KCC Champions in 1922

Barry Baker, our Club Statistician, has unearthed more gems from the archives at the City Library .........

KEYWORTH the first SOUTH NOTTS CHAMPIONS, in 1922.

I have discovered from looking through the Nottingham Daily Guardian at the City Library that a South Notts League was competed for in 1922. Sadly the league ran into financial and organisational problems, was not completed and not repeated in the 1923 season.

However the last league table published on 21st August 1922 shows that Keyworth completed their games and their points total could not have been overtaken by any of the other clubs. In fact, they won with an unbeaten record, the only match they failed to win was against closest rivals Cotgrave CC when the match was abandoned due to rain.

1. KEYWORTH P 12 W 11 D 1 L 0 Pts 23
2. COTGRAVE P 10 W 7 D 1 L 2 Pts 15

Prominent players in the team were the brothers Thomas and Jack Armstrong, Harry Bolton, Ernest Davill, all bowlers who were more than useful with the bat and Edgar Pike an opening bat and wicket keeper. Davill had inherited the farm where the team played their home matches on Bunny Lane in 1920 following the death of his father William. Jack Armstrong had just completed his last season as a wing half for Nottingham Forest FC having signed for them back in 1905 and making a then record 461 appearances, many of them as captain.

Thomas Armstrong and Bolton were regularly selected to play for Notts Colts and Notts Club & Ground selections, made up of the best amateur players in the County and Pike, the great grandfather of current player Stuart Meek had been playing for the club since 1899.