We need more information about Hempstead’s cricket and football teams. The cricket club used to play on a Hill Farm field to the west of the farmhouse: later, they played at Radwinter. Joe Staight states that the team competed in the Haverhill Echo League and remembers the son of Frank Hardy from Thurgoods as one of the players. Brian Gypps remembers going to watch games as a boy of 10 and occasionally being allowed to practise with the men. Those whom he remembers include Mr Grant from Bellropes; Mr Elliot; Alan Robinson and Ian Beaton. Opponents included neighbouring villages such as Radwinter, Cornish Hall End, Sewards End, Ashdon, Lindsell and the team for which Brian played for so many years, Great Sampford – although he remembers that the better Sampford players in those days would get taken up by Thaxted, who were in a class above.
The football team, known as Hempstead United, flourished for many years during the 20th century. John Drane used to play and we know that Margaret Drane received a long service award for 21 years as its secretary. Its ground was on the right hand side going down Witchtree Lane, opposite Howlands and this was always the venue for the final of the village competiton. Dorothy Fleming recalled her father charging people a penny to leave their bicycles in the Howlands garden: all her brothers played football and her mother would boil and starch their kit. A bit later, Brian Gypps particularly remembers Mick Drane and Alan Robinson as players.
We’d like much more information about who played for the teams, who their opponents were and how they fared. Help needed please!