, indeed, its history. Miss Spears has no association wth this website whatsover and she has not contributed to it's content in any form. We respect her as a person, and as an artist, and no offence is meant in any way. All pictures used on this site are believed to be in the public domain and remain copyrighted to their respective owners and no breach of copyright is meant nor implied. If anybody has a justifiable problem with references to Miss Spears, or the photographs used, then please email us and they will be removed as soon as we possibly can.