HAPPY MEMORIES: BRIGG TOWN CRICKETERS PICTURED 30 & 40 YEARS AGO

The sadly much-shortened 2020 league cricket season having now ended for the Brigg Town club, we can look back down the decades to happy campaigns in which full play was possible from late April/early May through to mid-September - rain permitting.
These pictures were taken at the Recreation Ground, off Wrawby Road.
The one above shows Brigg's Sunday team in August 1990, then playing in the North Lindsey League.
Back row, left to right: Chris Collins, Andrew 'Sass' Markham, Dave Matthews, Nigel Fisher, Steve Antcliffe, Simon Fisher, Matt Mosey.
Front row: Andy Sharp, Garry Dunderdale, Garry 'Gig' Smith and Tony Bailey.
Below is the Town team at the Recreation Ground in the early 1980s, while playing in the South Humberside Alliance (most games being on Saturdays).
Back row, left to right: Roddy McFarlane, Andy Longden, Gerry Longden, Paul 'Fitz' Driscoll, Nigel Fisher, Clive Parker, John Phillips.
Front row: Andy Peall, Mark Robinson, Graham Day, Simon Church and Anne-Marie Fisher (scorer).
 

 

Note the wooden pavilion which came second-hand, courtesy of the council, from a former bowls green off Cary Lane.
Cricketers 40 years ago were very grateful for the facility but had to be wary of splinters from the wooden floor sticking into the soles of their feet. The pavilion had no water supply, but there was a tap outside!
Also in the distance are outbuildings that once belonged to Woodbine Farm and passed to Brigg Urban District Council in the early 1950s when it bought the farmland to create the Rec.
Various parts of the row - there was more of it to the left, not shown on the picture - were used for hockey and football changing but cricketers rarely gained admission. Glebe Road School played its football matches at the Rec and we recall in the 1960s donning our kit in what appeared to be a former cowshed or stable.
Just visible on the right (to the right of John Phillips) is one of the basic wooden sheds which provided additional changing accommodation for club footballers.
The row of former farm buildings was latterly used for storage by North Lincolnshire Council, including metal ballot boxes.
In a worthy 'green' initiative the entire row was carefully dismantled by contractor Derek Empringham whose firm supplied reclaimed bricks for repairs to old buildings.
Its removal of the Woodbine Farm survivors resulted in the erection of a tall fence to protect vehicles in the car park from cricket balls hoisted over the boundary.
By the early 1980s the original farmhouse - later used to provide accommodation for the Rec's groundsman - had been demolished.
Today the Recreation Ground has a modern changing room block of sturdy construction, with many showers and even a community room at one end which can be used for mid-match teas. However, due to the Coronavirus emergency the changing room has been out of bounds of late.