Rushden and Higham Town Cricket Club is an amateur cricket club based in Rushden, Northamptonshire, England. The club has 3 senior XI teams in the Northamptonshire Cricket League, and an established Junior Section, who compete in the Higham & District Youth League. Rushden also field a Sunday XI team who play friendly matches in and around the region.
Ground Rushden and Higham Town's First and Second XI teams play their home matches at the Town Ground in Rushden, rated as 'Good' quality ground by the East Northamptonshire Council (ENC). The Town Ground was used by Northamptonshire County Cricket Club for 22 first-class matches between 1924 and 1963, but has been the home ground for Rushden since 2003. The Third XI team use the Saffron Road Recreation Ground, in Higham Ferrers, Rushden, rated as a 'Standard' quality ground by the East Northamptonshire Council.
History Evidence shows that cricket has been played in Rushden since the middle of the 19th century, with a record of a match being played as early as 1868. One of the earliest known references to a cricket ground was mentioned in a match report dated 1 August 1874, in the Northampton Mercury stating "Pikehills" to be the location and by the 1880s, reports show Rushden Cricket Club winning their second County Challenge Cup in 1884. By 1889, Rushden Cricket Club amalgamated with both the local Football and Rugby club to become the 'Rushden Cricket and Football Club'; and the club moved to their current ground in the same year. By the 1920s Rushden were competing in the Rushden and District League and after the Second World War, they joined the Northamptonshire County League; becoming league champions in 1959 and 1960. Further success was achieved in the Bedford and District Cricket League with the club becoming league champions in 1966. In the 1970s, the club played for the Bedfordshire Millman Trophy and continued competing in the Northants County League up to the turn of the millennium, when the League became a designated ECB Premier League. It was at this time when the club's 120-year-old pavilion was destroyed by fire, along with most of the club's material history in 2000. However, a few years into the millennium saw the club bounce back with the addition of two senior teams (3rd XI side in 2007 and a 4th XI in 2012) and a cluster of division wins leading up to the club becoming Premier League Champions in 2015. After the 2018 season, Rushden Town entered into a merger with its neighbouring club 'Higham Ferrers Town' and became Rushden and Higham Town Cricket Club.
Club Performance The Northamptonshire Cricket League competition results showing the club's positions in the league (by Division) since 2003.
Key Gold Champions Red Relegated Grey League Suspended Key P ECB Premier Division 1 Division One 2 Division Two, etc.
+ Northamptonshire Cricket League Team 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 P P P P P P P P P 1 1 P P P P P P P P P 1 P P P 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 5 4 4 5 13 12 12 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 11 10 10 12 12 12 12 11N 14 14 14 13 13 13
Club Honours + Northamptonshire Cricket League Division Year(s) Premier 2015 Division One 2013, 2023 Division Three 2012 Division Eleven 2013 + Bedford & District Cricket League Division Year(s) Division One 1966 + Northant's County League Division Year(s) Division One 1959, 1960 + Cup Competitions Result Cup Year Winner NCL T20 Championship 2025 Winner NCL Division 12 KO Cup 2022 Winner Northant's County Challenge Cup 188?, 1884
References
External links Rushden Cricket Club history Play Cricket