1949

Season 1949

Club News Samuel Welford (Right), an enthusiastic member of Toft CC was elected secretary in place of Arthur R Fasham at the meeting in the Liberal Club, Brook Street. The latter, who had previously been treasurer for eight years and secretary for three years, has been associated with Toft for 15 years. (Sam Welford’s correct, full name is Stanley Frederick William Welford)

Toft CC have had a concrete wicket installed on their Booth Park ground, and is in daily use.

Pre-season Report in KG 22nd April 

Hopes are high as the new season arrives

Let’s start with the club among the trees at Booths Park. Net practice has been in progress for almost a fortnight and the first practice match took place on Saturday. In an interesting and enjoyable game Mike Constantine-Smith’s XI beat Cliff Sharpe’s XI by 87 runs to 50. Harry Hammon had a merry knock of 15,otherwise the bowlers were generally on top. Percy Aldcroft, the groundsman, who has been at Toft for the past three seasons has done a good job with the cutting and rolling of the outfield and preparation of the wicket. Notable absentees will be last year’s captain, Horace Townsend, who has turned to Knutsford, but Mike Constantine-Smith (right) is a very capable all-rounder and should do his job with competence.

Comings and Goings

Horace Townsend (1948 Captain) has joined Knutsford CC

The Lindow Hospitals Cricket Cup

This will be the first competition of its kind in Knutsford and district since the war, proceeds will be in aid of luxury goods for the Knutsford and Alderley Edge Cottage Hospitals.

The matches will begin at 7.00pm and teams will each bat for 17 overs

Draw for the first round

Knutsford    v. Lindow 1st    - Tues 24th May – replayed 30th May

Toft        v. Chelford    - Thurs 26th May

Over Peover   v. Lindow 2nd    - Tues 31st May

Wilmslow   v. Styal        - Thurs 2nd June

Alan Parker (Report in KG 27 May) Local cricket enthusiasts should keep a close watch on the feats of 15 year old St. Cross schoolboy, Alan Parker. He is a slow-medium bowler with a future. Alan, who plays for Toft, has already taken 12 wickets for slightly under 50 runs this season. He breaks back sharply from the off and can vary his pace with telling effect.

Club Achievements

Toft won the Hospital Cup Tuesday 5 July

1st Team Results

Player Performances [[File:1949-1st.jpg|400px|right|thumb| Toft 1st XI

Standing (L-R) Geoff Sharpe, Charles Acton, Cliff Sharpe, Alan Hornby, Chris Blades, Bob Spilsbury

Seated (L-R) Dave Ashton, Alan Parker, Mike Constantine Smith, Harry Hammon, Bill Pryor ]] Alan Parker       - 5-9     v. Grappenhall        - 5-23    v. Middlewich 2nd

Match Highlights
 * The Grappenhall wicket played with uncertainty when Toft batted on Saturday, and although it was a little less tricky when it came the home team’s turn to occupy the crease, bowlers were always well in command. Wallington (5-9) and Green’s (4-11) fast bowling played havoc with the Toft batting in the first hour. Grappenhall (66-9) started much better and passed the Toft (29-10) total with seven wickets in hand, Alan Parker taking (5-9), Top scorer for Toft was Bill Pryor with 6 runs, six batsmen recorded ducks.


 * Toft (120-10) Alan Hornby (25) and Mike Constantine-Smith (21) beat Weaverham (71-10) by 54 runs, their bogy in the game was Harry Hamman who, in five overs, took four wickets for six runs, Alan Hornby also taking four wickets.


 * Ashley scored a victory over Toft on Saturday when they won by 42 runs, Alan Parker (3-21) and Geoff Sharpe (3-16) were the visitor’s most successful bowlers sharing six wickets. Ashley made 127-10. Only Mike Constantine-Smith (24) and later Geoff Sharpe (13*) and Captain A Bower (16) put up any resistance for Toft (85-10). Alan Parker had the misfortune to be struck on the head by a rising ball and forced to retire.


 * Sun A Team - Toft were only 90 runs behind Urmston (108-10) with all their wickets intact when rain interrupted play at Booths Park on Sunday. Batting first Urmston were always in difficulties against the bowling of Charlie Acton and Harry Hamman, but opening batsman Whittaker put up a good show, his 50 was achieved in flawless style. Charlie Actons (3-35) and Harry Hamman (3-7). Alan Burke and Charlie Acton began Toft’s reply after tea, but with (18-0) on the board, rain halted play.


 * Toft batting was weak. Bowdon Vale (102-7) had a useful 5 wicket victory over Toft (70-10) at Bowdon. Toft’s weakness was in the batting, only Mike Constantine-Smith (36) and Harold Ollier (12) making a reasonable show, Toft’s best bowlers were Harry Hamman (3-15), Alan Parker (2-29) and Charlie Acton (2-37).


 * Sun A Team - Toft (79-10) did a little better at the wicket on Sunday when they visited Timperley, Alan Hornby (30). on the other hand their bowlers took a turn for the worse. Timperley (81-1) winning by nine wickets.


 * Hospital Cup 1st Round - Toft, by defeating Chelford, were the only one of three Knutsford teams to win through the first round of the Hospitals Cup, Chelford (56-6) put up stubborn resistance at Booths Park on Thursday, but Toft (78-10) won by 22 runs.


 * Draw for the semi-final round of the Hospitals cricket club competition, made in Wilmslow, resulted as follows Toft v. Lindow at Knutsford 14th June


 * Ollier’s effort saved Toft. Toft were in none too secure a position when time intervened at Wythenshawe (119-9dec) on Saturday. Harold Ollier opened the batting and made 45 out of Toft’s (58-6). Geoff Sharpe taking (4-40) and Alan Parker (3-17).


 * Sun A Team - Toft (102-8) drew with Knutsford, Knutsford being unable to force a victory closed on (97-4), Harry Hamman (28) and Geoff Sharpe (20*) leading run makers and Alan Parker taking (2-19).


 * Toft CC aroused considerable controversy amongst spectators at mere Heath lane as to whether their action in batting so long and leaving Knutsford with such little time in which to get the necessary runs, was, in fact, sporting. Let me hasten to say that the undue length of the Toft innings was unavoidable bearing in mind their slow rate of scoring. Shipper Mike Constantine-Smith was bound to let his side continue until they had reached a reasonable total. Knutsford had the courage to accept the challenge, however, and such finishes as we saw on Sunday certainly make for more interesting cricket.


 * Toft were no match for Sale Moor on Saturday, being outclassed in all departments, Charlie Acton (4-50) and Alan Parker (3-27) were the only Toft men to come out with credit, both keeping good lengths and making the strikers play all the time. Sale Moor made (114-10). Toft were always in trouble, and although Geoff Sharpe (17) and Alan Hornby (11) offered stubborn resistance for a time, the later batsmen failed dismally and the score closed at (59-10).

[[File:1949Hospitalcup.png|400px|right|thumb| Mike Constantine-Smith
 * Hospital Cup Semi-Final - Toft beat Lindow

The Toft captain received the Lindow Hospital Cup from Mr D Midwood ]]

Hospital Cup Final

Styal, twice winners of the Lindow Hospital Cup in pre-war years, were beaten in the final round of the competition since the war by Toft on the Alderley Edge cricket ground on Tuesday evening. The Toft captain Mike Constantine-Smith (Right) received the cup from Mr D Midward. A splendid crowd watched this match of 17 overs for each team which showed a fine sporting spirit. The teams went out for runs on a fast wicket. The bowling was accurate with a good length and the fielding was keen. Toft had a total of (88-10) before their allocated number of overs ended. The whole side was dismissed for this score. Styal were soon in trouble against young fast bowlers. Half the side was dismissed 33 runs and the rate of scoring was slow. The last few batsmen went for boundaries, but when time was called Styal (73-9) were 13 runs behind their opponents when nine wickets had fallen.

Father and two sons In the Sunday ‘A’ match against Middlewich 2nd Toft played three Sharpe’s, father Jack (John) and his two sons Cliff and Geoff Sharpe.

2nd Team Results

[[File:1949-2nd.jpg|400px|right|thumb| Toft 2nd Team

Standing (L-R) Bill Prior, Eddie Norbury, Jack Sharpe, Cliff Sharpe (Captain), B Wilson, Alan Burke

Seated (L-R) Doug Prior, J Perry, FC Hilditch, Dave Ashton,Capt. Bower ]] Player Performances 

Cliff Sharpe        - 56* and 4-26 v. Bowdon Vale

- 5-14   v. Wythenshawe 2nd

Dave Ashton        - 5-10    v. Bowdon Vale

Match Highlights


 * Playing a grand all-round game for Toft 2nd at home to Bowdon Vale on Saturday, Captain Cliff Sharpe carried his bat through the Toft innings (82-10) and at the close was undefeated with 56*. He also took (4-26). However the rest of the home team batsmen put up mediocre resistance against the fast-medium attack of veteran Spilsbury (7-10). After the visitor opening pair had been dismissed, the rest of the Bowdon Vale eleven fell cheaply to the un-changed attack of Dave Ashton (5-10) and Cliff Sharpe (4-26). The innings terminated at 37, leaving Toft with a clear cut margin of victory by 45.


 * Toft’s 2nd bowling strength proved too much for Wythenshawe 2nd (50-10) at Booths Park on Saturday. Toft won by 34 runs. Toft totalled (84-10) Cliff Sharpe (15), FC Hilditch (13) and Alan Burke (12), Toft’s bowlers were Cliff Sharpe (5-14), Bill Pryor (2-4) and Dave Ashton (2-18).


 * Sun B Team - Knutsford 2nd beat Toft B by 110 runs on Sunday at Booths Park. Knutsford scored (149-10) Alan Parker taking (2-19). Toft were all out for 37, only Bill Pryor (14) reaching double figures, and Bower taking (3-20) for Toft.


 * At Booths Park on Saturday Sale Moor won by 121 runs. Sale Moor scored (154-10), Dave Ashton taking (3-41), Toft collapsed to (33-10), only Dave Ashton (12) reaching double figures.

Junior Team Results

Match Highlights 


 * May 21st – Knutsford juniors at home to Toft juniors

22nd AGM - 1950 Mar 17

Cricketers to be charged 6d (2½p) per Match

Mr H Horton presiding at the Annual Meeting of Toft CC in the Liberal Club, Knutsford on Monday commented that the club was not as financially strong as it appeared to be and the subscription rate was the lowest in the district, it was decided to charge players an additional 6d each for home matches. The treasurer Mr AB Burke reported a satisfactory year with a surplus of £10, outstanding items of expenditure had been repairs to the motor mower £34, repairs to the ground £18. Mr Burke was asked if he thought it economical to run the mower which was costing more than £30 a year for maintenance? He replied that the committee was considering buying a new one which would cost about £170. The purchase of a new mower was discussed for more than an hour. It was agreed to leave the final decision to the committee It had been a happy season reported the secretary Mr Sam Welford, giving the team results

A request for a new issue of club caps by Mr Bill Prior was defeated on the grounds of expense. It was decided that the ground would be opened on Monday April 10th.

1949 Full Players List

Compiler Jeff Tenner