In 1970, League Cricket came to Halstead. It was decided that the club should take part as a founder member in the Two Counties Cricket Championship — a league comprising a number of Essex and Suffolk teams.

Once this was decided, there had to be even more effort put into fundraising, with the object of purchasing a new mower necessary to keep the ground to the standard maintained by Local Corporations or large firms, as most of the sides playing in the league had the use of grounds of that kind.

In 1975, it was proposed that the Club should ask the Trustees of the ground if it could be purchased, or a 99-year lease be given. After much consultation, it was decided that the ground could not be purchased, but a longer lease of 35 years was agreed. This enabled the Club to go ahead over the next few years with further improvements.

On the playing side, the Club added to its fixtures by amalgamating in 1976 with the Old Colonians to help in their August tour to Norfolk.

In 1977, the Club had a good playing season, enabling them to win the N. E. Essex Cricket Association Twenty Over Competition and the Runner Up Trophy in the Two Counties Championship — awarded to the highest-placed Essex club after the winners. That year, the Second XI also entered the Two Counties League Second XI division.

This was a great achievement, for one must remember that to win competitive cricket competitions there has to be a complete dedication of players to turn out in each and every match in order that a balanced side can be fielded on all occasions. Whether the match is one of competition or a 'friendly', the real essence is to play the game hard enough to win at all times.

In 1978, the President C. R. Tobit Esq. also resigned after serving the Club in that office for twenty-six years. A gift was presented to him in appreciation of all his interest in the Club over this long period.

1979 saw the appointment of John Reynolds as the new President — a lifelong member of the Club, having been a player for many years and having held the post of Secretary for a considerable time.

In 1980, S. Burle became the new Secretary in succession to Brian Firman, continuing in this post until 1983, when Stephen Marszal took over.

On the playing side, the Club did well in the League, finishing mostly in the top half. They tended to perform strongly in the early part of the season but drop away in the latter half — mainly due to the fact that some players also belonged to local Soccer Clubs, whose fixtures and training commenced in mid-July.

Ambitious plans were put to the Club to improve the pavilion and install electricity. To finance this, Stuart Berger and Philip Drury formed the Century-Plus Club — but the initial ideas proved to be beyond the Club's reach at that time.

However, Geoff Steed proposed a modified plan well within the Club's finances. This involved laying power to the pavilion, installing water heaters in the showers, enlarging the bar and improving the kitchen.

1984 saw the achievement of phase one of the plans — electricity was installed, the showers heated and improvements made to the kitchen. Phase two, improvements to the bar, was to follow in 1985.

Our thanks must go out to all those who have worked so hard to make all this possible — and especially to the Century-Plus Club, which raised approximately £5,000 to finance this project.