Horsham’s first baseball match

On this day (July 15) in 1916 Horsham hosted its first ever baseball match when Canadian soldiers from the Roffey Siege School formed two teams to play at Horsham Football Club’s ground.

The poster says it was a match between the 165th and 167th Batteries, but the troops that played were part of the 97th and 98th Batteries of Canadian Siege Artillery (during the war these units were re-designated a few times).

The Canadian troops had played a couple of baseball matches at their camp in Roffey (called the Roffey Siege School), but it was decided to arrange a match in the town and raise money for the Red Cross Fund.

Thanks to publicity via posters, such as above, and some decent weather, there was a sizeable crowd watching the match.

However, there were several bemused faces as few knew the rules!

In fact, the West Sussex County Times, in its subsequent report of the day, included a fairly detailed description of the rules, writing ‘No little curiosity was evinced as to the intricacies of the game, which holds the same position in the United States and Canada as cricket does in Great Britain.’

The match was arranged by well known Horsham folk Mr T. and Miss Glaysher, backed up by officials from the football club.

The paper recalled: ‘A feature of the game was fine catches in the outfield and the coolness and deliberation of the pitchers on either side. The game ended 9-5 in favour of the 97th and the finish was the signal for hearty cheering.’

The ‘winner’ on the day was the Red Cross, however, as the County Times wrote: ‘The total receipts including the sale of tickets were £9. 15s. 6d. and the expenses (printing, bill posting and sawdust) 18s. 6d. leaving a balance of £8 17s. to be handed to Mrs Harvey of Beedingwood, the local Hon Secretary of the British Red Cross Society. This balance was increased top £9 by a donation of 3s by Mr T Glaysher of Middle Street.