The cricket club mark a milestone at Burtonhole Lane by hosting the same opposition they faced in their very first home match in 1946

Mill Hill Village Cricket Club is celebrating 80 years at its picturesque Burtonhole Lane ground by organising a fixture against its very first opponents at the ground.

Mill Hill Village, who play Saturday cricket in the Herts Premier Cricket League, will host Sutton CC on Sunday, May 17th in a friendly. The club’s inaugural fixture at Burtonhole Lane was against the same opposition 80 years ago, on Saturday, May 4th 1946.

On that day on May 4 1946, a Village side captained by George Shankland, who was also the club chairman at the time, secured an 11-run victory in a low-scoring game.

A Mill Hill Village spokesman said: “We’re honoured to be hosting prestigious Sutton CC for a friendly fixture some 80 years after our inaugural fixture against the same opponents.

“Over the last 80 years, Burtonhole Lane has established itself as a thriving hub not just for cricket and football but also friendship and community, so it’s only right that we mark this milestone with a fixture the occasion demands.

“It’s also one of the most picturesque village grounds in London. Although this is a friendly fixture, we’re going to put together as strong a side as possible to take on a formidable Sutton.”

Today, Mill Hill Village Cricket Club fields five adult Saturday league teams, adult midweek fixtures, a Sunday league 1st XI, a development XI playing friendlies on Sundays, mixed junior teams at Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 level, as well as four girls teams. This year, the club will also enter the National Village Cup for the first time. 

To kick off their milestone year, Mill Hill Village is also appealing for members and supporters past and present, as well as anyone who might have been familiar with the club in the immediate post-war period – perhaps an older relative who used to take them along to the club – to get in touch with their memories.

The aim is to collect an oral record from those with memories of club, especially those from the post-war years, which will then be collated into a special report for the Mill Hill Village Cricket Club website. The project is especially important because a fire that destroyed our pavilion in 1949 meant that much of our memorabilia, including photos, was lost.

Anyone who would like to share memories or photos can comment on our Facebook page here bit.ly/mhvcc80 or contact the club via [email protected].

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