Gloucestershire County Cricket Club League in 2000. Cricket probably reached Gloucestershire by the end of the 17th century. It is known that the related sport of "Stow-Ball" "aka" "Stob-Ball" was played in the county during the 16th century. In this game, the bat was called a "stave". See Alice B Gomme : "The Traditional Games of England, Scotland and Ireland". A game in Gloucester on 22 September 1729 is the earliest definite reference to cricket in the county. From then until the founding of the county club, very little has been found outside parish cricket. In the early 1840s, Dr Henry Grace and his
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1878 These were Samuel Richardson, the club's first captain, William Hickton and John Smith. W G Curgenven, who was one of the founders of the club, and played his first game in 1872, also played his last match. In the opening County match against Yorkshire, Derbyshire scored 109 and Yorkshire replied with 122. Derbyshire scored 34 in the second innings with no player reaching double figures. Yorkshire lost five wickets for 22, but that was enough to give them a five wicket victory. Against MCC Derbyshire made 36 in the first innings, losing eight wickets by WG Grace. MCC made 74