St Helens Recreation Cricket Club
St Helens Town Cricket Club formerly St Helens Recs Cricket Club (not to be confused with St Helens CC), is an English amateur cricket club based in St Helens, Merseyside. For the 2012 season, the club voted to change its name to St Helens Town Cricket Club, following the dissolution of close rival St Helens Cricket Club. Many ex St Helens CC players "crossed the road" to play at the newly named club. The club had played under the name St Helens Recreation Cricket Club since its foundation.
The club was formed in 1847 and plays its home games at Ruskin Drive, formerly Pilkington's Sports Ground, Dentons Green, St Helens.
Replacing Preston, the club became a member of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition in 1953 and currently runs 3 senior sides and a number of junior teams beginning at under 9's upwards. The club also runs the ECB All Stars cricket programme for 5-8 year olds during the summer.
The 1st XI were Champions in 1978 with the 2nd XI being Champions in 1981 and 1985. Since the restructuring of the Divisions in the Liverpool Competition, the 1st XI have been 1st Division Champions and 2nd Division Champions, each on one occasion. The Under 21's won the L&DCC Junior Knock Out in 2013.
The 1st XI play in the 1st XI First Division of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition following promotion from the Second Division in 2019. The 2nd XI play in the 2nd XI Second Division also on a Saturday. The 3rd XI are a member of the West Lancashire Cricket League which plays its fixtures on Sundays.
Notable players
Mike Beddow, Gerry Houlton, Ken Shuttleworth and wicket keeper John Lyon all began their careers at St Helens Recs before representing Lancashire. Shuttleworth went one step further by representing England and was selected for the 1970-71 Ashes tour of Australia.