Solihull Municipal Cricket Club About Us
Main Ground / Club House -
Solihull Municipal Cricket Club, Brick Kiln Lane, (off Widney Lane), Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3LE
3rd X1 Ground -
Widney Junior School, Clifton Crescent
Visitors should park at the Main club (B91 3LE) and access to Widney Junior School is available.
Teams / Leagues
Saturday 1st X1 - Warwickshire Premier Division
Saturday 2nd X1 - Warwickshire Division 7
Saturday 3rd X1 - Warwickshire Division 9 West
Sunday 1st X1 - Arden Sunday Division 2
Sunday 2nd X1 - Arden Sunday Division 4
Midweek X1 - Shirley Midweek League
2017 - Shirley Midweek Division 1 Champions
2017 - WCL Division 10 West Promotion
2014 - WCL Division 1 1st X1 Champions
2013 - WCL Division 2 2nd X1 Runners Up
2012 - WCL 3rd X1 & Single Team Div 2 Runners Up
2012 - ASL Division 1 South 1st X1 Champions
2011 - ASL Division 2 2nd X1 Champions
2008 - WCL Division 5 1st X1 Runners Up
History of Solihull Municipal:
Solihull Municipal Cricket Club began life as Solihull Nalgo back in 1948. In 1955 the name changed to Solihull Municipal and in 1958 Councillor Edgar Nathaniel Hiley opened the clubhouse. In 1965 the Club had the strength to run two sides and league cricket became prevalent in the late sixties with the introduction of the James Travel Central Warwickshire League. The first X1 won the title in 1970, 1972, 1973, and 1980, whilst the second X1 were successful in 1974, 1978, and 1983. There then followed a few barren years in the Warwicks and Staffs Championship before the Warwickshire Cricket League, which pioneered pyramid cricket throughout the area. In 1982 club grounds throughout the Midlands were invited to stage matches between ICC playing countries for the right to appear in the 1983 World Cup. The club was privileged to host Israel versus USA and the efforts of Alan Swift and Maurice Wiggins in ensuring the ground was in shape were rewarded with in excess of 500 runs scored
The pyramid system provided the incentive for the Club to become stronger. It was recognised that in order to compete at a higher level we needed to attract better calibre players in the short term, and to establish a junior section for the long-term prosperity of the club. In the winter of 1993 the services of Gary Parker were acquired from Moseley CC with a brief to set up a junior section. The following couple of seasons saw the junior section thrive to such an extent that teams were fielded at U-11, U-13, U-15, and U-16 levels. The late 1990s saw the 1st X1 begin to push upwards, gaining promotion from Divisions 4, 3, 2, and 1 between 1997 and 2001 when we reached Birmingham League Division 2. However, the success of those seasons was not sustained as players moved on and the Club suffered several relegations before a period of stability followed by a number of promotions that sees the club competing in 2015 in the Premier Division of the Warwickshire Cricket League.
The thriving nature of the junior set-up necessitated the need to provide them with opportunities to further test themselves and the step was taken in 2010 to enter a team of mainly 14-19 year olds into the Shirley Midweek League. The success of this venture led to us being the only team to be represented by two sides since 2012. Furthermore, the Club registered a 3rd X1 to participate in the newly merged West Midlands 3rd X1 and Warwickshire Single Teams Leagues. The Club was fortunate enough to enter a partnership with Meriden Parish Council for the use of their new facility, in the village centre, which became home for 3years. However, that period expired in 2014 and the Club sought to move closer to home and, after much negotiation, Club Chairman Paul Gennoe and the Governors of Widney School reached an agreement to upgrade the facilities and we look forward to a new chapter in our history.
Since 2014, Alex Roslyn has taken charge of the Youth section as Youth Co-ordinator with Gurpal Dahele as Senior Youth Coach revamping the youth section, so that players of the future have the necessary tools and platform to perform at the highest level they can.
The adult section still the envy of many teams, have improved facilities at Brick Kiln Lane. Two new sightscreens have been purchased due to a generous donation from loyal supporters (Doug and Hillary Fogarty.) A mobile net has also been bought to improve pre-match preparations and training sessions improving the standard of cricket played at Solihull Municipal CC.