1862 ... A brief history of how it all started

On Whit Sunday, 1862 a cricket match was played between the Whitburn and Monkwearmouth Eden Clubs. After a day interrupted by rain Whitburn were victorious by 35 runs. Many cricketers from the village joined the club around this time and were given permission to practice on ground in front of Whitburn Hall by Sir Hedworth Williamson.

Sir Hedworth himself was a keen cricketer and appeared many times for the club. His other interests included helping charities and was an eager supporter of the R.S.P.C.A. A J.P. of the County of Durham he was well known for his sympathy with unfortunate defendants and also for stern justice he handed out to 'real bad uns'.

Sir Hedworth Williamson, as he got older, suffered from general decay but his death at 74 on 24th August 1900, was accelerated by an attack of diabetes. Generous to a fault it was he who allowed part of his grounds to be used as a field for the Whitburn Cricket Club, making a stipulation that no gate money should be taken at matches.

1896 and 1898 ... Durham County League Championship

Whitburn went on to win the Durham County League Championship in 1896 and 1898.

Champions 1896

1902 ... Founder members of Durham County Senior League

Whitburn were founder members of Durham County Senior League.

1923 ... Whitburn's first Durham Senior League Championship as recalled in the Sunderland Echo

Mr A. Grundy presided over a meeting of the committee of the Durham Senior Cricket League at the Grand Hotel last night, when the cups were presented to the captains of the winning teams in the senior and second divisions of the league.

Mr Grundy, in presenting the senior trophy to the Whitburn Club, represented by the captain, Mr A.P. Ashley, said that as he was the oldest subscribing member of the club he was in a difficult position. This was the first time that the Whitburn Club had won the present league, but in 1896 the Club won the championship of the old league, under the control of the County Committee. In 1897 they lost it by one run and in 1898 they won it again. He wondered if the present Whitburn team would do so well. They had a heavy task, for during those three years the Whitburn team was defeated only twice. During last season the Club played 22 matches, won 12, lost 2, and drew 8; gaining 32 points. Durham City ran them very close for the honour. He congratulated Mr Ashley and the Whitburn players on the success of their efforts (applause).

Mr Ashley, responding, said it was a great honour to be captain of the winning team. They tried harder two seasons ago when they finished second. It was not the winning of the cup out of which they got the greatest enjoyment of the game. He thought the other teams in the league had enjoyed their cricket as much as Whitburn. Their success was due to consistently good work all round. Their batting was consistent and their bowling very good indeed (applause).

1934 ... FA Cup Final

Whitburn cricketers Billy and Jack Smith are in the Portsmouth side beaten 2-1 by Manchester City in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. Billy and Jack are two of the many members of the Smith family to play for Whitburn over the years. Joe and Tom (known as Tosser) also played around this time. Billy's son Eric played for Whitburn through five decades, finally retiring in 1993, and is now club president. Eric's son Michael continues the family tradition.

FA Cup glory may have escaped Whitburn CC on this occasion but this would be put right 39 years later.

1950 ... Champions again

Whitburn became league champions, the previous year having been wooden-spoonists. This was in some way due to the contribution of three South Africans - Sid O'Linn, Stuart Leary and Ken Kisten. They had travelled from South Africa to play football for First Division Charlton Athletic whose Whitburn born manager Jimmy Seed persuaded them to spend the summer playing cricket for the village side.

Leary and O'Linn were both to play first class cricket for Kent, the latter being selected by the Springboks for seven Test Matches late in his career. Stuart Leary was found dead on Table Mountain in 1988, four days after his car had been found abandoned. He was adged 55.

1950s ... Rolling the wicket

Roller Members and cricketers rol the wicket at the village ground in the early fifties. The roller was cast at Penshaw Iron Foundry in 1880 at a cost of 22. Sir Hedworth Williamson agreed to pay half. Note the late Arthur Coulthard on the extreme right.

1950s ... The Clown Prince

Shack A large crowd gathered at the village ground to see Sunderland and England fotballer Len Shackleton, who was cricket professional for Wearmouth. He was loudly applauded to the wicket, particularly by the crowd of youngsters there to see their football hero. Cries of 'Shack! Shack! Good Old Shack' filled the air.

Shack was greeted by Whitburn's wicketkeeper ... 'By the way, what's your name young man ? Mine's Emmerson.'

1964 ... Lance Gibbs helps Whitburn to win the title

Lance Gibbs West Indies Test star Lance Gibbs became the first £1000 professional in the history of the Durham Senior League.

He repays the club by bowling them to the championship with 126 wickets at 8.53 runs each. This remains a league record.

1973 ... FA Cup Final ... Second time lucky for the village

Cup Final save In 1973 Wembley witnessed the greatest shock in FA Cup Final history. Second Division Sunderland upset all the odds to beat the holders Leeds United 1-0. The game will be remembered for many reasons - Porterfield's goal, Monty's double save, Bobby Kerr lifting the cup, and Bob Stokoe's trilby to name but a few.

Ritchie Pitt partnered David Watson in the centre of defence that day. Ritchie's football career was cut short by injury. However, he went on to play cricket for the village.

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