A cricket club formed by a group of friends just before the start of the Second World War is marking 75 years at the same ground.

South Loughton Cricket Club in Roding Road, Loughton, was formed in 1938 after the group, led by John Forbes, secured a field known as Upper Cow Leys, now part of the Roding Valley Recreation Ground, and called themselves Stannox Cricket Club.

Current chairman Andrew Shields said: “The best bet as to the name is that it was a tweak to the name of a team they used to watch playing at the old Bearman’s ground at the back of what is now Roding Valley High School.

“They were called Lennox, so the lads simply adapted that.”

The club changed its name to South Loughton during the 1950s.

Its most well-known former member is Leyton Orient FC chairman and sports promoter Barry Hearn, who scored 500 runs and 100 wickets while playing in 1969.

Snooker player Steve Davis also played at the club several times during the 1980s.

The club now has four adult teams and a youth section for children aged six to 16.

It also works with Oak View special school in Whitehills Road, to give pupils there the chance to play cricket.

Mr Shields said: “We are not an elite club. We provide a chance for absolutely everyone to play cricket and to be coached.

“If we continue to attract people like that, we can bat on confidently towards our century.”

  • A book on the club's history, South Loughton Cricket Club: 75 Years at Roding Road, is available for £5 from The Bookshop in Loughton High Road and from Amazon