Our Commitment

Our Story

Inspire Yourself

The Sports Club was founded in 1921 however Football and Cricket have been played in the village far longer than living memory. Before 1911 both Football and Cricket had been played in a field, some 6 acres behind the Windmill. After 1911 the sports were played at Grymsdyke which had been taken on by H. E. Carter, both sports were being played at Bottom Green Meadows (which are now bisected by new road). There was a small pavilion in the field which was regularly used until the first world war when players were called up to the war. After the First World War the sports were played there until 1921.

The Sports Club as an organisation had been contemplated by the players for a long time, there are even records of a ‘Concert at Lacey Green School in aid of Cricket Club funds’ on Wednesday 15th November 1906! However the club was officially started at a public meeting on the 23rd September 1921 which officially started ‘The Lacey Green and Loosley Row Sports Club’ to cater for Cricket, Football and Tennis. 

After the meeting H. E. Carter was elected president with officers and committee also appointed and the regular meetings of the Sports Club committee went on from there. The fencing off of the new ground for the Sports Club at the location it is today then began with the small pavilion being moved to the new location. This was rented off William Saunders who owned Stocking Farm. The new pitch was then constructed and plans drawn up for a Tennis, Football and Cricket pitch. The Tennis was played on a grass court, near the school boundary and ran for three years before it fizzled out. The Tennis Section didn’t reappear until 1962 where the first court was laid, and the only Tennis in the intervening years being in the Vicarage garden. 

Although the Tennis Section had fallen under hard times the Cricket and Football Section were going strong, with many members putting in much time and energy to get the ground up and running for the sports. The Cricket team were halfway up the league tables and many enjoyable matches were recorded. 

The Sports Club continued unchanged until 1933, where William Saunders, who owned Small Dean Farm, died. Stocking Farm was then bought by Ernest Smith who let it to Dick and Hilda West the following year. The Sports Club ground and the surrounding farm was then taken over as part of an airfield during World War II and was returned to the Sports Club in 1946, although the ground was in poor condition.  

Despite the condition of the ground they made the best of the situation and Frank Chilten, now the club Secretary reports ‘a most successful season’ with Dr. and Mrs. Bateman also appears on the scene with Club President Dr. Bleadon. After this the club continued to prosper with 1947 being reported with good Cricket and Football with the club's balance being over £300. The football club were again members of the Wycombe and District Combination, Division 3, and thanked Dr. and Mrs Batemen, patrons of the club who gifted a roller and references to ‘distinct possibility of the club owning their own ground at last’ were made. 

Later on Dick West bought Stockings Farm in 1948 and in October a special meeting of the committee was called to consider Dr. and Mrs Bateman’s offer to gift the field that the Sports Club rented. After this meeting the Bateman’s gave a 99 year lease of the grounds for two peppercorn annual rent, but retained the free hold they had purchased from Dick West. A formal presentation of the lease was made to the club by Dr. Bateman on the 30th July 1949.

The work on improving the ground could then continue with enthusiasm with improvements being made including the addition of the bottom hedge. A second pavilion was also purchased in 1951 from Princes Risborough Parish Council for £170, which was relocated to the grounds and rebuilt by volunteers, 

On the 6th December 1961 a meeting was held to test support  for reinstating a Tennis Section of the Sports Club, which was passed by the committee with one hard court being installed. The land was generously leased by the Wests to accommodate this and subsequent courts, with the first court opened by the Batemans on 1st September 1962 and a second court agreed by the Tennis Section in July 1977, built in August 1983 and the original court being resurfaced which were a joint effort by the Sports Club and the Tennis Section. The third court was also added during 1985 with a busy following season in 1986.

The Football Section had struck bad luck in 1983 when Football came to an end, and Downly rented the ground in the subsequent years before the summer of 1985 where the Football Section started up again and had a splendid 1985/86 season. The Cricket also continued to prosper with the first team winning the First Division Wycombe and District League two years running in 1977 and 1978.