Welcome to the Gloucestershire Gipsies

On 2nd September 1921 six gentlemen met at the offices of ES & A Robinson in Bristol to discuss the possible formation of a County Amateur Cricket Club based on "the lines of The Band of Brothers, The Yorkshire Gentlemen, The Hampshire Hogs" etc.

The 1st General meeting took place at the Bell Hotel, Gloucester on 16th January 1922 where it was agreed that the qualification for membership should be:- "Birth or permanent residence in the county with the county being divided into geographical divisions, each of which should be represented on the committee" "Cricketers should also be, at the same time, acceptable guests in the average country-house" "The club colours should be old gold and maroon, the very same colours as depicted in the Arms of the County" "The entrance fee to be 30/- and there would be no annual subscription with an all-day match fee being 2/ 6d and a half-day match fee being 1/ 6d"

Early fixtures were arranged against all the major schools in the county and against the better clubs especially those who had their own cricket week. Fixtures were also arranged against other prominent wandering sides and in the month of August 10/12 2 day games became the norm.

The Duke of Beaufort was invited to be President of the Club and the Lords Bathhurst, Berkeley and Bledisole plus Sir George Holford and Sir Percival Marling were invited to be Vice Presidents of the club.

In the early days the membership was very much public school or military biased and even in the 1960's the Club Secretary can recollect a prospective new member being turned down firstly for attending Cheltenham Grammar School not Cheltenham College and secondly for having only one initial!!

Gloucestershire Gipsies are delighted that Lord Vestey agrees to be our Club President. Stowell Park, the private ground of Lord Vestey becomes our regular home ground.

Nowadays the Club prides itself that it has moved with the times and it enjoys close links with the majority of the senior clubs in the county, also with the schools that still play cricket and indeed with the County Club itself. Over 50 fixtures are played each year including a Cricket week at Stowell Park, the private ground of the Club President, Lord Vestey.