By Charles Randall

18 January 2016


The story of Central Brittany CC is heart-warming and illustrates the game's gentle development in the French countryside.

It is no surprise that mentions of cricket in France date back a long way because much of the north and west came under British occupation in medieval times. The recent newspaper articles about claims that cricket started in a northern village called Liettres in 1478 ring true. And it is well documented that the MCC's first tour of France in 1789 had to be cancelled due to the French Revolution.  
Nevertheless there has been little cricket tradition in the lovely holiday region of Brittany, despite its historical connection with Britain, but Central Brittany CC has become established as a welcome addition to the village community of Silfiac.  

The cricket club, formed in 2005, had three home venues under different names before being invited to Silfiac by the mayor. Regular fixtures are played against other French sides, and the club hopes to attract more touring sides beyond the annual visits of Bridgwater Doctors CC.

Don Smith, one of the founders, said the first hurdle was establishing somewhere to play. As Gourin CC, they played at a picturesque ground at Chateau Tronjoli. “This was OK for a while,” Smith said, “until we found out at the last moment a home game against a touring club coincided with the local horse show.”

Two years later they were invited to play at a former american football ground in the small village of Le Saint. Under the name of Gourin & Le Saint, they spent two seasons there until an invasion of moles wrecked the turf.

Next they found a venue at Saint Mayeau, an old football ground. “The only problem that did crop up,” said Smith, “was when we turned up to prepare the ground for a Sunday match and found that there were marquees around one side of the ground. Apparently a wedding reception was taking place there. After some negotiation we routed the boundary around the marquees. All went well until one of the locals started to walk across the pitch during the game trailing an electric cable to connect it to the supply on the opposite side - much to the amusement of our touring guests.”

A lack of membership in the area and other problems meant another move was required to keep the club afloat. Through local knowledge they found another old football ground, this time at Silfiac, where the local mayor was keen to welcome them. 

Smith said: “After several months of extremely hard work by a dedicated team, we removed tons of moss and other unwelcome green stuff, ready for the start of the 2012 season. The mayor bowled the first ball - technically a no-ball - and thus started a very happy time for the club. The mayor was so impressed with the care we were taking with the ground, he offered us a 10-year lease, provided we assumed responsibility for the care of the pitch.”

Smith added that in the past three years the club, now known as Central Brittany, had acquired a Toro 3 gang mower and built a garage to house it, along with other equipment. The construction of a new facility at the end of the ground included changing rooms and showers.

“The only downside of that is that it is not actually on the boundary, but is a short walk away. We have created a very good grass wicket, a very unusual thing in France, as many clubs have either to contend with a playing surface which is less than ideal, or resort to a matting strip.”

Cricket in France still faces a long haul, despite clear growth. Smith added: “The majority of available players are ex-pat English, who have transferred the France to retire. Inevitably the turnover of members is high from one season to the next & we never quite know our playing strength at the start.”

Two members of Central Brittany completed a basic coaching course and attended a couple of events at local schools. Cricket has been introduced into some French schools, and the hope is that a rudimentary competitive system can be set up. 

Smith, 82, from Birmingham and now back living in the UK, can look back at his work in Brittany with satisfaction. “I have been involved with the beautiful game for over 60 years as a player, umpire and administrator,” he said.

Meanwhile Central Brittany await another visit by Bridgwater Doctors in May. Perhaps other clubs might consider sampling a warm welcome at Silfiac.

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