Wolvercote Cricket Club (WCC) was founded in 1863, making it one of the oldest clubs in the region. To begin with WCC played ad hoc fixtures against Cumnor, Eynsham, Wytham, and even Oxford University Press on Wolvercote Common (the lower village end of Port Meadow, by the allotments). After the second World War, the club converted a Nissen hut for use as a changing room/rudimentary pavilion. The original “ground” was shown on Ordnance Survey maps until the 1990s.
“WOOLVERCOTT v. THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. – This match was played on Saturday last [9 May] on the Oxford side of Port Meadow, and ended in an easy victory for the Woolvercott Eleven. The play of the Woolvercott [side] was first-rate in all points, and that of Mr. G. Thomas, for the University Press, was much admired. Woolvercott, 87 and 124; Press, 38 and 15 (with one wicket down).”
From Jackson’s Oxford Journal of Saturday 16 May 1863
The club was one of the first teams to participate in organised cricket in the county, and played in the Airey Cup since its inception in 1890, and the Telegraph Cup, since 1901. WCC joined the newly-formed Oxfordshire Cricket Association (OCA), founded in 1905, in 1910. In the late 1950s the club moved to its current home on the Oxford City Council ground at Cutteslowe Park.
In the 1980s WCC collaborated first with North Oxford CC, and, later, with Oxford Nondescripts CC in the provision of Youth Cricket. Neither of these two other teams survives today. By 2008 club cricket in North Oxford had been reduced to a single adult team with 20 players. Steps taken since then have rejuvenated WCC into a thriving community cricket club. A second team was inaugurated in 2012, the youth programme was re-started in 2015, and a third adult team was added in 2017. WCC introduced its current constitution, and incorporated as a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), on 18 March 2018, and, in 2020, we adopted the ground formerly used by Kennington CC and a fourth XI was born. In 2021 WCC joined the Cherwell Cricket League, founded in 1974, after its 2021 merger with the OCA.
WCC now fields eight teams (four adult, and four youth, including, in 2023 for the first time, a women’s team), and has over 150 playing members.
We like to think we are one of the fastest-growing cricket clubs in Oxford. Although Wolvercote CC has existed for over 100 years, it was only in 2008 that our 2nd XI was first established. Then, a few years later, our Youth Section was set up and now fields Under 9, 11, 13, and 15 teams.
In 2017, our 3rd XI was set up and joined the OCA, gaining promotion in its inaugural season. 2021 saw the debut of our 4th XI and the club’s introduction to the newly expanded Cherwell Cricket League.
If you are interested in joining or have any questions regarding the club, please get in touch with us at . We’re always keen to meet people who share our passion for the game!
Wolvercote CC are extremely fortunate to have a partnership with St Edward’s Oxford that enables us to:
The link with St Edward’s plays a crucial role in the club being able to provide opportunities for both children and adults in the local area. We as a club are extremely grateful to St Edward’s for their support.
