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From Five Matches to 200 - The Story Behind Our First Decade
What began as an abandoned pitch and optimistic conversation has grown into a 200 fixture season across two grounds.
Ten years ago, Petworth Park's cricket ground sat quiet and unused. Cricket had simply... stopped.
Then Alex took a walk.
What he saw wasn't an abandoned pitch - it was possibility. A few weeks of pub chat later, a small group approached the Petworth Park Joint Sports Association with a simple question: "Can we try to bring cricket back?"
The answer was yes. And everything changed.
2016: The Beginning
We started with junior sessions. The pitch needed work. The clubhouse needed love. But the enthusiasm? That was there from day one. Kids turned up. Parents stayed. Word spread.
2017: Five Matches and a Dream
Our first season saw five senior matches. Five! We were rusty, we were learning, but we were playing cricket at Petworth Park again.
2018-2019: Growing Pains (The Good Kind)
Teams multiplied. Fixtures filled the calendar. We added women's softball. The 1st XI started climbing divisions. Suddenly we needed a second ground - hello, Tillington.
2020: The Year That Could Have Ended It All
Pandemic. Lockdown. Grassroots sport ground to a halt. But this club? This community? They didn't give up. We adapted, we waited, and when we could, we came back stronger.
2021-2025: Becoming Who We Are
Three consecutive promotions for the 1st XI. Now competing in Sussex League Division 7. Expanding into girls' hardball. Welcoming players who'd never held a bat. Hosting matches that brought the whole village out to watch.
2026: Our Tenth Season
This year we'll field 14 teams. We'll play close to 200 fixtures. We'll launch our new women's hardball team. And we'll say thank you to Alex, our founding Chair, as he steps down after a decade of extraordinary leadership.
But here's what really matters: we're still the same welcoming, community-focused club we set out to be. Just bigger, better, and more determined than ever.
None of This Happens Without Support
We want to give huge thanks to our sponsors and vice presidents who have backed us throughout this journey. Your investment in grassroots cricket makes everything we do possible - from kit for our juniors to maintaining the beautiful grounds that make Petworth Park special.
What's your Petworth Park CC story? Whether you've been here since 2016 or joined last season, we want to hear it. Drop us a comment or message - let's celebrate ten years together.