Frome Cricket Club is celebrating its centenary this year, with a summer of special events lined up to mark the milestone, culminating in a Celebration Day in August featuring ex-England cricketers.
Throughout the summer, ‘The Showmen’ will be hosting a series of events at their Fromefield ground, aimed at celebrating the club’s rich history and raising its profile within the town.
“We are extremely proud of Frome Cricket Club’s history and really want to highlight the opportunities we can offer to the wider Frome community during 2025,” said club chairman Mike Cooper. “Our ultimate aim is to attract a new generation of male and female members and players, young and old, as we start our next 100 years.”
Cricket at Fromefield
Frome Cricket Club has grown considerably over the last decade and now provides a wide range of cricketing opportunities for boys, girls, men and women of all ages and standards.
The first recorded cricket match in Frome took place in 1882, when Frome faced United Eleven, beginning the town’s enduring cricketing tradition.
The club was formed in 1925, making Fromefield its home and becoming a key part of local sporting life.
Beyond cricket, Frome-field also became central to the town’s cultural life, famously hosting show jumping at the Frome Cheese Show, with a water jump cut into the pitch each year.
Following the club’s formation, Fromefield became an important sporting venue, hosting Somerset County Cricket Club matches until the early 1970s. While first-class games have since moved back to Taunton, the ground continues to stage junior county matches and help develop young talent.
Change came in 1973 when Frome, under the captaincy of Brian Stockhill, played a key role in founding the Somerset Cricket League.
Club chairman Mike Cooper added, “Many ups and downs have been experienced since then, with periods of on-field success interspersed with the odd off-field struggle. Notable players include current president Colin Dredge, who represented Somerset County Cricket Club with distinction from 1976 to 1986.
“Notable periods of success include back-to-back titles in the Bristol & Somerset Alliance League (1989-1990) and, more recently, a wonderful five years under the captaincy of Mark Sanger, lifting the prestigious Somerset Major T20 Cup at the Taunton County Ground in 2019 as part of a famous league and cup double.
“Whilst the side endured a difficult season last year, the club has continued to grow and now puts out three senior Saturday sides, offering both competitive and social opportunities to players young and old with a wide range of abilities.”
Junior cricket
In recent years, Frome has invested heavily in its junior section, with 12 coaches now providing opportunities for boys and girls aged five to 18 to have fun and develop cricket skills on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings.
This has led to the club running a full complement of junior sides at under-11, under-13, under-15 and under-19 levels. Young players are then continually supported as they transition into the Saturday senior league sides.
The rise of women’s and girls’ cricket
The growth of women’s and girls’ cricket has been a proud moment for the club. “The women’s team has been on an amazing journey, rising from nothing in 2017 to a nail-biting final-day league win in 2024.”
The club now has over 30 senior female players and is committed to expanding further, hosting fun sessions on Friday evenings aimed at developing skills and introducing new players to the game. In addition, the club now has three female coaches who run sessions aimed at introducing girls aged five to 18 to the game.
Centenary celebration
Matches and training sessions will run throughout the summer; however, the main event will be held at Fromefield over the August bank holiday, on Sunday 26th.
The celebration will showcase all the different club sections and include fun activities for children.
There will also be food, refreshments and special guest appearances from some ex-England cricketers to add sparkle to the occasion.
If you would like to get involved in cricket, or are looking for a fun new activity for your children to try, contact the club by emailing info@fromecc.co.uk
