History of Beacon Cricket Club
Beacon Cricket Club was formed in 1906, in response to the unemployment and deprivation facing the villagers at that time. Joe Thomas, who owned the local grocery, was concerned by the plight of all the young men who spent their days idly congregating around the Sunday school. He called a meeting at the local chapel, and it was decided that they would form a cricket club with two teams, under the guidance and presidency of local tin streamer, Sammy Williams.
The early years were typified by the thrift of Beacon’s cricketers. They carried their first wooden pavilion with them as the club moved from Higher Tolcarne to Beacon Fields to Condurrow. The club joined the Cornwall Cricket League in 1927 and, in its first season, won the Cooke Challenge Cup. By 1936 the club was finally complete, with its well-travelled pavilion finally settled at Tolcarne Road on a field scarred by mine burrows that had been owned by the Devonshire Brewery.
Cricket at Tolcarne was born… Stone picking was never ending, so Nottingham marl was used to improve the playing surface. A petrol mower was soon purchased and things were looking up. A new wooden pavilion replaced the existing one built by the players, which remained on the ground until 1978 when it was demolished and a new block one built on the western side of the ground, where it stands today, once again this was built voluntary by members around at that time.
When the Second World War broke out much of Cornish Cricket stopped because cricket fields were needed for agricultural use, but as Beacon was made up of such poor soil it was proved unsuitable for farming. Five cricket grounds were kept in West Cornwall: Nancekuke, Leedstown, Beacon, Penzance and Truro.
From 1941 to the late 60s, the ground was used for local Sports Days and Carnivals that were organised by the villagers.
1942 the army were billeted at Trevu House and they made use of the field for its own matches, in return for which they were supplied with valuable petrol for the mower. Mostly, evening games were played. Britain switched to ‘double summer time’ during the War, and villagers were treated to matches that played through to midnight!
1948, football was played on the ground.
1949, Beacon became a founding member of Senior Two.
The mid-50s, however, proved to be a low point in the club’s history. Its shoestring existence forced it to be withdrawn from Senior Two, and as a result it took over the fixtures of its 2nd XI in Junior Two and spent a further 19 years trying to reclaim its position in Senior Cricket.
1953 The first Ladies Committee was formed.
1965 Beacon won the Mining League Trophy, and soon after the Beacon Colts were formed.
1968 saw the commencement of 48 over cricket and the 2nd XI were reformed and elected into Junior Division 3 Central
1969 Sunday cricket was introduced, which at that time spread great concern amongst the local villagers.
1970 the first ever game was played at Tolcarne on a Sunday, and the club’s first Dinner and Dance held.
But in 1971 a dark cloud fell over Beacon: one of Cornwall’s famous landmarks (which is the motif of Beacon Cricket Club) was demolished to make way for new housing – a savage blow to the village, as this feature could be seen from all over Cornwall.
1973 Beacon won the Cooke Cup again and the New Ladies Committee formed.
Beacon Under 16’s were formed. This proved to be the breeding ground of many players who went on to give Beacon its greatest period of success.
1973 Junior Division 2 Champions.
1974 Junior Division 2 Champions.
1975 saw Beacon elected back into Senior Two, and in the next eleven years the club won the League five times, finished as runners-up on four other occasions and reached the final of the Vinter Cup (1983), with the 2nd XI also winning the League and League Final.
1978 Opening of New Pavilion.
1980 Beacon Senior Division 2 Champions.
1980 Beacon 2nd XI Junior Division 3 Champions.
1981 The first ever Club Tour to Somerset.
1982 Beacon Senior Division 2 Champions.
1983 Outdoor 6-a-side Champions.
1985 Beacon Senior Division 2 Champions.
1986 Outdoor 6-a-side Champions.
1986 Beacon Senior Division 2 Champions.
1987 Beacon Senior Division 2 Champions.
1987 the ground was enlarged by moving the North West wall back 20 metres, and the ground then levelled and the square moved 12 yards to give it a more central position on the ground. With three consecutive championships behind them, Beacon made history by becoming the first team to break into Senior One. Ironically, within two years the county leagues were reformed with promotion and relegation!
1989 West Cornwall Indoor 6-a-side Champions.
1993 Beacon crowned County Division 2 Champions.
1996 Indoor 6-a-side Western Area Champions.
2001 Beacon 3rd XI was formed and entered the league in Division eight. Playing at Pool School, then in 2004 they moved to Clijah Croft, and now play at Trevithick School, Camborne.
2003 Beacon 2nd XI County Division 5 Champions.
2004 Beacon 2nd XI Runners-Up in the Andrew Cup Competition.
2005 Beacon 1st XI win The Clive Rosevear Insurance 20/20 Handicap K.O. Cup but also got relegated from County Division One.
2005 Beacon Cricket Club books released
2006 Beacon Cricket Club celebrated 100 years of cricket,
2006 The club earns ECB Clubmark accreditation
2007 Under 11’s became Runners-Up in the St. Gluvias Cricket Festival
2009 ECB Clubmark is re-accredited
2009 Beacon won County Division 2 West and promoted back to County One
2011 Plans have been passed to upgrade the pavilion facilities and the hard work of raising the funds commences!
2012 ECB Clubmark is re-accredited
2012 Beacon Cricket Club obtain a license and open a bar in the pavilion
2012 Beacon 2nd XI win Division 4 West.
2013 Beacon 3rd XI runners up in Division 7 West
2013 Indoor 6-a-side Plate Final Winners
2014 Beacon 3rd XI win Division 7 West
2014 Beacon 2nd XI relegated from Division 3 West
2015 Beacon 3rd XI withdrawn from the Cornwall Cricket League
2016 Beacon 1st XI relegated from County Division One
2017 Beacon 1st XI win Division 2 West to return to County Division One at the first time of asking
2017 Beacon Cricket Club becomes an ECB All Star Cricket Centre
Over the years, Beacon Cricket Club has gone from strength to strength. A lot of people have played their part, for the club has needed them all to get to where the club is today….
More insight of the clubs history, facts & figures can be found in the books: ‘The Thorn Between Two Roses’ 99 Not Out & ‘The Missing Years’100 Not Out
“Few of us would relish the challenge of the twin peaks of Cornish Cricket – Camborne and Troon. But the cricketers of Beacon are fighters, accustomed to living off scraps and hardened to the struggle for survival. Out of this adversity has arisen a loyalty, between Beacon’s players and their community, that is the envy of many clubs – and which makes them the team they are today.”
“The Thorn Between Two Roses”
Malcolm Lobb 2011
“Few of us would relish the challenge of the twin peaks of Cornish Cricket – Camborne and Troon. But the cricketers of Beacon are fighters, accustomed to living off scraps and hardened to the struggle for survival. Out of this adversity has arisen a loyalty, between Beacon’s players and their community, that is the envy of many clubs – and which makes them the team they are today.”
“The Thorn Between Two Roses”
Malcolm Lobb 2011