Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/71

 in the belief that if you want to educate and influence a boy thoroughly it is as important to play with him as to work with him; so he took time by the forelock, and had a cricket-pitch laid in front of the house. It was not much of a pitch, nor was it full size; but it was sufficient to teach the rudiments of the game.

The villagers and surrounding neighbours began to take an interest in cricket, and nothing would satisfy them but that my father must take the initiative in forming a club. Why should not Downend have a club of its own? It was not strong enough to form one; so the neighbouring villages were invited to help, and a club was established, and named "The Mangotsfield." Rodway Hill was the most convenient spot for the majority of the players, and, indeed, about the only place where ground could be had. It was common ground; but the members set to work with a will, and levelled and railed in about forty yards square at considerable expense. The West Gloucestershire club was formed about a year later by Mr. Henry Hewitt and the students living with the Rev. Mr. Woodford, the clergyman at Coalpit Heath.

And now my father became more enthusiastic than ever, and prevailed upon some of his old Bristol friends to come over and help the good cause. My uncle Alfred Pocock responded heartily, and walked twice a week between the two places, a distance of twelve miles. He was a first-class racquet player; and, though he had not played cricket until he was twenty-three years of age, was not without hope that he might become a firstclass cricketer also. He, too, possessed my father's enthusiasm and perseverance; so it can be readily understood the Mangotsfield Club began to improve rapidly.

My father was 5 ft. 10 ins. in height; weight, about