Back on top for the big 150

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club will celebrate its 150th anniversary back in Division One of the County Championship for the first time in over a decade - and it has an inspiring vision for the future, says Jeremy Blackmore

Gloucestershire is the club of the legendary WG Grace and steeped in the earliest history of county cricket. Yet it marks its 150^th anniversary as much by looking to the future as celebrating the achievements of the past.

Its ambition is to embody the values of modern-day Bristol: environmentally sustainable, creative, diverse, urban and family orientated.

Reflecting on the milestone, club Chief Executive Will Brown said: “It’s massively exciting. Not many organisations get to 150. But it’s as exciting about where we’re going to, as much as where we've been.

“It is an honour to work in a club, which has hosted so many great players who have graced these pitches and seen some amazing matches. But we’re constantly developing, the world doesn't stay still.”

Since the Glosters’ last notable anniversary 50 years ago, cricket has been transformed with the introduction of shorter formats aimed at drawing in larger crowds. This year sees the advent of a new controversial 100-ball tournament.

Bristol too has changed, something that has guided Gloucestershire’s vision for its own future. The club acknowledges that to be around for the next 150 years means adapting and changing along with the city and wider region.

Says Brown: “It’s as much about how we can keep this club vibrant, how we can keep it relevant for people and crucially, how we can reflect the views and values of the communities we serve.

“If we can reflect those views and values then they’re more likely to want to spend time here. If we can identify the things that make Bristol or Gloucestershire unique and then as a resident, you’ll think that’s somewhere I feel at home, that’s somewhere that represents me.

“Hopefully, we can do some really good work together with them, but also make this a really safe, happy and welcoming environment for people to come to.”

What are those unique characteristics that define county cricket in Bristol and Gloucestershire?

From a playing point of view Brown cites grit as an important trait. For example, the club won its most recent piece of silverware when they beat Surrey in a thrilling One Day Cup Final at Lord’s in 2015. Gloucestershire battled back from behind to win by just six runs.

Gloucestershire also pride themselves on a strong team ethic too with no egos.

“I do think there's absolutely a determination because of that, that everyone can contribute and is expected to contribute within the team,” says Brown. “And because of that we can fight from any position. So, from a playing point of view, they are the things that I really value here. The team balance is exceptional and that grittiness, the ability to not always to win pretty but to win, is a massive part of what we do.”

Gloucestershire’s home ground may be in central Bristol at Nevil Road, but the club serves the whole county and is renowned for hosting the world’s longest-running cricket festival at Cheltenham.

If there was an increasing sense of dissonance between the two centres, it is something the club has recognised.

“I think for too long we tried too hard to make them the same experience and it shouldn't be,” says Brown. “If you reflect the town and the city and the region more than the cricket sometimes, the cricket will take care of itself.”

That means celebrating Cheltenham’s unique characteristics: the idyllic College Ground lined with magnificent buildings and marquees, and knowledgeable crowds enjoying county cricket on long sunny days.

“It’s Wimbledon for cricket,” says Brown. “It’s a different environment, it is a festival, there’s no doubt about that. So, let’s play to that. I don’t think we’ve ever been embarrassed about it, we’ve always celebrated it, but let’s continue to celebrate that and add things in there that make it more of a festival.”

That means supplementing Cheltenham fortnight with events such as guest speakers which in this anniversary year include special visits from Gloucestershire legends.

Bristol too has found its own identity.

“For too long we tried to play cricket at Bristol like we were playing cricket at Cheltenham,” acknowledges Brown. “It’s a different beast. It is urban, it’s much more diverse. It’s a big city, sixth or seventh biggest city in the country, so let’s make sure that we’re putting the city of Bristol at the heart of what we’re doing.”

Those urban values were vividly demonstrated with bespoke street art designs and installations transforming the County Ground as part of a major revamp last summer.

Spectators passing through the Grace Gates at the Nevil Road entrance can view the creations of Silent Hobo, the street artist who has worked with the club to bring images of cricket and the city of Bristol to life on six of its large walls. In addition, a giant yellow cricket ball, featuring the club crest, is depicted bursting out of the main entrance wall to provide a 3D element to the artworks.

The extensive project was born out of the desire to better reflect the Club’s brand and colours – yellow and black – around the ground and be in-keeping with its city and community.

Says Brown: “Bristol is one of the most internationally renowned street art cities and the Gloucester Road area itself is a haven of colourful street art, reflecting its creative neighbourhood.

“Street art is something that has helped establish Bristol as an international visitor destination and we worked closely with the team at Visit Bristol to ensure consistency in approach in marketing the city – that’s why you can see Bristol’s main attractions and icons reflected on the walls. It is a way to recognise the city’s and club’s heritage in a fresh, contemporary way.

“The designs – which celebrate our city and that cricket is a game for all ages, genders and races – is something that will help to bring our ground to life, help to attract a new audience to the game and our venue, and ensure that the Bristol County Ground is more easily identifiable to visitors and spectators, be they in the venue or watching on television.”

The street art designs have reimagined scenes from cricket’s past – including a giant depiction of WG Grace – and place male and female cricketers, young and old, in a contemporary setting within famous Bristol landmarks. Concorde even makes an appearance, trailing a message for the social media generation: #GoGlos.

Gloucestershire also aims to match the city of Bristol’s green credentials and ambitions. It intends to become the most environmentally sustainable and conscious club in the country.

That means putting in 115 bike racks, 12 electric vehicle charging points and 40 water refill points. All the club’s electricity comes from renewable energies.

Bristol’s reputation as a tech city is also reflected in the new augmented reality app being launched this year while the club has a strong emphasis on children and families.

“We are trying to walk the walk with what we believe are the core values for the people that live in Bristol,” says Brown.

“If I think about Bristol, it’s big, it’s diverse, it’s a little bit alternative, it’s very environmentally conscious, quite green, it's very hot on health and social well-being, trying to improve deprivation and help people. Very big on digital, a real ideas city, very creative. Those are pretty much our values too.

“So, a lot of shared values between Cheltenham or Gloucestershire and Bristol but what we’re trying to do is just make the venues a little bit more unique in their own space.”

The club begins its 150^th anniversary year back in Division One of the County Championship for the first time since 2005. Coach Richard Dawson led his team to promotion on the final day of last season and there is a distinct sense of pride and excitement around Nevil Road as the club returns to the top flight. They are particularly looking forward to the resumption of West Country derby matches against local rivals Somerset.

“We can’t wait,” says Brown of the derbies. “It’s obviously commercially important but more than ever it’s about cricketing importance and that’s what’s particularly nice about Div One now that there are teams we’ll be playing Championship cricket against that we will not have seen for a really long time.

“To get the likes of Yorkshire down to Cheltenham as part of the festival there, it’s fantastic. Another festival club with hugely loyal supporters.”

Last season saw Gloucestershire make a third Vitality Blast knockout stage appearance in the last four years and will be hopeful of going further in the competition this year.

The club is marking the 150^th anniversary in style with a series of celebratory events for members and supporters. During the summer, Mark Alleyne and other Gloucestershire greats will play a series of matches against clubs in the region.

The Bristol County Ground will host England’s men’s and women’s teams for two high-profile floodlit international matches. Australia’s men are the visitors on 16 July for a One-Day International, while the ground will host India’s women in a T20 International on 27 June. Bristol is also one of the host venues for the new Welsh Fire women’s team in the new Hundred competition.

You can find a full list of Gloucestershire’s 150^th anniversary events including details of a special new kit and community day at: https://www.gloscricket.co.uk/150/

History

Dr Henry Mills Grace, father of legendary Gloucestershire and England batsman WG Grace, was responsible for the early days of Gloucestershire when he founded Mangotsfield Cricket club. This later amalgamated with Coalpit Heath CC to become West Gloucestershire CC. He eventually achieved his ambition on 2 June 1870 when Gloucestershire CCC played their first County match against Surrey on Durdham Downs. WG played and led Gloucestershire to victory by 51 runs.

In 1888 negotiations began to purchase some land at Ashley Down and a year later the Ground became home to GCCC. The first game at the Nevil Road ground was on 1 July 1889 against Lancashire. In the same year the County established their Club’s colours of Fawn, Brown, Pale Grey, Dark Green, Red and Navy Blue.

The club’s honours board features a host of greats from Wally Hammond who has scored more centuries for Gloucestershire than any other batsman to Tom Graveney, Zaheer Abbas, Mike Procter, Courtney Walsh and Mark Alleyne who led the ‘Glorious Glosters’ to six one-day titles in five years at the turn of the century.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE RECORDS 1870 – 2019

HONOURS

County Championship

Gloucestershire have not won the Championship since it became official in 1890, their best position being second in 1930, 1931, 1947, 1959, 1969 and 1986.

Prior to 1890, it is generally accepted that Gloucestershire were Champion County in 1873 (shared with Nottinghamshire), 1874, 1876 and 1877.

Gloucestershire were promoted to Division One of the County Championship in 2019.

Knock-out Trophies

Winners of the Gillette Cup in 1973, the NatWest Trophy in 1999 and 2000, and the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy in 2003 and 2004.

Benson & Hedges Cup

Winners of the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1977 and 2000, and the Benson & Hedges Super Cup in 1999. Runners-up in 2001.

Sunday League

Champions in 2000, winners of Division II in 2002 and 2006 and winners of the Royal London One-Day Cup in 2015.

Twenty20 Cup

Runners-up in 2007, Quarter-Finalists in 2016, 2018 & 2019.

Second XI Championship

Champions in 1959

Second XI Trophy

Runners-up in 1995 and 1997