A Harrow Club was in existence in the early 1820’s, playing on a ground apparently on the Roxeth side of Harrow Hill. Uxbridge CC has a score sheet of a game played between Uxbridge and the Harrow side of this period. Some time in the 1860’s this club either disbanded or renamed itself. Which is not now clear, but quite definitely it has not been possible to establish any connection between that club and the present Harrow Cricket Club, which was formed in 1888.
The club formed in 1888 was initially known as Harrow Town Cricket Club and played at West Harrow Recreation Ground. For reasons now lost to posterity it dropped the word “Town” from its title around 1893 for at least one season and perhaps slightly longer. The club continued to use West Harrow Recreation Ground as its home.
What prompted the move from West Harrow is now lost in the mists of time, but clearly there must have been one of those upheavals, which periodically take place in all long-lived clubs. With the move from West Harrow, the club changed its name to that of “The Moochers”. In a number of contemporary newspaper items the title was given as “The Mouchers”, but this may have been a misprint or a misunderstanding by the sports writer of the day.
The new home venue was the “Trust Ground” adjoining the Pinner Road Recreation Ground, where the club was to remain until 1959. By 1909, the club had become known as the Harrow Moochers, though whether or not the title was officially adopted is still a matter of doubt. The final change of name took place between 1909 and 1914, for by the latter date the Club was definitely playing as Harrow Cricket Club. In the period leading up to the outbreak of the First World War the Club prospered and for a period regularly fielded three elevens.
During the years 1914-1918 the club continued in existence, but like many other institutions, on a much reduced scale. Cricket continued to take place irregularly on Saturdays. In 1911 a breakaway club, known for a time as the Derelicks, started to play on the pitch alongside that used by Harrow. The relationship was a friendly one and together the two clubs fielded cricket sides (sometimes of rather elderly vintage) throughout the war period.
By 1929 the playing membership had risen to the point where, for the first time since the war, a third eleven could be permanently re-instituted. It is interesting to note that this event ultimately led to the creation of the post of Team Secretary in the following season, the Club Secretary finding the additional burden too onerous. The increase in membership enabled a successful tour in the Tunbridge Wells area to be undertaken, but at the same time made it more urgent to obtain a suitable ground.
In 1938 the Club became fifty years of age and celebrated with an appropriate dinner at The Headstone Hotel. The event was apparently an outstanding success, being attended by a large number of past and present members. Significantly for the future, it was the first major event arranged by the newly appointed Social Secretary, Geoff Birkett, who latter attained the rare honour of being made a life member. The final season before the outbreak of the Second World War was not a notable one so far as playing results were concerned. One of the newer members, Jack Payne, however, was already making his mark in the area of non-playing office. Having assumed the duties of Fixture Secretary in 1938, he took on the post of Social Secretary from 1939 when Geoff Birkett left to join the army.
Initially the outbreak of war had little effect on the club, it was approaching the end of the season anyway. The next year and those that followed were very different. Air raid shelters were dug on the number 5 table on the Trust Ground, the pavilion itself was taken over by the local home guard unit and trenches were dug.
At the start of the 1940 season the club amalgamated with West Harrow Cricket Club for the duration of the war. A full fixture list was assembled, and F.W.Fuller, a prolific opening batsman, led the side. Similar arrangements continued throughout 1941, though by now the numbers of players available was small, most people of cricketing age being in His Majesty’s Forces. Another difficulty was the traveling involved in playing away matches.
In the course of the Second World War 25 playing members of Harrow CC served in the forces. Of these, six did not return; Jack Burberry, Neville Hillier, Jack Bell, Norman Broomhead, Peter Utton and Geoff Andrews.
At the AGM following the close of the 1945 season, the first such meeting held for several years, a determination was expressed to return to normality as soon as possible. This was easier said than done, man players were still serving, materials were in short supply, food was rationed and few people could spare clothing coupons for the luxury of cricket whites. Nevertheless largely due to the efforts of the fixture secretary Jack Payne, a full list of Saturday and Sunday fixtures were arranged for the 1946 season playing under the leadership of George Aplin.
The close season of 1946-1947 was one of intense activity in the club. Much work was carried out in the interior of the pavilion. Further improvements continued through the 1947 season. The search for a private ground was on again, but this time there seemed little hope of obtaining anything suitable. Even the possibility of amalgamating with a tennis club and becoming a sports and social club was canvassed, but did not meet with acclaim.
In common with many other clubs, Harrow did not, in pre-war years, have a licensed bar. It had been traditional for some years to adjourn to a nearby public house for refreshments after the match. At on time the Royal Oak was favoured, but finally for many years the Kingsfield Arms was the choice, and indeed it was referred to at one time in official club literature as the Clubs Headquarters. Now the decision was taken to have a bar in the pavilion and this was formally opened on 24th April 1948.
Although the club continued to attract many new young members throughout the early 50s, all too often their stay was a short one, as many did not rejoin after their National Service. In 1950 Jack Payne took 100 wickets for the 1st XI, a feat he would repeat a number of times.
A major turning point in the history of the club occurred in January 1958, when Jack Payne, by now a successful jeweller and optician, offered to finance the purchase of a new ground. The cricket ground we now know as home was originally part of a much larger field known as Great Foggy Field.
In October 1958 contracts were exchanged and the Club became the owner of the ground that would become known as Payne’s Folly. This name was actually coined during the first weeks of ownership, though at that time it was uttered with an air of scepticism rather than optimism. Immediately following the purchase, a small party of members, most of whom belonged to the management committee, paid a short visit to view the club's acquisition. A short wander over a damp and muddy field brought home sharply the magnitude of the task they had taken on. Anything less like a cricket ground was hard to imagine. Fortunately the summer of 1959 included a long hot dry spell which permitted work on the ground to progress.
In the close season of 1959-60 the club moved premises, the bulk of the removal being accomplished one Saturday. Jack Payne, who searched for, located, bought and arranged for the transportation of an old RAF hut which, when re-assembled, became the new pavilion. By the start of 1960 there was little about the appearance of the building to suggest its origin.
It was not long before the club began to expand in numbers, and by 1962 the provision of 3rd X1 games as a permanent feature of the fixture list had become a necessity. Expansion of the membership continued steadily, and slowly the Club started to change from being a small, two-side family club to a powerful multi-side organisation.
The plan for the new pavilion involved provision of three new changing rooms, a new kitchen and new ablutions in one wing, whilst the other was given over principally to provide an enlarged bar and lounge, but also a small garage for ground maintenance equipment. This arrangement released almost the entire old pavilion, now the centre between the two wings, for use as an area for the serving of teas and lunches and for general recreation. At the same time the remaining unused half of the ground was laid out as a second playing area. The Mayor of Harrow, Alderman O.G.Collins, formally opened all the new facilities at a ceremony on July 9th 1967. Soon after, Middlesex 2nd XI and the MCC started using the ground - a tribute to the excellent state in which the ground was kept by the efforts of Jack Payne.
In 1970 the question of league cricket arose and arrangements were formally made for the Thames Valley League to commence in 1972, Harrow being one of the founder members. 1972 was another notable year: the Thames Valley League came into being and Harrow acquitted themselves well in the first year, the first eleven finishing in third place. A new venture – a cricket tour of Israel – was arranged. This was a success cricket-wise and socially and was subsequently repeated at regular four-year intervals.
The remainder of the 1970’s contained a number of significant events in the life of the club. In 1975 Dutch Elm disease necessitated the removal of the row of trees bordering the western side of the second field, completely altering the view of the ground as seen from the pavilion. Andy Stewart scored 155 against Shepherds Bush, the highest by a club member since pre war days. Another successful and enjoyable tour to Israel in 1976 and Steve Taylor managed to acquire just over 100 wickets in the season.
Our Colt’s section started in 1960 and our U17s won the first County Colts Cup competition. In 1980 the club organised a “Colts Cricket Week”. This event proved to be highly popular and has continued to this day. In 1983 plans were being laid for the reconstruction and enlargement of the centre section of the pavilion, together with appropriate work to the newer wings. Before the rebuilding got underway the Club had to raise large sums of money for the project. Club members ran car boot sales, jumble sales and dress sales but the major event was The Firework Extravaganza. This attracted 1000 people in the first year and was a great success and is now a regular event on the calendar.
1980 saw the inauguration of league cricket at 3rd XI level, and the Harrow side distinguished itself by finishing in second position. In 1983 Jack Payne started his second term as President and Colin Tufnell took up the post of Chairman. By the end of his first year in office, plans were being laid for the reconstruction and enlargement of the centre section of the pavilion.
Before the rebuilding could get underway the club had to raise large sums of money for the project. Grants were obtained, jumble sales raised and the fireworks extravaganza masterminded by Mark Wizbek attracted over 1,000 people in it's first year.
In the early hours of 12th December 1984, Jack Payne died suddenly of a heart attack and the club lost its greatest servant and benefactor. At the time of his death he was still in harness, being President and Fixture Secretary, having held the latter post continuously since 1938. His funeral was attended by a very large gathering of club members past and present - a tribute to the memory of a true cricketer. It was a twist of irony that at this time the development of the new pavilion looked in jeopardy because of financing difficulties. At Jack's funeral it was learnt that he had left a gift in his will to ensure the pavilion would be completed.
Work commenced on the reconstruction of the pavilion in 1985, during which cricket carried on despite the inconveniences imposed by the building works. The Mayor of Harrow, Councillor Peter Pitt, opened the new pavilion formally at the Annual Ladies Night Dinner on 12th October 1985.
In 1994 our 1st XI reached the final of the Evening Standard Trophy, which was the premier one day cup competition in London and the Home Counties. Shortly after this we moved from the Thames Valley League into the Middlesex County Cricket League.
In 2006 we became a Chance To Shine club working with seven local state schools for 20 hours a week during the summer term. We also achieved ECB Focus Club and ClubMark status in September 2007.
We enjoyed a remarkable season in 2008 with our U11s picking up the North Area League & Cup winning 14 out of 15 matches played. They also beat Ealing to become Middlesex County Cup winners. Our Saturday 2nd XI clinched promotion from division 3 as they took the runners up spot and both our Sunday teams won promotion with our 1st XI going up as champions. 2011 was another successful year as our Saturday 3rd XI gained promotion as champions to division one. Our Saturday 2nd XI also gained promotion division one.
Player turnover was very high throughout the 2000's, with it often being a real struggle to field three adult teams. So, in 2014 the club embarked on an ambitious plan as it decided to grow from within by focusing on developing its own junior players and bringing them through into adult cricket. This is easier said than done, and there are very few success stories in club cricket for this kind of approach, primarily because it is hard to implement - at the time the club only had 85 junior members and little track record of success in MCA cricket.
Following a foundation year in 2014 where the club set up structures and people, in 2015 the junior teams won four titles. U12, U13A, U13B all winning their MCA North Area leagues and the U9's winning the Harrow Alliance softball league. In 2016 came further league success with the U11's and U14's both winning the MCA North Area league. The U14's then went on to be crowned Middlesex U14 County Champions. Now that all of the junior teams had earned their way into the respective top divisions, the success continued, during the 2017 season the U11's and U13's won the Division 1 titles. The U11's going on to win the county title.
In 2018 the newly established girls section grew to over 40 members with the junior section as a whole passing the 300 members mark for the first time. The U15's and U10's won Division 1 league titles. The U15's won the West Area Cup, with the U17's winning the Middlesex Youth Cup and the U12's rounding off a fine season by becoming County Champions. The club was by now also supplying a steady crop of players to representative cricket.
The senior section also enjoyed success in 2018 with our 1st XI winning 16 out of 18 games (a league record) to become Middlesex Championship Division 1 winners. This saw them return to the Middlesex County League in 2019.
In 2019 the junior section had it's best season ever. 6 league trophies and 2 cups were won. The U10A's and U11A's winning their leagues, the U14's, U15A's, U15B's & U17's completed a clean sweep of league titles in the U14-U17 age groups. For good measure the U15A's won the area cup, and the U17's won the Middlesex U17 Youth Shield. To round off a successful season for the club the U19's won the U19 Club T20 shield to make it 9 trophies across all playing sections of the club.
Since 2015, the club has won no fewer than 31 trophies (league, cup, county) across all age groups, including our women and girls section which started in 2020.
The fruits of this approach is reflected in three quarters of our 1st XI being home grown - those players having at some stage been junior players at the club. A testament to the great work being carried out by the coaches and all other volunteers at the club.