Racecourse Ground, Hereford facts for kids
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| Ground information | |||||
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| Location | Hereford, Herefordshire | ||||
| Coordinates | 52°04′06″N 2°43′43″W / 52.0683°N 2.7286°W | ||||
| Establishment | 1909 | ||||
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| Pavilion End Racecourse End |
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| Team information | |||||
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| As of 28 July 2013 Source: Ground profile |
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The Racecourse Ground is a special cricket ground located in Hereford, England. What makes it unique is that it's inside the Hereford Racecourse. It's the only old first-class cricket venue in England that is still found within a horse racing track.
This ground was once home to important cricket matches. The Worcestershire team played many first-class and one-day matches here from 1919 to 1988. Later, the Herefordshire team used it for minor county matches between 1992 and 1996.
A Look Back: The Ground's History
How the Racecourse Ground Started
The Racecourse Ground was created in 1909. It is part of the larger Hereford Racecourse. Ten years later, in 1919, it hosted its very first important cricket match.
Early Cricket Matches and Famous Players
In 1919, the Worcestershire team played against a team called HK Foster's XI. This was part of Worcestershire's cricket schedule after First World War. A player named Humphrey Gilbert from Worcestershire took 12 wickets in this game. Taking many wickets is a big achievement for a bowler.
Later that year, the Australian Imperial Forces cricket team, a team from Australia, also played here. Their player, Johnny Taylor, scored an impressive 138 runs.
Cricket After the Second World War
After the Second World War, Worcestershire returned to the ground in 1947. They played against the Combined Services cricket team. In this match, Worcestershire's Roly Jenkins and Dick Howorth each took five wickets in one part of the game. This is known as a "five-wicket haul" and is a great bowling performance.
Later County and One-Day Games
For many years, the Racecourse Ground was used as an "outground" for Worcestershire. This means it was a secondary ground where they played some of their matches. They played County Championship matches here in 1981, 1982, and 1983.
The ground also hosted four one-day matches between 1983 and 1987. These were part of popular leagues like the John Player Special League.
Hosting an International Tournament
In 1986, the Racecourse Ground was chosen for the 1986 ICC Trophy. This was a big competition where teams from different countries played to qualify for the Cricket World Cup. The ground hosted a match between the Argentina and Bangladesh teams.
New Teams and Competitions
When the Durham team became a top-level team in 1991, Herefordshire took their place in the Minor Counties Championship. From 1992 to 1996, Herefordshire played several matches at the Racecourse Ground. They also played in the 1993 MCCA Knockout Trophy here.
The Unique Setup of the Ground
Cricket matches at the Racecourse Ground often drew large crowds. About 4,000 people would typically attend county games. One match between Worcestershire and Surrey, featuring famous players like Ian Botham and Tim Curtis, attracted 7,500 fans!
The main cricket pavilion, built in 1889, is a bit far from where the game is played. Players usually watched matches from a special tent closer to the field. This tent was next to the areas for the scorers and the press. On big match days, there were also tents and even a double-decker bus for sponsors.
The Racecourse Ground has two scoreboards. One is a permanent board near the main pavilion, and a temporary one is closer to the playing area. Since 1939, this ground has been the only first-class cricket ground in England completely surrounded by a horse racing track.
Amazing Cricket Records
First-Class Match Records
- Highest team score: 405 runs by the Australian Imperial Forces cricket team against HK Foster's XI in 1919.
- Lowest team score: 84 runs by Worcestershire against the Combined Services cricket team in 1947.
- Most runs by one player: 138 runs, scored by Johnny Taylor for the Australian Imperial Forces in 1919.
- Best bowling in one part of a game: 6 wickets for 50 runs by Humphrey Gilbert for HK Foster's XI in 1919.
- Best bowling in a whole match: 12 wickets for 122 runs by Humphrey Gilbert in the same 1919 match.
One-Day (List A) Match Records
- Highest team score: 233 runs for 6 wickets by Worcestershire against Gloucestershire in 1986.
- Lowest team score: 154 runs by Surrey against Worcestershire in 1987.
- Most runs by one player: 108 runs by Jack Russell for Gloucestershire in 1986.
- Best bowling in one part of a game: 3 wickets for 23 runs by Paul Pridgeon for Worcestershire in 1986.
