Club history

Lansdown cricket club founded in 1825 is one of the oldest in England. The original home of the club was on the old race course at Lansdown. In 1850 the club played on the Sydenham field, now covered by the Green Park complex, from which, in 1864 the club was given notice to quit and took up a lease at Combe Park in 1865.

The founder of the club, William Cooper Keating was ably assisted by James Pycroft. The Club is closely linked with the Grace Family and with Somerset County Cricket Club. W.G. Grace first played for the club in 1861 at the age of 12 and the club enjoyed a close association with the Grace family for many years. In 1863, W.G. Grace, then a lad of 14, appeared for Lansdown in a game between All England XI’s in the company of his elder brothers E.M. and H.Grace. A photograph of theses sides is hung in the Pavilion.

Somerset County Cricket Club, was, in it's early days, captained by the Captain of Lansdown. An interesting game was played in 1839 between the MCC and Lansdown on the MCC ground. The records state that Lansdown won the match by 26 runs. The club badge is derived from the family crest of Sir Bevil Grenville who lost his life in the Royalist cause at the Battle of Lansdown in 1643.

A number notable players have played at Lansdown, such as Lord Hawke – a boy who became Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer, then Lord Chancellor and the winning owner of the Derby in 1855; Vivian Richards who played in 1973 whilst qualifying for Somerset; Matt Horne who played in 1990, since become a New Zealand test player.

In 1975 Lansdown joined the Western League and in 1981/82 became the first club to win the title in two consecutive seasons. The club became champions again in 1997, winning all games.