North Enfield Cricket Club

North Enfield Cricket Club is a cricket club in Enfield, Greater London.

North Enfield Cricket Club has been in existence for 127 years. Initially playing at Claysmore - farmland located between Clay Hill and Whitewebbs Park until World War II interrupted much local sport. The current ground at Strayfield Road, only a few hundred yards from Claysmore, is part of Hilly Fields Park, owned by Enfield Council.

In 1951/52, the Council agreed to lease the land to the Club with the conditions that the Club own and maintain both the cricket square and the pavilion and car park. A public right of way continues to exists across the middle of the playing area. The Club continues to lease the land from the council on a 30-year lease, and are protected tenants.

The post-war years saw arguably the most talented cricketer ever to play for North Enfield in his prime – Frank Barwick. Barwick won the 1st XI batting and bowling for three years in a row, and the bowling for a further two from 1948, a record unequalled in Club history. Barwick joined North Enfield relatively late in his cricket career having previously been at our illustrious neighbours Enfield CC before the advent of war. It is said that had it not been for the 1939-45 conflict, Barwick would have almost certainly played 1st class cricket for Middlesex. He joined North Enfield because, according to club legend, Enfield CC refused to let him have a bat and only wanted him to bowl.

Other prominent professional cricketers that have associations with North Enfield are Mike Smith of Middlesex and England, whose family was involved at North Enfield for many years, staged a benefit game at North Enfield in 1976 .John Emburey, the Middlesex and England spin bowler, who played in the North Enfield Centenary game against MCC and Benefit 1986 and Graham Barlow (Benefit fixture 1983). Middlesex wicket keeper Keith Brown was also a good friend of the Club for many years. Rumours also abound that England leg-spinner B.J.T. Bosanquet also played for North Enfield, (he was born at Bulls Cross and lived locally for some time) but no records exist to confirm this.

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