I came across
The Cricketer's of Hambledon in
Peter Warlock's
The Choral music of Peter Warlock Vol. 1. Together with
Dr. Rosteck, we took it, with the kind permission of the
Peter Warlock Society, into our repertoire and is included in our songbook
We're Only Here For The Beer! - Light
The song was composed in 1929 for the Hampshire Eskimos New Year's Day cricket match in Hambledon. Somehow quintessentially English, it glorifies the members of the team and their amazing deeds. It has a most wonderful chorus:
Then up with every glass and we'll sing a toast in chorus:
"The cricketers of Hambledon who played the game before us,
The stalwarts of the olden time who rolled a lonely down,
And made the king of games for men, with Hambledon the crown."
Is there anything better than that!