Cockington call it a day after 86 years due to declining player numbers

Former Test umpire Dickie Bird was invited to open the new cricket pavilion at Cockington which replaced the one burned down by arsonists in 1997. He is pictured with the teams of Cockington and Chelston cricket clubs before their match in 1998

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

COCKINGTON CC is set to disappear from fixture lists next season after declaring its innings closed.

The club, whose home ground since 1946 was the picturesque Cockington Court on the outskirts of Torquay, has been struggling to keep going for several seasons.

Over and out: Cockington chairman Neil StanlakeChairman Neil Stanlake said a combination of factors sounded the death knell of the club.

“Eight or nine years ago we were putting out two teams every Saturday, but once the second team folded the writing was on the wall,” said Stanlake.

“By last season we were down to six regular players of our own – and at the age of 68 I was one of them.

“Our groundsman wanted to retire, all three of our tea ladies are in their 80s and wanted to step back and we needed a fixture secretary too.

“Getting sides out was a problem and without a group of players helping us out from Dartington & Totnes we probably would have folded a couple of years ago.

“Even getting sides to play us was becoming difficult as we would make fixtures for Sundays then get an apologetic call to say ‘sorry we aren’t coming’.

“There comes a time when you realise it is pointless carrying on. We had an extraordinary meeting of players and officials and decided we had reached it.”

Cockington CC have leased the ground from the Cockington Countryside Trust for many years. When that lease expires in mid-January the club will officially call it a day.

St Marychurch Old Boys have rented the ground for Saturday cricket for a couple of seasons and that arrangement will continue.

“The good news for people who like to watch cricket at Cockington is it will continue next summer with our friends from St Marychurch taking over,” said Stanlake.

“As a gesture of goodwill we have gifted all our equipment to them.”

Cockington in 1963 in front of their old pavilion. Skipper Mike Janes is in the middle of the front rowCockington were formed in 1933 as a junior club and initially lived a nomadic existence playing away from home or own borrowed grounds.

They won their first trophy in 1934 when they lifted the Brockman Cup by beating holders Old Manorians and appeared in eight more finals, winning six of them. Their last success was in 1969 over arch-rivals Chelston.

Cockington, who were variously known as Torquay Corinthians and Cockington Corinthians during their life, were eight-times winners of the Narracott Cup, which started out as a midweek evening league competition in 1951.

Six wins in Narracott Cup finals between 1970-1979 confirmed Corries as the kings of evening cricket.

Their captain in many of those finals was Mike Janes, who served the club as man and boy, player and secretary, from age 13 until his death in 2016 aged 78

Corries joined the then unsponsored Devon Senior League in 1978 when it was expanded to two divisions. They had previously played in the Shiphay Mannor League, which they also won.Jack Neville - wonder wicket taker

Although Corries never went higher than the A Division in the Devon League, they had some memorable seasons at lower levels. When Cockington won the old D Division 1stXI in 1989, Jack Neville took 103 league wickets at an average of just 7.42.

Cockington shuttled between the A, B and C Divisions during their time in the Devon League. In 2011 their 1stXI was in the B Division and the 2ndXI operated in the D Division West.

A shortage of players forced Cockington to scrap the 2ndXI for 2012, which proved to be the swansong season for the 1stXI.

Cockington switched to Sunday friendlies from 2013 onwards, but problems getting and fulfilling fixtures meant that 2019 was the final season for the club. 

Winning captain Mike Janes receiving the Narracott Cup after Corries won the 1977 final at Torquay