An aerial photo of Shaftesbury playing fields taken in June 1947 - a year before the club moved from Saddlers Mead in 1948.
Source: Historic England Archive (RAF photography)
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The club was founded in 1933 in the small area of Hatch End in North West London. The history of Hatch End stretches back to the 14th century as part of the parish of Harrow. For centuries it remained largely rural, with significant residential development beginning in the 19th century.
Three young colleagues working in the City — Mr A. E. Hillman, Mr F. C. Godbeer, and Mr F. Douglas — began playing cricket for their firm, and later at a club in Highgate. They soon found a more permanent home when Mr Hillman and Mr Godbeer relocated to Hatch End, where their enthusiasm for the game continued. In the club's earliest days, members recalled pulling mowers across St Thomas Drive trying to find an even piece of ground for a pitch. They later found temporary accommodation to play in Eastcote. In 1936, Saddlers Mead Recreation Ground on Clonard Way was bought by Middlesex County Council as a public open space, forming a permanent home for the club for the first time.
Like many clubs of the era, the outbreak of the Second World War had a profound impact. 90% of the club's members served in the forces during the war, with the other 10% engaged in roles of national importance or undertaking voluntary roles. At one point, ten members of the First XI were serving in the military — a stark reminder of the interruption to sporting life and the wider contribution made by club members during the war years.
In April 1948, the club was granted permission by the local council to make the short move to Shaftesbury Playing Fields. By December of the same year, approval had been given to lay concrete practice wickets and extend the pavilion. This move proved pivotal, with Shaftesbury becoming the club’s spiritual home and the base from which it would grow steadily throughout the remainder of the twentieth century and into the early twenty-first.
The post-war period marked a time of revival and expansion. In October 1957, the club held its Silver Jubilee with a dinner and dance at the Rest Hotel in Kenton. Guest speaker, Mr Patsy Hendren of England and Middlesex, drew the laughs with a spate of anecdotes from his days in the sun in Australia and the West Indies. A prolific batsman during the interwar period, Hendren played 51 tests for England, as well as playing football for Brentford and Queens Park Rangers, among other clubs.
By 1957 the club boasted 53 playing members, and by 1958 was fielding three senior sides. Founding member, Mr Hillman, was quoted as saying "Hatch End has built up a wonderful reputation, not for winning matches, but for keeping fixtures. It was better to lose a good match than win a bad one". The club fielded a Third XI for the first time in the summer of 1957, and further investment followed with a pavilion extension in 1959, reflecting both the growing membership and renewed enthusiasm for the club.
Junior cricket also became a central part of the club’s identity. By the mid-1960s, a thriving colts section had been established under the guidance of Bill Burgess, something recalled with pride by club president and life member Mr G. Telfer, who remembered encouraging junior cricket as early as 1935. This commitment bore fruit, and by 1972 the club was fielding three colts sides at Under-14, Under-16, and Under-18 level.
Facilities continued to improve alongside on-field development. In 1964, the pavilion was upgraded with drainage support from Harrow Council and the installation of showers, with further clubhouse developments taking place in 1969 and again in 1972.
In July 1983 the club celebrated 50 years with a Jubilee match against a celebrity side which included most of the Middlesex teams with some of their past players. Middlesex totalled 187-9 with Clive Radley making 48 and John Embury 54 (including a six that he hit into Shaftesbury Avenue). Hatch End responded - against an attack which included at one time or another, Fred Titmus, Embury, Paul Downton, Wayne Daniel and Norman Cowans - with 100-8 to obtain a creditable draw.
Having been long-standing members of the Middlesex League, the club entered a new chapter in 1985 with a move to the Hertfordshire League. That same decade also saw success away from the outdoor game, with the club’s indoor cricket side winning the Harrow Cricket Association indoor six-a-side tournament in 1985.
The 1980s proved a challenging period for the club, with declining membership placing pressure on finances and a lack of playing strength contributing to difficult seasons both on and off the field. However, fortunes turned at the end of the decade. Promotion was secured in 1990, with 17 victories from 26 matches, ensuring Hatch End would compete in Division Two in 1991.
Patsy Hendren
Guest of honour at the club's 25th Jubilee celebrations.
Mr Gilbert Francis Telfer
President of Hatch End Cricket Club 1950-1969
Source: Harrow Observer
Players and committee in front of the clubhouse after the fire.
Source: Harrow Observer
In June 2008, the club faced one of the most difficult moments in its history. Following an on-field altercation with local thugs earlier in the day, the clubhouse was deliberately set alight that evening and completely destroyed. The fire resulted in the loss of the pavilion itself, along with irreplaceable memorabilia and club archives accumulated over decades. The incident marked a devastating blow, not only to the club’s facilities but also to its collective memory and heritage.
Despite this setback, the club continued to operate at Shaftesbury Playing Fields in the years that followed, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination. However, by 2011 it became clear that remaining at Shaftesbury was no longer viable. In order to safeguard the club’s long-term future, the difficult decision was taken to leave its spiritual home and relocate elsewhere.
The club subsequently moved to Elstree, beginning a new chapter while carrying forward the values, traditions, and community spirit forged over generations. Though separated from its historic ground, the club’s identity and commitment to cricket endured, ensuring that its story continued beyond the challenges it had faced.
Following the move to Elstree, the club focused on rebuilding and renewal. The clubhouse was refurbished in 2014, providing improved facilities and a renewed focal point for members and supporters. In 2015, the club fielded a Second XI for the first time since 2010, a clear sign of recovery and resilience after a period of significant disruption.
Over the past decade, the club has continued to thrive as a close-knit community of players, families, and friends. Many members have devoted decades of commitment to the club, creating a strong sense of continuity and belonging. In many cases, these longstanding members now see their children, and even grandchildren, actively involved with the club, a powerful reflection of the values and traditions being passed down through generations. This enduring commitment continues to inspire new members to become involved, ensuring that the club remains rooted in its heritage while looking confidently to the future.
The club continues to field two senior sides and attract new playing and non-playing members each season, drawn by its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. In 2024, a third side was fielded for the first time in many years, reflecting a period of growth and renewed strength within the club. Although this was not sustained beyond the season, it remains a positive sign of the club’s development and the depth that has been built in recent years.
From its modest beginnings in the 1930s to its modern era in Elstree, Hatch End Cricket Club’s story is one of continuity, resilience, and a lasting commitment to cricket for players of all ages.
The clubhouse as it stands today.
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