History
During the mid-nineteenth century the Duke of Richmond did much to encourage the playing of cricket in the Fochabers area. Matches were played within the policies of Gordon Castle and many of the spectators seemed to be plucked straight from the pages of the Almananack de Gotha. At a match in 1858 between Elgin and Fochabers, the principal guests were Their Serene Highness The Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe - Wiemar who were attended by the Duchess of Richmond and Lady Cecilia Gordon-Lennox.
The present Fochabers Cricket Club dates from 1947 and now plays in one of the most attractive grounds in the the North. For some time the newly constituted club played friendly matches and took part in seven-a-side competitions , but in 1958the Club began to play in the North Reserve League. The Club's first successwas in 1964 when they won the Reserve Knock-Out-Cup. This feat was repeated in 1968 and 1969. The final of the competition for the latter year wasa thrilling one, Fochabers defeating Northern Counties by just one run. The following year, 1970, Fochabers won the Reserve League gaining 23 points out of a possible.
Having played in the Reserve League for 14 years, Fochabers was accepted into the Senior League and for and for most of the period since have been able to field both a first and second eleven. Although the major trophies have eluded the side, many Fochabers players have appeared in the Association's Batting and Bowilng average tables.
Ivor McIvor has been a player and administrator throughout the last fifty years and merited a mention in the Wisden Almanac in 1995. Gordon Baxter OBE, Chairman of Baxters of Speyside and a great cricket enthusiast is Honorary Life President of the Club and has also enjoyed a long association both on and off the field.
The club has hosted a number of special events. In 1976, to celebrate the bi-centenary of the village, Mike Denness, the only Scotsman to Captain England ( and whose grandmother came from the village ) brought a Kent side including many names to play Scotland. In 1997 England Captain Mike Atherton made an extended visit which combined coaching local youngsters in cricket and the relaxation of salmon fishing.
