| In 1949, close to
Halesowen's historic "Manor Abbey", a sports stadium was
opened that included a cycle track. Being less than a mile away from my
then home, I went along to many of the early Cycle events, several of
which included the legendary Reg Harris. But the stadium was also
then used by the Halesowen Cricket Club, until it obtained it's own facilities a few years later.
Once each year, Halesowen C C welcomed Worcestershire C C for a Sunday Charity match. And the County Club always put out a strong team. The playing area within the cycle track was modest, and fours and sixes were an easy matter. But several of the Worcester batsmen were more ambitious. Their intention was not only to score a six, but the clear the ground and the stream beyond. Bob Broadbent was a big hitter, and he always insured that the large crowds got their moneys worth. But one Sunday afternoon he found a new challenge. Beyond the stream was the Halesowen to Longbridge Railway line. No trains would normally run on a Sunday, but on this occasion a short freight train came trundling down from Hunnington, and stopped for a short time whilst the train crew watched a little cricket. Then off went the train in the direction of Halesowen railway station. An hour or so later, the Halesowen team had been bowled out and Worcestershire were batting. But the home club had had some subsequent success, since the Worcestershire opening pair, Don Kenyon and Peter Richardson were already back in the Pavilion (for Pavilion read shed and a bench). |
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| By this time, the
Midland class 2F 0-6-0, it would have been either 58126, 58138, or
58143, had done it's business at Halesowen, and was returning up the
valley light engine, bound for Longbridge and back to it's home shed,
Bourneville. And the crew decided on a further spell of spectator
cricket.
And with Bob Broadbent at the wicket, the outcome was clear. Bob would try to hit a six over the top of the locomotive. His first attempt failed by a few yards. It hit the ballast on the nearside of the locomotive. A fielder was sent to the far side of the stream. The Halesowen bowlers were entering into the spirit of things, and were sending down gentle full tosses. And the crowd were ecstatic. A couple of balls later, Bob got his reward. A huge hit over mid wicket cleared the stream and the locomotive by some margin. The roar from the crowd must surely have been heard a mile away. I cannot remember which team won the match, the result was irrelevant. But what was relevant was the willingness of the Worcestershire players to mingle with the crowds and sign autographs. Needless to say I still regard Worcestershire as my home club, though I have not lived within the County since 1965. And I still have my Autograph book. |
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| The Worcestershire C C visits to Manor Abbey ground continued for several years, and were always great fun, drawing large crowds. But Halesowen Cricket Club subsequently moved to their own ground, half a mile away in Blackberry lane. But by that time, I was beginning to diversify my interests. ie Football. | ||||
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A recent view of the Manor Abbey Sports Stadium |
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The Railway line, which closed in 1963, was situated to the right, in the area which now comprises the mature trees. |
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