Annual trainers charity match and family funday event on Sunday 12th July   Annual trainers charity match and family funday event on Sunday 12th July   Annual trainers charity match and family funday event on Sunday 12th July
Club Kit
Home of the Stampede

History

History

2020

The Foundation of a New Era

  • October 2020: Newmarket Cricket Club was founded by Frank Stennett and Mark Nunn in response to the gap left by the disbanding of Newmarket Town Cricket Club in 2016. The aim was to bring competitive cricket back to Newmarket, a town with a long cricketing heritage.
  • The club secured a yearly contract with Newmarket Town Council to use The Severals Sports Field, following a vote by the council members who agreed to reintroduce cricket to the community.
  • To get the ground ready for competitive league cricket, the club enlisted Parkers Pitches to carry out essential renovation works on the cricket square and outfield with pitches prepared and marked out by Kevin Poole and Nigel Lomas which the club would like to place on record its sincere thanks.
  • The early days of the club were marked by significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which meant that sports halls and indoor cricket venues were closed, making it impossible for the new team to train together. Despite this, the founders used networking and marketing to attract players, and by the 2021 season, 21 players had signed up to play.

2021

A Remarkable First Season

  • Saturday 1st XI: In their debut season, the team entered Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire Premier Division 2. The squad finished as runners-up and secured promotion to Division 1 in their very first season—an incredible achievement that set the tone for the club’s growth.
  • Sunday XI: The Sunday team entered Suffolk Cricket League Division 5, where they faced challenges but demonstrated improvement, finishing in 9th place.
  • Midweek XI: The Midweek side proved their T20 credentials, winning Haverhill & District Midweek League Division 3 and establishing themselves as a competitive force in local cricket.
  • Charity Event: With a view to raising funds for the club, Mark Nunn connected with William Jarvis, Chairman of the Federation of Trainers in Newmarket, to organise a charity cricket match against the town’s racing and trainers community. The event, held at The Severals, was a huge success, attracting 100 spectators and raising funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. This event helped solidify the club’s ties with the community.
  • The club exceeded expectations in its first year, not only by achieving success on the field but also by fostering a sense of community and support around the club. This momentum carried over as the club eagerly anticipated the 2022 season.

2022

Building Momentum and Facing New Challenges

  • Indoor Winter Nets: With restrictions lifted, the club organized indoor winter training at Newmarket Leisure Centre, which was crucial for attracting new players. By the time the 2022 season began, the club’s membership had grown to 35.
  • Saturday 2nd XI: The club expanded to field a second Saturday team in CCA Junior Division 1 North. The team finished mid-table, showing promise and potential for growth in the years to come.
  • Saturday 1st XI: The first team faced tougher opposition in Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire Premier Division 1, but the addition of Crystian Thurton, a West Indies U19 star, proved to be a game-changer. Crystian scored 766 runs at an average of 85.11, with two centuries, and also contributed with the ball, taking 10 wickets. His performance, along with the team’s efforts, ensured that the side avoided relegation and remained in Division 1.
  • Sunday XI: Under Tom Brame‘s new leadership, the Sunday side made significant strides, finishing 2nd in Division 4 and earning promotion to Division 3.
  • Midweek XI: The Midweek team secured a 2nd place finish in Division 2, narrowly missing out on promotion but made up for it by winning the League Cup in a thrilling final against Cambridge Old Monks. Crystian Thurton played a starring role, scoring a brilliant 124 not out in the final.
  • Charity Event: The second charity match saw the Newmarket Racing & Trainers XI return for a competitive game. Over 200 spectators gathered, and the event raised valuable funds for Racing Welfare.
  • As the season came to a close, the club had made significant progress both on and off the field, and the future looked promising despite some challenges with the ground and the contract with Newmarket Town Council.

2023

A New Home, New Challenges

  • The Search for a New Ground: In November 2022, the club’s contract with Newmarket Town Council expired, and due to new restrictions imposed by the council, the club faced an uncertain future and were effectively groundless on the verge of folding. However, after discussions with Dullingham Parish Council, the club identified Dullingham Sports Field as a potential new home. The site offered great potential but also required significant investment and renovation.
  • 20-Year Lease: After several meetings with the Dullingham Parish Council, the club signed a 20-year lease for the field on February 2, 2023. Renovations began immediately, with improvements made to the pavilion (new roof, electrics, kitchen, toilets), the installation of new groundsman facilities, and the addition of advertising boards, sight screens, boundary rope, and more.
  • First Match at Dullingham: The club’s midweek XI played their first match at the new ground in front of over 100 spectators, and secured a convincing win over Ickleton—a strong start to the club’s new era.
  • On-Field Results:
    • Saturday 1st XI: Unfortunately, the team was relegated from Cambridgeshire & Huntingdonshire Premier Division 1 after a difficult season.
    • Saturday 2nd XI: Finished bottom in the CCA Junior League Division 1, but the season provided valuable experience.
    • Sunday XI: Led by Tom Brame, the Sunday team bounced back from a slow start to finish 2nd and earned promotion to Division 3.
    • Midweek 1st XI: Finished 2nd in Division 2 securing promotion to Division 1 However, they were beaten by a strong Sawston & Babraham side in the Adams Harrison Cup Final, hosted by Haverhill Cricket Club.
    • Midweek 2nd XI: Finished 3rd in Division 5, just missing out on promotion.
  • Charity Event: The third charity cricket match moved to the club’s new home at Dullingham Sports Field, where over 400 spectators gathered to enjoy a fantastic day of cricket. The event raised funds for Racing Welfare and was dedicated to Jordan Smith, a beloved club member who tragically passed away just days before the match. A minute’s silence was held in his honour before the game, and black armbands were worn by all players.C

2024

A Pivotal Year of Growth

  • Committee Growth and Sponsorship: The club expanded its committee, bringing in a wealth of experience, and launched a successful sponsorship initiative known as the ’20 Club’, which raised significant funds for the club. By the start of the 2024 season, the club had 42 sponsors, including 28 new sponsors in just three months. Advertising boards were installed around the ground, giving it a more professional and commercial feel.
  • Ground Improvements and Grants: The club used the 20-year lease to apply for and secure new grants, enabling further ground improvements, including the continued renovation of the cricket square and the installation of new equipment and facilities for players and spectators.
  • On-Field Success:
    • Saturday 1st XI: The team started strong but was ultimately frustrated by weather related cancellations, finishing 4th in Division 2.
    • Saturday 2nd XI: Under the new leadership of Australian Connor Hotham, the team had a superb season, winning CCA Junior Division 2 and earning promotion to Division 1.
    • Sunday XI: Tom Brame‘s leadership saw the team remarkably remain undefeated throughout the season, winning Division 3 convincingly and earning the title of Suffolk Cricket League Team of the Year.
    • Midweek 1st XI: Remained competitive throughout, the team narrowly lost out to Foxton Granta in a dramatic title decider but won the Adams Harrison Cup conclusively beating Fulbourn in the final.
    • Midweek 2nd XI: Secured promotion to Division 4 after finishing runners-up.
  • Charity Event: The fourth charity match saw a massive turnout of over 600 spectators and was a highlight of the club’s calendar. Funds were raised for Newmarket Housing Trust, and the Jordan Smith Memorial Cup was introduced in memory of Jordan Smith. The event was filled with family-friendly activities, including a horse riding simulator, a cake stand, and a silent auction.

Junior Programme & Ladies Team Development:

  • Junior Programme: In 2023, the club launched a thriving junior programme, offering coaching for children aged 5 to 15. This initiative quickly gained momentum, providing young players with essential skills and a pathway into senior cricket.
  • Ladies Team: 2024 was marked by the formation of the Women’s Team after several organic enquiries from the local community. What began as beginner-friendly coaching sessions soon evolved into a competitive team, completing four matches, including a fantastic win in their final game of the season against Tuddenham. The team is eager to build on this success in the coming year and compete in more matches.

The club would like to say a massive thank you to its sponsors in 2024!

2025

An Incredible Year Of Continued Growth, Success And Momentum

  • Ground & Facilities Investment: The club made a significant investment in brand-new roll-on, roll-off covers, including 2 side sheets and 2 run-up sheets, allowing the square to be fully covered. This major purchase, was made possible thanks to Cheveley Park Stud, Andrew Turner Builders and Newmarket Charitable Foundation for their generous sponsorship.
  • Ground Improvements and Grants: Further ground improvements continued including further work levelling the cricket square and the purchase of new equipment thanks to a local grant scheme.
  • On-Field Success:
    • Saturday 1st XI: Under Mark Nunn’s leadership, the team finished 2nd in Division 2, earning a well deserved promotion to Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Premier Division 1.
    • Saturday 2nd XI: The team faced a challenging season due to availability issues but narrowly avoided relegation, aiming for a steadier season next year.
    • Sunday XI: Skipper Tom Brame led the team to the Suffolk Cricket League Division 2 title, marking three consecutive back-to-back promotions and showcasing outstanding team culture.
    • Midweek 1st XI: Won the Adams Harrison T20 Haverhill & District Midweek League Division 1 title for the first time under Mark Nunn’s guidance.
    • Midweek 2nd XI: Under Jimmy Jolland, the team had a remarkable season, winning the Adams Harrison T20 Haverhill & District Midweek League Division 4 title and gaining a well deserved promotion.
    • Ladies Team: The Women’s team entered the Cambridgeshire Softball League for the first time, finishing 7th in a highly competitive division. Captain Emma Hewson suffered an unfortunate injury in the very first outdoor summer training session, ruling her out for over eight weeks of the season which led to vice captain Libby Burton taking the reins and doing a great job in her absence. Despite this setback, Emma returned to lead the side with exceptional commitment, organisation and integrity, providing stability and direction during a formative period for the team. The season highlighted the importance of strong, honest leadership in building a positive and sustainable team culture, particularly during the early stages of a new setup.
  • Charity Event: The annual event which is always on the Sunday after the July Cup Horse Racing Festival continued to grow, becoming a key community highlight. Bury Softplay provided inflatable fun including a bouncy castle, assault course, and mega slide. Other attractions included horse riding simulator, face painting, ice cream, donuts, pimms & Prosecco bar, beer tent, BBQ, raffle, silent auction and more. The cricket match saw Newmarket CC beat the Newmarket Horse Trainers side in a close, competitive, and fun game, enjoyed by hundreds of spectators.

Junior Programme U5 – U17:

  • Junior Programme: The junior programme experienced record sign-ups, with children aged 5-17 attending brilliantly organised coaching sessions on Tuesday evenings. Over 50 participants joined, marking a year of exceptional growth with plans in place to further develop this section for next year.

The club would like to say a massive thank you to its sponsors in 2025!

A Bright Future Ahead:

Newmarket Cricket Club continues to move forward with confidence and ambition, underpinned by a growing and diverse membership, a committed volunteer base, and a progressive, forward-thinking committee with a clear long-term vision. With strong leadership, modern facilities, and a clear strategic direction, Newmarket Cricket Club is firmly focused on the future. The club is not only building teams, facilities and infrastructure, but building a sustainable, inclusive, and ambitious cricketing environment, reinforcing its position as a leading sporting organisation and a cornerstone of the local community.