29 seasons on from their first match, Trent Bridge Cricket Team are now preparing for their debut season in Saturday league cricket as they head into their 30th summer.
Since their founding, the nomadic side has travelled around the Midlands – and sometimes further afield – for friendly Sunday fixtures at some of the most picturesque cricket grounds in the region, with skipper and chair Tom Paterson using his contacts to find attractive opponents.
They were also mainstays in the Nottingham Evening League from 2003-18 and still regularly play friendly midweek evening matches, but 2025 presents a new challenge as they enter the South Nottinghamshire Cricket League.
Tom has led the side on the field since their inaugural fixture back in 1996, and is excited to see the team take on league cricket again.
He said: “We’ve played hundreds of midweek and Sunday friendlies over the course of our 29 seasons, but the lure of Saturday league cricket has whetted the appetite of a consistent, settled squad, and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves in a new environment.”
Their home Saturday fixtures will be held at Clifton Playing Fields off Farnborough Road, and Tom added: “While our long-term vision is to have our own ground, we accept this is way off in the future.
“With grounds extremely difficult to find we are pleased to enter into a partnership with Midlands CC that will see us play at Clifton Playing Fields for the 2025 league season – and hopefully beyond.”
Having a settled home venue for the first time gives the club a new opportunity to link up with local businesses and individuals for sponsor partnerships.
“We are thankful to our current and longstanding partners, some of who have supported us over a number of seasons,” said Tom.
“We are always looking for additional sponsor partners and while the cost of renting a ground brings additional challenges and costs, it also provides some great opportunities for companies of all sizes, industries and locations.”
The club has regularly toured across the country, visiting Norfolk, Chester, Worcester, Yorkshire and Manchester to name a few, as well as heading overseas in 2008 to Mallorca.
And the club recently extended its global presence by forging an exciting partnership with Arcadians Cricket Club Ghent, based in Belgium, with the hope that the two sides will eventually meet for reciprocal fixtures.
The squad is currently enjoying weekly pre-season nets at Trent Bridge and would welcome new members and volunteers to join their community.
Said Tom: “We have an inclusive, diverse and family-friendly group of players and are keen to ensure no-one is prevented from playing the sport we love due to any costs involved.
“New players, volunteers, officials, supporters and partners are always welcome to get involved with the club, and I’d be delighted to hear from anyone interested in sponsoring the side.”
For more information, visit the team website at www.tbct.co.uk , email [email protected] or call 07775 628283.