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This is an original vintage sepia photograph of the Brislington Cricket Club \"A\" Eleven, dating from approximately the late 1920s or early 1930s. This candid team portrait measures 10 cm x 6.5 cm and offers a fascinating look at the grassroots level of the game in Bristol during the interwar period.
Key Visual Details:
The Team: The photograph features eight players posed against a backdrop of dense summer foliage. This group is dressed in traditional match-day whites, including button-down cricket shirts and flannel trousers.
- Specialist Equipment: The player seated on the far left is clearly the wicket-keeper, visible wearing bulky protective leg pads and holding his wicket-keeping gloves.
- Era Details: Several players are wearing flat caps, and one seated player appears to have a cigarette in his mouth, a common sight in informal sports photography of this era. Their footwear includes traditional spiked cricket boots.
- The Reverse: The back of the photo is blank with a handwritten pencil reference \"1065\" in the corner. The paper stock and aging are identical to other known Brislington CC photos from this collection, confirming they originate from the same source.
Historical Note: Brislington CC \"A\" Eleven
In the early 20th century, many established clubs like Brislington CC (based at Ironmould Lane, Bristol) ran multiple teams. The \"A Eleven\" typically represented the burgeoning talent of the club—often a mix of younger players climbing the ranks and experienced clubmen.
While the \"Optimists\" (seen in related photos) were often the social or touring side of the club known for their distinctive blazers, the \"A\" and \"B\" elevens were the backbone of local league and friendly competition in the Bristol and District areas. This photo captures the raw, authentic side of amateur English cricket before the Second World War.
The photograph is in good vintage condition. There is some light fading consistent with a 90+ year old print, and very minor silvering (a natural aging process of old photo paper) visible in the darker areas. The edges are crisp and the image remains a clear, high-quality record of the team.
Dimensions: 10 cm x 6.5 cm.
