A cricket side whose Sunday ethos is simple: have a laugh, and never take yourself too seriously. They call themselves The Seaview Old Boys and are based in Falmouth, Cornwall. The majority of teams warm up with stretches and throw-downs, however this team prefers a pint in the pub.

The Seaview Cricket side was first established in 1990 after a match between Cake’s Cavaliers and Jacob’s Ladder, after the game, they headed to The Seaview Inn, which quickly led to the formation of The Seaview Cricket Team. Initially, they played football on Sundays until they found the rigours of the game too much and switched to cricket. For years, they were simply ‘The Seaview Cricket Team’ but when the pub changed ownership, things took a turn. One Sunday, the new landlord told them the pub didn’t have a cricket team and barred them one by one. It wasn’t until 2011 when Michael Oliver took ownership of the pub they returned, rebranding themselves as The Seaview Old Boys. They stand out as one of the most unique cricket sides due to their jovial Sunday mentality, prioritising having a good time and drinking plenty of beer.

I’d arranged to meet “Damo,” the cricket captain of The Seaview Old Boys, one quiet afternoon. I’d made the connection through playing at Falmouth Cricket Club. The pub was quiet but not empty. Unsure who Damo was, I went up to the bar and asked after him. The man behind the bar now known to me as Michael, asked if I meant “Da-mo.” Confused, I replied, “Who?” I could see a man sat to the right of the bar, bright red with a big cheeky grin on his face. This was Damo. Clearly, I’d missed the joke that Michael found so funny.

I had heard stories about The Seaview Old Boys cricket team and was interested in photographing the ‘crazy’ antics they appeared to get up to, this was the purpose of my meeting with Damo to see if he was interested in me documenting their activities. He asked me what I wanted to drink. I’d heard that part of the team culture was drinking, so unsure whether to have an alcoholic drink, I played it safe and asked for ‘Pardal’, a light beer. To this day, I wonder if our conversation would have gone differently had I sat down with a coke. Although I cannot quite remember what we talked about, I do remember him telling me many stories of some of the ‘mischievous’ things the team had done in the past - I was hooked, and after an hour or so, we wrapped up; Damo was keen on the idea and invited me to their first game, and an opportunity for me to meet the rest of the team.

Cricket had been such a big part of my life, and I’d always wanted to photograph it. What better way to spend my summer than taking photos and playing cricket? When you think of a stereotypical cricket game, you imagine sunshine and warmth. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. It was early May, The Seaview Old Boys’ first ‘competitive’ game was away to Mullion in the Mining League. The temperature was 12 degrees but felt like 9, with the chill of strong cold wind.

Damo had kindly offered to pick me up as he was also collecting his teammate and friend Bobby. We met outside the chippy in Penryn, convenient as I lived next door. I spotted a man opposite, talking on his phone with a cricket bat poking out of a small bag, it had to be Bobby. We chatted for ten minutes before Damo rolled up in his van. The doors slid open, and we bundled in.

The half-hour journey flew by, maybe because of the chatter, or because of the comical call we got from Simon, another Seaview player, asking where everyone was. It turned out he was waiting at Seaview’s home ground in Falmouth, not Mullion. You couldn’t have scripted a funnier start to the season.

When we arrived, the dressing room buzzed with energy. One of the younger players, Isaac, said, “It feels like we’re Man City, all back together again ready to smash it up.” I was nervous but excited to be part of something special. I introduced myself to the team, explaining why I was there with a camera, any nerves I had soon faded and I soon felt part of the team before I even realised it.

Today, the Seaview Old Boys remain a cornerstone of the Falmouth local cricket scene. The team thrives on community, humour, and inclusivity, where the emphasis is on enjoying the game and each other’s company. They prove that cricket doesn’t need to be serious to be meaningful, it’s about friendship, and a shared love of the sport.

Across much of grassroots cricket, the game is struggling. In many small villages, teams are shrinking or disappearing altogether, often weighed down by overly serious attitudes or rigid expectations. It’s sides like the Seaview Old Boys that keep the sport alive, showing that cricket can be fun, accessible, and welcoming to all. By prioritising camaraderie and banter over ego, they not only sustain their own team but remind the local community what cricket is really about, the simple joy of playing together.