THE death of a respected young sportsman in 1935 sparked a cricket cup competition that is still going strong 80 years later, writes Tom Packman. 

When Herbert Baker died at the age of 30, he was assistant to cricket ‘pro’ Archie Haywood at Taunton School and a popular member of the Staplegrove and Taunton cricket clubs. 

Memorial matches were played at Taunton School in 1936 and 1937 before an open competition was inaugurated in 1938 for the Herbert Baker Memorial Cup. 

There were 24 teams in that first year with the rules allowing entrants from within a 12-mile radius of Taunton.

The final was played on the County Cricket Ground in 1940 and has remained ever since. 

For the next 60 years the competition continued with little change, and the turn of the century saw the transformation of Saturday league cricket, resulting in the further development and strengthening of larger town-based clubs. 

The Baker Cup committee realised that to retain the interest of some smaller clubs a second-tier competition was required, so minor changes to the entry qualifications were voted in, and in 2004 a competition was introduced for teams losing their Baker Cup first round matches.

The passing of two presidents in the space of six months prompted the latest development in 2016 with a third level of competition. 

Taunton CC are the most successful club with 23 Baker Cup wins from 30 final appearances but after their heyday in the 1980s and 90s they have had just two wins since 2000. 

Taunton Deane CC.and Taunton St. Andrews have each appeared in 21 finals with 13 wins and 10 wins respectively, while North Petherton CC have won both of their appearances in the final in 2011 and 2016. 

This year’s competition begins with a challenge match between Baker Cup holders North Petherton and Mockridge Shield holders Ashbrittle.

The match takes place at Taunton Cricket Club, Gypsy Lane, on Sunday, April 30, starting at 4pm.