Clifton College Close Ground

Clifton College Close is a cricket venue in Clifton College, Bristol, which was used by Gloucestershire for 96 first-class matches between 1871 and 1932. It is first recorded as a cricket venue in 1860 and remains in use for local matches in 2013.

The Close witnessed 13 of W G Grace's first-class hundreds for Gloucestershire in the County Championship. Grace's children attended the college.

The Close featured in the poem by Old Cliftonian Sir Henry Newbolt - Vitaї Lampada

There's a breathless hush in the Close to-nightTen to make and the match to winA bumping pitch and a blinding light,An hour to play, and the last man in.And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat.Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"The sand of the desert is sodden red -Red with the wreck of the square that brokeThe gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.The river of death has brimmed its banks,And England's far, and Honour a name,But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks -"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"This is the word that year by year,While in her place the school is set,Every one of her sons must hear,And none that hears it dare forget.This they all with a joyful mindBear through life like a torch in flame,And falling fling to the host behind -"Play up! Play up! And play the game!"