Tom Marsden

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The Wednesday Cricket Club working in conjunction with the city Lord Mayors Office together with the financial help of the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Society, Wednesdayite are proud to announce that the trophy named in tribute to one of the most famous sporting fathers of Sheffield is to be resurrected as a living trophy.

Tom Marsden was for many years the best single wicket cricketer in the north of England, and, not short on confidence, he put up a £50 reward for anyone to beat him.

He remained undefeated for the best part of a decade but eventually the great Southern cricketer of the time, Fuller Pilch, did just that, in 1828, and when a rematch was organised, over 20,000 crammed into the Old Darnall ground hoping to see their man gain revenge. However Marsden was defeated once more, and it proved to be the beginning of the end for a player who, aged just 21, had hit 227 in a game for Sheffield & Leicester versus Nottingham, at that time only the second double century ever seen in England. Tom Marsden retired in 1841 and met an early demise due to one of the many consumptive disorders that blighted 19th century life. He was presented with the trophy in 1831 in recognition of his 227 scored at the old Darnall ground by his friends and admirers. The trophy was then handed over to the Lord Mayor on behalf of the citizens of Sheffield on September 20th 1924 due to the Cricket clubs lack of funds and having no home ground. The opponents that day, Stockport County, Wednesday won 3-0.

Hosted by the Thorncliffe Cricket Club on Monday June the 4th the trophy will be competed in a twenty 20 format between The Wednesday, Thorncliffe and two further teams from which application is sought. The Trophy is expected to be a significant fund raiser for the hosts, Wednesday CC and more importantly The Sheffield Children Hospital, to this end sponsors are sought.

This will be the second year of the event, though in its inaugural year victors The Wednesday CC had to go home without the trophy as time constraints and much needed remedial work proved an obstacle too far.

Local Silversmith Owen Waterhouse has undertaken the commission for remedial work and a plinth which was designed by club chairman Neville Wright. It is to be a conical ebony base with broad silver belt, The original cup which cost £500 in its year of manufacture 1831 is not subject to alteration.

The New Lord Mayor will be making the presentations at the event and although Cnlr Sylvia Dunkley will by then have completed her term of office, The Wednesday CC would like to place on record their sincere thanks to her. She has worked with us tirelessly in helping us take the event forward.

Wednesdayite Vice-Chair Eddie Hoyland commented "Wednesdayite are proud to support the rebirth of the Tom Marsden Trophy - it represents part of an unbroken lineage that takes the Wednesday sporting organisation back to 1820, which would potentially make us the oldest sports team in the world! Wednesdayite shares the community focus and aims of the Wednesday CC and we are wholeheartedly behind the cricket club's continued progress as they help spread the Wednesday name to whole new audiences."

Further information on participation and/or sponsorship is available from nevowls@hotmail.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

* Membership of The Wednesday Cricket Club starts from as little as £5, for more details check out the website by clicking here or via email thewednesdaycc@yahoo.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . They also have a Facebook page which you can visit or you can follow them on Twitter.[attachment=34169: