Brentwood County Ground Club
Sport has been played at the Old County Ground for well over 100 years.
Brentwood County Ground Club was formed in 1955 when the cricket, tennis and hockey clubs agreed to amalgamate to enable joint investment in shared facilities.
The club is a “not for profit” organisation providing hockey, cricket and tennis facilities and access to first class coaching for all levels of ability at affordable prices for all in the community including local schools.
The club membership – over 1,000 members – is very diverse with people coming from different cultures, faiths and backgrounds. Young people of Brentwood already benefit from the facilities both as members – our junior section boasts a membership in excess of 350 junior members – and through the voluntary links established with local schools.
Brentwood County Ground Club is one of the leading “sports for all” providers in the area. It provides first class outdoor playing facilities including:
- 8 all weather tennis courts, (six of which are floodlit);
- the main cricket ground and a four lane artificial grass net facility; the cricket club also has reciprocal ground arrangements with Brentwood School;
- 2 grass and one astroturf hockey pitches, close to the site which are rented for the Hockey Club's use
It is the combination of facilities, coaching and the management team that makes the club so appealing to members, attracts family participation and encourages youngsters to participate in active sports and recreation.
Brentwood Tennis Club - eight all weather tennis courts (six floodlit)
Our Ground
Our historic ground continues to be the envy of most clubs in the County and in 2010 Brentwood Cricket Club was voted ‘Best Cricket Ground’ by the Essex Playing Field’s Association.
It is difficult to do justice to the beauty of our ground. It was featured in the 1969 Wisden Cricketers Almanac which concluded that 'of all the Essex grounds, the tree surrounded acres of Brentwood are the most beautiful .... to play at Brentwood is to feel that one is playing in the grounds of some vast country mansion - which is virtually true.‘
During the season and when not being used, the ground and our recently refurbished pavilion are available for private hire.
Memorable Matches
Over the years a number of memorable matches have been played at the Old County Ground. The first recorded match on the ground was in 1876, when Essex played Suffolk and was the home of Essex County Cricket Club before the club was first class (hence the ground’s name). Between 1934 and 1969, the Old County Ground hosted 56 first class matches and some of cricket’s ‘greats’ of have graced the hallowed turf of our wonderful ground. In recent years the Club have hosted some thrilling matches against the mighty Lashings World XI - the world's greatest cricket club.
