Matching Green Cricket Club Photo Galleries

Started in May 2024, the Thursday club is an opportunity for all the community to come together and have cup of tea, a slice of cake and most importantly, a chat with like-minded people.

Thursday Club

Village May Day celebrations were moved back the The Green in 2024 after many years at The Fox in Matching Tye. It was a wet one but nevertheless well supported by locals.

May Day Celebrations 2024

A brilliant day on the Green raising £15,000 for the Princess Alexandra Hospital Charity helping our amazing NHS staff during the Covid pandemic.

NHS Fundraiser Game August 30th 2021

2nd round victory over Essex League Horndon-on-the-Hill puts us into the 3rd round of the National Village Cup for the first time in the club's history.

The Cricketer Village Cup victory v Horndon-on-the-Hill

Inspired by the WI Calendar Girls, the tea ladies of MGCC got together secretly during 2005 to produce a 2006 calendar. They launched it (also under great secrecy) at the club's 2005 Annual Dinner & Dance. The calendar was a huge success and started the fundraising effort for a new pavilion. The new pavilion was eventually completed in 2013.

2006 Tea Ladies Revealed calendar

The men decided to follow up the very successful Tea Ladies calendar with their own version!!

2012 Calendar

A tight game played at Bishop's Stortford CC, but we just failed to overcome Takeley CC who won by 20 runs.

2020 Boardman's Davies Cup Final

Average age less than 21!! The future is bright.

Youngest ever senior XI away at Springfield 23rd August 2020

After help coach the club's under 16 group, Owais came to the Green on Friday 21st August to meet some of the younger juniors and their parents.

Matching Juniors meet England legend Owais Shah

We had great pleasure in welcoming Owais Shah to The Green today. He spent 2 hours coaching our under 16 group. From left to right, George Liversidge, Charlie Bennett, Max Smith, Lorcan Neville, Owais, Jack Porter, Ollie Hutley, Olly Hartnell, William Cutlan-Smyth.

Under 16 coaching with Owais Shah 16th July 2020

After years of discussion and with the outfield no longer deemed safe, we decided to overhaul the outfield. The club will always be grateful to John Kenney for his amazing contribution and efforts in helping us complete the task.

New Outfield 2020

The last HECL dinner with Ronnie Irani as guest speaker. Fabulous to see both Essex trophies on display. The County Championship and the T20 Blast. What a great year 2019 was for Essex CCC!

HECL League Dinner 2019

We have a fab match with our new friends from Willoughby CC from near Rugby. Apart from being a great day, the match will always be remembered as the day Olly Hartnell scored his first senior century! One of our older members, Dick Anderson, who sadly passed away in 2017, moved from Matching many years ago to Willoughby. Dick spent many hours telling the members of Willoughby how nice Matching was, and after a few emails, we decided to get together for a friend match. And what a great day it w

End of Season friendly v Willoughby 2019

The President's men's annual trip to Frinton Cricket Week was another very special day. Champagne reception, lovely lunch and super game of cricket and a WIN!! Following a late start due to overnight rain, the cricket started after lunch. In hindsight probably a mistake as both teams were liberally lubricated by this time! A 35 over game was agreed. See the scorecard for details.

2018 Frinton CC v W. Hartnell XI

The hottest week for years. 2 great matches and 2 wins against Chinghoppers and Loughton.

2018 Cricket Week

A Great day on the Green with fun and games, bouncy castles and barbecue. A brilliant way to end a wonderful 2018 of Junior coaching. Lots of talent in the making ... and some already there!

2018 Juniors Fun Day and Presentations

160 guests in a large marquee on The Green. Excellent food, plenty to drink, great live band and fireworks. A great night. And it was all gone in the morning!

2018 Summer Ball - Friday 29th June

The 2017 Presentation Dinner was held on Friday 6th October at Bishop's Stortford Golf Club.

2017 Presentation Evening

Presentation evening held on Friday 21st July 2017 Sue Little Presented the Tony Little trophy to Orlaith Neville. Lem did his usual BBQ. Great night with parents enjoying the honesty bar.

Junior's Presentation Evening 2017

MGCC v. Loughton

Cricket week

Charlotte on her way to church for her wedding with delighted father Bryan.

Charlotte Russell's Guard of Honour

Nick and Jack Scants play for Ploughboys agains Bancrofts 25th May 2017

Ploughboys

We retained the HECL league title today. Our rain effected match (4 points each) against close rival Nazeing Common CC was enough to seal the title with a week still to go.

2016 League Winners

Pics courtesy of Steve Parker and his new Christmas present!!

Ariel pics of The Green Jan 2017

Graham Pryke, Essex Cricket Development Officer, came to the club during our Cricket Week to present us with our Clubmark certificate.

Clubmark Presentation 2015

Presentation of blazer to President William Hartnell at last game of season

Club blazers

Matching Green beat Stansted in the League Cup final held at Birchanger CC on 24th July 2016

League Cup 2015

MGCC received the League Trophy on Saturday 24th September at Bishop's Stortford Golf Club. It was presented by ex England legend Derek Randall.

HECL Presentation Dinner 2015

Despite a man of the match performance of 48no from Simon 'Lordy' Hartnell our lads fall 15 runs short of High Roding's target of 124 in 20 overs. It's the first time we've reached the Davies Cup final since winning it over 15 years ago.

Davies Cup Final – 31st July 2014 v High Roding CC

Championee Championee ole ole ole!!

2013 HECL League Champions

280 people in a massive marquee opposite the new pavilion.

Pavilion Opening Ball – 14th June 2013

Most of the recent work has been decorating, plumbing, electrics and floor laying. All difficult to capture in a picture but these latest images show the home changing room, gents toilet, the kitchen area and of course the veranda.

New Pavilion – 1st May 2013

President's Day 2015 including a presentation by William Hartnell to Steve Byford celebrating his 50th year of playing for Matching Green CC.

President's Day 2015

And now the clock has been added! The electrician has been in again today to install new fuse boards. A lot of the plumbing material have been bought and the plumbers start on Monday.

New Pavilion – 15th March 2013

The cupola and weather vane have gone up today so the building is topped out! The oak front doors have also been hung.

New Pavilion – 14th March 2013

The plasters and decorators have started. The weather vane fixing plate is in place and the cupola goes up next week. Plastering and decorating will continue and hopefully the plumber will start. The oak front doors will also be hung.

New Pavilion – 9th March

The roof is nearly finished. Just waiting for the cupola to arrive and be fixed. Internally the floor screed has been down a week now and plasterboard is being put up. Plasters and the plumber start next week. Things are really coming together now. Even the ground around the pavilion is drying out!

New Pavilion – 27th February 2013

The first roof tiles are laid

New Pavilion – 8th February

Lots of progress this week after some bad weather had put us a little behind. The roofers have arrived and have put all the battens in place. They will start laying tiles tomorrow.

New Pavilion – 7th February 2013

The roof is nearly complete and the tiling is due to start during the third week in January. The small windows to the shower rooms are in place and the weather-boarding is underway. Internally, all the walls have been insulated.

New Pavilion – Week 13

Despite a minor hiccup yesterday, work is still progressing well. An alteration has been made to the hip ends of the roof. The windows are now in place and look wonderful. The fifth veranda post is also in position. It's hoped the roofer can begin fixing tiles straight after Christmas.

New Pavilion – Day 57

10 weeks into the build and massive progress has been made. Today the roof over the veranda has begun to take shape. The timber for the soffits is being prepared and subject to dry weather the soffits will be started next week followed by the weather-boarding.

New Pavilion – Day 50

Snow on the Green!!! Work continues though. The electrician has started the first fix and the oak beams had been placed ready for the canopy over the veranda.

New Pavilion – Day 48

The weather has been shocking over the past week hence the lack of photo updates. Today is dry, clear and very cold. The building is continuing well.

New pavilion – Day 45

Essex County Cricket Club had the squares at Chelmsford and Southend specially spiked this week by the head groundsman from the SWALEC in Cardiff. He is the authority in these matters! Essex CCC offered his services to recreational clubs in Essex while he was here so we took them up on the offer. The spikes went into the square approx 6 inches and will help promote the grass roots to grow deeper. It will also help with drainage. Head groundsman at Essex CCC, Stuart Kerrison can be seen talking t

Spiking of the square

The rain hasn't stopped for two days but work continues unabated.

New Pavilion – Day 38

On a grey and misty morning the trusses are lifted into place. You can really see the pavilion taking shape now.

New Pavilion – Day 34

Pretty wet on-site today as it's rained most of the day. However, work continues! The block walls of the disabled toilet and store are almost complete. The outside walls are also nearing completion. Half of the scaffolding is now up, the rest to be finished in the morning.

New Pavilion – Day 31

6 weeks in and the progress is amazing. The drains are complete and all the runs are being back-filled with soil. All the external walls are up and the internal plant store wall is built in block work. Scaffolding is due to go up next week and the roof trusses arrive on Wednesday.

New Pavilion – Day 30

More walls are going up both in timber and block work for the plant store. Small confusion over the position of the shower room window in the visitors changing room has been resolved!

New Pavilion – Day 28

At last we are out of the ground! The front wall is now up and the block work for the plant store is underway. You can really now get some perspective as to the scale of the building.

New Pavilion – Day 27

The drains are nearly complete. The solid floor in the plant store is now laid as well as the floor for the disabled toilet area. The sole plate has started to be put down in preparation for the walls next week. Things should really become much more visable next week as the walls begin to be built! ALSO... look out for two interested spectators in the background. A beautiful pair of swans were checking up on progress.

New Pavilion – Day 25

The drain runs near completion and the floor is nearly ready for the screed.

New Pavilion – Day 23

Crushed concrete has been added around the perimeter including under the area of the new veranda. Further work is now being done on the drains in preparation to linking up with the main drain. The container has arrived to secure our tools and materials. Roof trusses and windows have been ordered and the first load of timber is due on site next week.

New Pavilion – Day 20

After a top effort from the work party of players, the blocks are now laid into the floor. The drains have been inspected and approved and the last few gaps are being filled in.

New Pavilion - Day 16

Still working on the floor and the waste drainage pipes are now in position. Work has also begun on the solid floor for the plant store and disabled toilet which may also be a wet room. Graham Pryke, West Essex Cricket Board Development Officer, visited the site today and was excited as we are with the progress made so far.

New Pavilion - Day 14

The block and beam floor is well underway.

New Pavilion Day 12

A great night in The Chequers with Graham Napier the star guest speaker. Great guy! Excellent speech and chat afterwards. Comical and candid! 4 auction items raised funds for Graham's Benefit also supporting the PCA Benevolant Fund and The Royal British Legion.

2012 Annual Presentation Dinner

The block work begins. Note David and Chris Leamon deep in conversation in the background.

New Pavilion – Day 10

Nothing was done on Wednesday 10th October as the footings were left to set hard. On Thursday the ground level was reduced and a concrete screed spread over the whole footprint to hold back vegetation under the new building.

New Pavilion – Day 8-9

The Building Inspector has been back and approved the footings. The concrete is now flowing. That's it until Thursday when the foundations will be set and the floor levels can be reduced.

New Pavilion – Day 7

Footings are nearly complete. Concrete starts arriving tomorrow.

New pavilion - Day 6

The day we've waited 12 years for ... demolition of the old pavilion starts! David has hired the machinery to knock everything down. The wood is then put into a large wheeled container to be taken away and burnt. Quite surprising how most of the old pavilion will fit into one large bin!

New Pavilion – Day 4

The site is now clear of the old building. The new footings are marked out and the Building Inspector has approved them. They are now being dug out ready for the concrete next Tuesday.

New Pavilion – Day 5

The temporary road is now complete allowing easy access to the site and protecting the green from the heavy lorries. The elm weatherboarding has also been removed from the outside of the old pavilion to be recycled on another building elsewhere.

New Pavilion – Day 2 and 3

The clearing of the old pavilion took place with a number of members either burning or skipping all the contents of the old pavilion which were past their sell by date. The rest of our kit and equipment has gone into storage. Security fencing was then erected around to site keeping it totally enclosed.

New Pavilion – Day 1

The usual 3 team 6 a side competition was replaced with an 11 a side 20 over game with Matching Green beating Abridge in a high scoring game.

Villager's Cup 2012

Played at Bishop's Stortford CC Takeley CC 82 all out MGCC 83 for 5

2012 HECL League Cups Winners

Another top day at Frinton CC courtesy of William Hartnell and family

Frinton Cricket Week 31st July 2012

Annual Awards celebration at The Chequers on 14th October 2011 4 course dinner of Palma Ham & Melon, Steak & Ale Pie or Pollock, Profiteroles, Cheese & Biscuits & Coffee Evenings entertainment from Elvis

2011 Annual Dinner & Dance

Collecting the Division 2 League trophy

2011 League Dinner

A magnificent victory over Stansted 1st XI sealed the HECL Div 2 title for our boys

1st team claim Div 2 Championship

Great day out at Frinton courtesy of William Hartnell and family

Frinton All Day Game July 2011

After an excellent effort in both the divisional playoff against High Roding and the semi final against Hadleigh and Thundersley our boys could quite cross the finishing line loosing in the fianl to Braintree. Nevertheless, a superb effort!

Essex Indoor Final 2011

Annual dinner at The Chequers

Dinner and Dance 2010 including Lordy's napkin challenge

Cricket Week pictures from another successful week.

2010 Cricket Week

More images of players

Extra Player pics

annual hog roast on the green

hog roast 2010

Paul Brooker's XI before our match on Sunday 8th August 2010

Sunday game v Brooker Boys 2010

Lovely pictures of the Green taken by Janice Hobbs

Why we all love playing cricket at Matching Green!

back l/r Russell, Ormondroyd, Roos, Byford, Parker, Stiles, Robson front l/r Jed Scanlon, Figg (c), Scantlebury, Joe Scanlon

2009 2nd team

colts playing at the county ground

U11 Chelmsford 2008

Another superb event, expertly organised.

Annual Dinner & Dance 2007

Shots from before, during and after the game.

1st XI Vs Abridge 2006

Collection of images from the chequers after the match.

1st XI Vs Birchanger 2006 - Post Match Chequers Photo's.

U11's in action at the mini matchplay finals at Chelmsford. Thanks to the players and familes of the 6 boys involved and well done.

Under 11 County Ground Finals 2005

Various shots from the game.

1st XI Vs Thorley 1st XI - 3rd July 2006.

Sam 106no and Charlie 109 share record partnership of 249 in 24 overs of under 15's match v. Hockerill

Sam & Charlie's record partnership 8/5/05

Decisive vcitory to win promotion

Matching vs Newport 2004

Victorious pictures

Matching vs Stansted Hall 2004

Pictures from the under 15s victory over Harlow including a team picture

Under 15s victorious at Harlow 2004

Photo's from during and after the game on saturday, 17th july, 2005. Played on "The Green".

MGCC 2nd XI Vs Roding Valley 2nd XI

First 2nd XI game v. Hockerill 3rd XI, 7th May 2005

First ever 2nd XI Saturday league fixture

League encounter v Hockerill 21 August 2004

MGCC v Hockerill on the Green

Photo Nas and Lordy junior and senior

Nas signs for Matching

Dinner Dance - I have most of the official photos on a CD. If you would like to borrow it and get a print email stevenmultivend@aol.com. This is just a selection of approx 100 I have.

Official Club Photos from the Dinner Dance 2004

Various shots from Lordy

Promotion Photos

How did this lot win promotion?

Simon Hartnell's Unofficial Dinner Dance Photos

General shots of the day

v Nazeing Common 29 May victory

1998 Davies Cup Winners – Matching Green CC Back row, Graeme Bowerman, Rob Leamon, Steve Byford, Bryan Russsell, Mark Iliffe, Michael Bashford, Dave Warbarton Front row, Peter Weaver, George Dellar, Simon Hartnell, Steve Hume, Matthew Hartnell

1998 Davies Cup Winners