Lean Times (1925-1929)

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Chipping Sodbury achieved a good win at Wotton-under-Edge on May 16th, 1925. Wotton made a promising start but after being 24 for 2 their next eight wickets fell for the addition of only 15 runs and they were all out for 39. The bowler who wrecked their innings was R. A. Hone who finished with 8 for 11. Chipping Sodbury had 20 on the board for the loss of one wicket but six batsmen were out for 31. The remaining players batted very carefully before passing Wotton's total.

In a match at The Ridings against Old Sodbury, twenty batsmen were dismissed for a total of 56 runs, victory going to Chipping Sodbury who got the visitors out for 21. Wotton avenged their earlier defeat at The Ridings on June 25th. They scored 90 with J. Mayoh getting five wickets and J. Tanner, three. Sodbury's batting display was mostly a one-man show, L. Goulder knocking up 23 out of their total of 44.

At this period, the Club was experiencing a rather lean time and in March 1926 there was a specially convened meeting at which Dr. T. C. Leman, J.P. was appointed president with Mr. A. H. Turner as hon. secretary and Messrs. J C. Heddon and A. E. A. Searle as joint hon. treasurers.

A Great Revival

It was in 1929 that a great revival of the Club took place following a well-attended meeting at the Literary Institute on March 19th when Mr. J. B. Kendall, who presided, reported on negotiations which had taken place with the Chipping Sodbury Town Trust with a view to the old pitch at The Ridings being made available again to the Club.

Mr. L. Montague Harris (clerk and solicitor to the Trustees) announced that the Trustees had decided to expend about £100 in railing off a considerable portion of The Ridings as a sports field for the town. This news was received with tremendous enthusiasm and the Trustees and their clerk were given a hearty vote of thanks for their "public spirited action."

The following officers were elected for the 1929 season: President-Major F. W. C. Fetherston Godley, O.B.E. (click here to find out more about Godley and his amazing brush with Hitler in 1935); Vice-Presidents-Baron de Tuyll, Col. W. E. P. Burgess, O.B.E., Dr. T. C. Leman, Major D. W. Cleaver, D.S.O., the Rev. T. Longley, Messrs. R. Wilson, M.B.E., A. V. Cox, L. Montague Harris, R. C. Corder and R. A. K. Henderson; chairman-Mr. J. B. Kendall; vice- chairmen-Messrs. G. Huxley, T. H. Baker, T. Handley, E. J . Tily, J. Mills and H. J. Ball; hon. secretary-Hedley G. S. Wilkins; hon. treasurer-L. Montague Harris ; captain, H. Nelmes ; vice-captain-H. Ball. The minimum subscription was fixed at 5 / - (25p in today's money).

The opening match of the 1929 season was played on The Ridings on May 4th against Coalpit Heath 2nd XI. A week later the Club played the first of three matches against the Grammar School Old Boys' XI, fielding the following team: H. C. Nelmes, W. Evans, H. Ball, F. Tanner, Supt. Wayman, H. Owen, R. Natter, J. Hulbert, F. Greenaway, C. Gough and E. Watkins. W. Evans carried his bat for 40 in a total of 69 after the Old Boys had made 108. Two Club teams were fielded that day, the 2nd XI losing to Yak 2nd XI at The Ridings by 26 runs.

In the return game with the Grammar School Old Boys at The Ridings on June 20th, the town side avenged their earlier defeat largely due to R. Pullin who took 8 for 17 (all clean bowled). The Club recorded their third win of the season a fortnight later when they played Old Sodbury. The third encounter between the Club and the Grammar School Old Boys was restricted owing to rain. Chipping Sodbury made 84 for 6 and the Old Boys scored 64.

W. C. Clarke turned in a great bowling performance which resulted in Rangeworthy being dismissed for only 17 runs on their own ground in the penultimate match of the 1929 season. In 5.1 overs, he took eight wickets at a cost of only four runs. Chipping Sodbury totalled 48 and this gave them their seventh win of the season.