Brighton and Hove Cricket Club
Encyclopedia
Brighton and Hove Cricket Club, nicknamed The Mighty Bensons, is an amateur cricket
club based in East Sussex
, in southern England
. Their top team secured the Sussex Cricket League
championship in 2000 and in 2007. Based since 1991 at the Nevill Sports Ground in Hove
, southern England, the club achieved success in 1979 when it won both the first and second eleven competitions in the Sussex League, while playing at Horsdean.
2010 England wicket keeper and batsman, Matt Prior, has been a member of the club, as has the former England captain, Tony Greig
and the New Zealand opening batsman Mark Richardson
.
in Hove
, Sussex, although all Sunday games had to be played away from home.
in Brighton
. Here the club enjoyed a good family atmosphere, but the facilities were primitive and the use of the ground as a rugby pitch during the winter, and even as a collecting ring for a horse show, made playing-conditions dangerous. The Club found a temporary refuge at Longhill School in 1969 before moving to Horsdean.
. But the square was improved until it became one of the best in club cricket, and this helped the club to achieve an increasing amount of success. The high point came in 1979 when the club won both the first and second eleven competitions in the Sussex League.
At the end of the 1990 season, however, a long-standing threat from the construction of a road bypass became a reality. With no sign of a replacement ground, the club spent 1991 without a venue, playing all Sunday matches away, but fulfilling its League fixtures thanks to the kindness of Brighton Polytechnic, on whose pitch they were allowed to play.
– the Club stands as one of the most highly-profiled amateur cricket clubs in England and Wales.
, who has a century against England to his name. Tony Greig
, who captained England in the 1970s, has been a member of Brighton and Hove Cricket Club.
Although he hasn't played for his country yet, the next young player with Brighton and Hove Cricket Club touted by many to play for his country is Juan 'Rusty' Theron who has represented South Africa 'A' and is a very exciting prospect after excelling in the Sussex League.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
club based in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, in southern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Their top team secured the Sussex Cricket League
Sussex Cricket League
The Sussex Cricket League is the top level of competition for recreational club cricket in Sussex, England, and since 1999 the Premier Division has been a designated ECB Premier League. The league has nine divisions, four for 1st XI sides, four for 2nd XI sides and one for 3rd XI sides.-1st XI...
championship in 2000 and in 2007. Based since 1991 at the Nevill Sports Ground in Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, southern England, the club achieved success in 1979 when it won both the first and second eleven competitions in the Sussex League, while playing at Horsdean.
2010 England wicket keeper and batsman, Matt Prior, has been a member of the club, as has the former England captain, Tony Greig
Tony Greig
Anthony "Tony" William Greig is a former English Test cricketer and currently a commentator.Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish father. He was a tall batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of the...
and the New Zealand opening batsman Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson may refer to:* Mark Richardson , British Olympic sprinter* Mark Richardson , New Zealand ex-cricketer, turned sports commentator and journalist* Mark Richardson , Australian rules footballer...
.
County Ground
Brighton & Hove Cricket Club was founded on 22 August 1945, as an amalgamation of Hove Cricket Club (founded in 1918) and Brighton Nondescripts Cricket Club (founded in 1920). The club was based at the County GroundCounty Cricket Ground, Hove
The County Cricket Ground, also known as the Probiz County Ground for sponsorship reasons, is a cricket venue in Hove, England. It is home to Sussex County Cricket Club. It is one of the few county grounds to have deckchairs for spectators - which are in the colours of Sussex CCC - blue and white....
in Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, Sussex, although all Sunday games had to be played away from home.
Withdean Stadium
By 1955 it was clear that the club could not remain at the County Ground and in the following year it moved to a very small ground next to the Withdean StadiumWithdean Stadium
Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in Withdean, a suburb of Brighton. Between 1999 and 2011 it was the home ground of football team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.....
in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Here the club enjoyed a good family atmosphere, but the facilities were primitive and the use of the ground as a rugby pitch during the winter, and even as a collecting ring for a horse show, made playing-conditions dangerous. The Club found a temporary refuge at Longhill School in 1969 before moving to Horsdean.
Horsdean
At Horsdean, too, there were problems with the use of the playing surface for rugby during the winter, and the clubhouse was hardly suitable to be used as a cricket pavilionCricket pavilion
A cricket pavilion is a pavilion at a cricket ground. It is the main building within which the players usually change in dressing rooms and which is the main location for watching the cricket match for members and others...
. But the square was improved until it became one of the best in club cricket, and this helped the club to achieve an increasing amount of success. The high point came in 1979 when the club won both the first and second eleven competitions in the Sussex League.
At the end of the 1990 season, however, a long-standing threat from the construction of a road bypass became a reality. With no sign of a replacement ground, the club spent 1991 without a venue, playing all Sunday matches away, but fulfilling its League fixtures thanks to the kindness of Brighton Polytechnic, on whose pitch they were allowed to play.
Nevill Ground
Towards the end of the 1991 season, the club was offered the use of the Nevill Ground by Hove Borough Council, which was in the process of renovating the clubhouse. Ironically, this was one of the grounds the club had considered moving to in 1956 and rejected. The club eagerly accepted the Council's offer, work began on the square that autumn, and since then the club enjoyed a happy collaboration with Hove Borough Council. Improvements at the Nevill Sports Arena provided the club with excellent facilities for the 2009 season.Achievements
With several players having represented their Counties, or attended the University Center of Cricketing Excellence – a scheme set up by the England and Wales Cricket BoardEngland and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
– the Club stands as one of the most highly-profiled amateur cricket clubs in England and Wales.
Past Players
The most recent former player with Brighton and Hove Cricket Club to make a name for himself is Matthew Prior, who signed for Sussex County Cricket Club and has since gone on to earn himself many England caps. Another international cricketer to play for The Mighty Bensons is New Zealender Mark RichardsonMark Richardson (cricketer)
Mark Hunter Richardson is a former New Zealand cricketer. He was a left-handed opening batsman. He represented New Zealand in 38 Tests from 2000 to 2004. During his cricketing career he played for Auckland, Buckinghamshire and Otago. His nickname, "Rigor", is short for Rigor mortis, given to him...
, who has a century against England to his name. Tony Greig
Tony Greig
Anthony "Tony" William Greig is a former English Test cricketer and currently a commentator.Born in Queenstown, South Africa, Greig qualified to play for England by virtue of his Scottish father. He was a tall batting all-rounder who bowled both medium pace and off spin. He became captain of the...
, who captained England in the 1970s, has been a member of Brighton and Hove Cricket Club.
Promising young players in 2009
As well as counting amongst its membership, talented youngsters such as Matthew Machan, Jordan Rollins, Tim Jarvis, Matthew Wood, Matt Green, Curtis Ford, Joshua Poysden and Patrick Spencer, Brighton and Hove Cricket Club can boast some exciting players from Britain and from overseas.Although he hasn't played for his country yet, the next young player with Brighton and Hove Cricket Club touted by many to play for his country is Juan 'Rusty' Theron who has represented South Africa 'A' and is a very exciting prospect after excelling in the Sussex League.