In 1985 and sponsored by “Dunlop” Lord’s launched a Counties Veterans Cricket Competition for the Over 50’s which today is known as the England Cricket Board (ECB) Competition. Dorset had no problem putting out a side and, in that season, played one match against Gloucestershire which was subsequently lost.
1986 saw two fixtures taking place against Wiltshire and Wales respectively and sadly, both ended in defeat. Not to be deterred and with the competition becoming more popular with the addition of more counties 1987 saw Dorset register their first victory which was against Hampshire at Blandford. With this maiden victory under their belt the Dorset 50+ side went from strength to strength.
1989 saw a change in sponsors to “The Perry Contracts Hire” and the Southern Counties Group consisted of sides from Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wales and Wiltshire. This was a highly competitive group which saw the Dorset side win 3 and lose 3.
As the years have gone by the ECB competition has gone from strength to strength and currently consists of 5 groups of 8 Counties across the Country -The ECB team play in a Group with Channel Islands, Cornwall, Devon, Isle of Wight, Hants, Somerset and Wilts. The top three teams go through to a Knockout stage. The League matches are one game against each County alternating between home and away each season.
In the past 16 years Dorset have qualified to the knockout stages on 6 occasions and the best Dorset has achieved is runners-up to Lancashire in 1993 losing by 8 wickets
2007 saw the introduction of a second Competition for Over 50’s cricket, the Southern Counties Senior Championship (SCSC) was launched - last season renamed to a 2nd XI Competition - with Dorset winning the Competition in the inaugural year and again in 2014 against Wales.
Since then, Dorset have been runners up on 2 occasions – 2009 to Surrey and 2011 to Hampshire and runners up in the first Plate Knockout Competition held in 2021, to Middlesex
This competition has expanded greatly in the last three years and now teams as far as Worcester and Leicestershire play. In 2023 Dorset are in a Group with Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Gloucester and play home and away. The top two go through to a knockout stage and bottom teams go into a Plate competition. The age limit does allow two 49’ers and currently we have 5 or 6 of this age so selection is challenging.
In 2021 Dorset started a 60+ team playing home and away against Somerset and Wilts in a mini league. We were allowed to play 57+ as we didn’t have enough 60’s, however, as the season went forward, and word got around more players have asked to be considered. The following season (2022) we had matches against Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wales and Wiltshire both home and away - indeed additional fixtures for the 2023 season against India Dentists and a South Australia touring team have been arranged so we are evolving !!
Also a couple of years ago a couple of matches against Hants and Somerset for 47+ - were arranged to bring on our “youth system” ! Fixtures have not yet been arranged for 2023 season but our Fixture Secretary is in correspondence with the same Counties again so a case of watch this space.
So, it is very clear that Cricket for the Over 50’s and 60’s is very much alive with over 40 Counties across the Country involved in various Competitions.
