Uxbridge CC were established in 1789, but only moved to Park Road in 1971 from their previous Cricket Field Lane headquarters. The new venue forms part of a much bigger sports facility which includes a swimming pool and dry-ski slope. The ground itself is dominated by a large modern pavilion, but the rest of the spectator facilities are in deckchairs or small temporary stands. On a warm day it is a pleasant place to watch cricket, but its openess and situation on a hill makes it less welcoming in cooler weather. Surrounding rounds on a new estate are named after Mike Brearley and Mike Gatting.
Middlesex played their first Championship match there in 1980 on their way to the title, and they continued regular fixtures until 1998 when a switch was made to Southgate. Uxbridge was not easy to get to from London, and even harder for those without a car.
The highest attendance was around 6500 in 1991 when India and Pakistan played an exhibition match, but the game had to be abandoned after a pitch invasion. The best for a Middlesex game was 4500 against Gloucestershire in 1988.
Martin Williamson
