CRICKET AT PETWORTH PARK

Cricket has been played in Petworth Park since the early 1800s, with records of first-class matches in the 1840s, when Petworth briefly hosted one of the country’s leading teams.

Over time, the game moved from its original position in front of Petworth House to the current ground, where it was played for many decades in one of the most beautiful settings in the South Downs.

In later years, however, cricket in the park declined, and the club eventually ceased to exist.

THE REVIVAL

In 2016, a small group of local people came together to bring cricket back to Petworth Park.

Starting from scratch, the focus was on building a family-friendly, community club from the ground up, with junior cricket for boys and girls at its heart. A committee was formed, a constitution adopted, and the club became a Community Interest Company.

The early years involved a huge amount of work — restoring the ground to a playable condition, setting up training, and building a volunteer base to support coaching and match days. Progress was only possible thanks to the time, energy and support of the local community.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

From those early beginnings, the club has grown steadily into a thriving and inclusive community club.

Today, Petworth Park Cricket Club runs multiple junior and senior teams, offering cricket for all ages and abilities — from children picking up a bat for the first time, to competitive league cricket and friendly matches.

We now play across two grounds — Petworth Park and Tillington — and the club continues to grow each season, both in participation and in the number of fixtures played.

Alongside this, women’s and girls’ cricket has become an increasingly important part of the club, reflecting our commitment to making the game accessible to everyone.

MORE THAN JUST CRICKET

While cricket remains at the centre of everything we do, the club has become a place for people to connect.

Families, friends, new residents and long-standing members of the community all come together through the club — whether that’s playing, volunteering, supporting, or simply enjoying time at the ground.

What makes Petworth Park CC special isn’t just the setting, but the people and the atmosphere that’s been built over time.

LOOKING AHEAD

We continue to invest in the future of the club — developing junior cricket, supporting women’s and girls’ participation, and improving our facilities so that more people can get involved.

There is still more to do, but the aim remains the same as it was at the start: to create a welcoming, inclusive club that the whole community can enjoy.

GET INVOLVED

Whether you’re an experienced player, completely new to the game, or simply want to support a local club, there’s a place for you at Petworth Park Cricket Club.