Chingford Cricket Club

Doug Insole

DJ Insole CBE, was the first Chingford player to play for England. He played in 9 Test Matches between 1950-57, scoring 408 runs at an average of 27.2. In 1956 he scored 110* for England v South Africa in Durban. He played for Essex from 1948-63, captaining them from 1950-60. In the summer of 1955 he scored 2,427 runs. After he retired he became an England Test selector, Chairman of the TCCB and England Manager on two tours of Australia. Doug's services to Chingford Cricket Club were rewarded with the Club Presidency from 1965-71. Doug's Grandsons are the Shawyer brothers.

Robin Hobbs

RNS Hobbs was the second Chingford player to play for England. He played in 7 Test Matches between 1967-71, scoring 34 runs at an average of 6.8 and taking 12 wickets at an average of 40.08. He played for Essex from 1961-1975 and for Glamorgan from 1979-81. In 1975 he scored a 100 in just 44 minutes for Essex v Australia at Chelmsford. He made his Chingford debut as a 16 year old in 1959 making a name for himself as a leg-spin bowler. Although he now lives in Ingatestone, Robin still visits the club occasionally to watch matches and chat with old friends.

Beth MacGregor

E MacGregor was the first Essex women's player to be capped by England.  First called into the England Women's squad for the 2010 home series against New Zealand, she made her England debut and played three T20 International matches against Sri Lanka in Colombo in November 2010 at the age of 17.  Captain of England Women U19 team in 2012.  Has played for Essex CCC Women since 2006.  Lord's Taverners Essex CCC Young Player of the Year 2010, Cricket Society 'Most Promising Young Women's Cricketer of the Year 2009', Brian Johnston Memorial Trust Scholar 2009.  Played colts and men's cricket for the club.   Daughter of Richard and sister of Ben and Andrew who are all Chingford CC players.

Jamie Porter

JA Porter made his debut for Essex in September 2014 v Kent and immediately became a regular. An opening fast-medium bowler his performances were pivotal in Essex winning the 2017 and 2019 County Championship, the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy and the 2019 T20. Such was the quality of his bowling he was awarded both the PCA and CWC County Championship Player of the Year for 2017. Jamie has now taken 466 first class wickets and was rewarded with an England Lions call up in 2017. Jamie was also named in two of the Full England Squads for Test Matches in 2018, but sadly did not make the final eleven

Ron Lynch

RV Lynch played 3 matches for Essex in 1954. Ron was a slow left arm bowler who had a best bowling performance of 4-64 in one innings. He averaged 7 with the bat and 26.75 with the ball. Ron was Club Captain from 1967-70 and from 1974-75. He was Club President from 1992-94. Ron's services to cricket were immense - three examples being Chairman of the Essex League at the time of its founding, being the 68th President of the Club Cricket Conference and President of the Chinghoppers Cricket Club twice. Ron passed away in 2012.

Len Parslow

Islington born LF Parslow played just 1 match for Essex in 1946. He scored 5 and 4 and did not bowl. He came to the fore as a batsman for Chingford in the late 1920s and was a major batting force throughout the 1930s. His career highlight were his appearances for the British Empire XI during the 1939-45 war when he played with many Test cricketers.

Don Spencer

WG Spencer played 3 matches for Essex between 1938-48. Chingford born Don averaged 13.0 with the bat and picked up a wicket. He came to prominence at Chingford as a batsman in 1932, featuring regularly in the next 5 seasons. He was a regular player for Essex 2nd XI and captained the side in the 1950s. He died in 1971.

Ken Biddulph

KD Biddulph played 91 matches for Somerset between 1955-61. Chingford born Ken was a Right Arm Fast Medium bowler with a best bowling performance of 6-30. He averaged 26.71 with the ball and 6.78 with the bat. He first appeared for Chingford as a young bowler in 1948. He extended his career playing minor counties cricket for Durham, featuring in One Day cricket against the 1st Class Counties until 1972. Ken died in 2003.

Rodney Cass

GR Cass played 155 matches for Essex, Worcestershire and Tasmania between 1964-75. Rodney was a wicket keeper and left hand batsman who had a highest score of 172*. He took 213 catches and 28 stumpings and averaged 21.84 with the bat. He extended his career playing for Shropshire before making an impact as a cricket coach.

Bob Cooke

RMO Cooke played 42 matches for Essex between 1972-76. Bob was a Left Hand bat with a highest score of 139. He averaged 22.3 with the bat and took 4 wickets with his leg breaks. He continued his career playing for Minor Counties’ Cheshire.

Steve Dinsdale

SC Dinsdale played 15 matches for Rhodesia, Essex and Transvaal between 1969-76. Buckhurst Hill born Stephen was a Left Hand bat and Left Arm Medium pace bowler. He had a highest score of 88 and a best bowling of 4-24. He averaged 24.2 with the bat and 20.0 with the ball.

Paul Fisher

PB Fisher played 57 matches for Middlesex and Worcestershire between 1974-81. Paul was a wicket keeper with a highest batting score of 42. He took 92 catches and 12 stumpings and averaged 9.21 with the bat. In 1974, batting for Oxford University v Warwickshire, he was hit on the head by a ball from Bob Willis.

Feroze Khushi

Alec Meston

Leyton born, AH Meston played 12 matches for Essex between 1926-27. He was a Right Hand bat with a Highest Score of 41. He averaged 11.0 with the bat and picked up 4 wickets. For Chingford in 1933 against Finchley he clean bowled six batsmen for 15 runs in five overs.

Steve Plumb

SG Plumb played 5 matches for Essex between 1975-86. He was a Right Hand bat with a highest score of 69. He averaged 30.85 with the bat and took 3 wickets. Steve also played for Lincolnshire and Norfolk and played One Day cricket against 1st Class Counties until 2000.

Matt Quinn

Bill Riding

HW Riding played 1 match for Essex in 1921. He scored 16 and 7 and did not bowl. Later that summer, he died at Forest Side, Chingford at the age of 24. He was Club Captain from 1922-3.

Graham Saville

GJ Saville played 126 matches for Essex between 1963-74. Leytonstone born Graham was a Right Hand bat with a highest score of 126*. He averaged 23.67 with the bat and picked up 3 wickets. He emerged as a prolific young bat for Chingford in 1961 and continued with the club in 1975 when his Essex career ended.

Richard Alston

REJ Alston was a powerful left handed batsman and in his younger days a left arm quick bowler. Richard was Club Captain between 1985 and 1990. In terms of runs scored for Chingford Richard is the Club’s greatest ever batsman with over 38,000 runs to his name.

John Barr

JB Barr was such a good wicket keeper that he could command a place in any Club’s First XI on his   keeping alone. John was offered a contract at one stage by Essex but declined due to business reasons. John began his career with Ilford and shortly after joining Chingford captained the 1st XI in 1979 and 1980.

Buddy Jessop

RJ Jessop was one of the finest bowlers ever to grace Forest Side. His seam bowling was renowned for its nagging accuracy and Buddy had great stamina enabling him to bowl for hours on end. He is the fourth highest wicket taker in Chingford history with an incredible 1300 wickets. A useful middle order bat, Buddy also contributed 5727 runs for the Club. Buddy was 1st XI Captain in 1966.