About Us

The home of fine traditional cap making

At Gentlemen and Players we have many years of experience supplying caps to Sports Clubs, Schools, Universities, Cricket Counties and a variety of sporting governing bodies. We pride ourselves on producing caps of outstanding quality and our aim is to delight our customers.

We make 8 panel caps, hooped caps, honour caps and all of our caps are made to order from 100% Melton Wool with a smart satin lining. We can embroider your club badge, initials, numbers and have a range of over [15] colours to choose from. We embroider the cloth before it’s sewn together providing a much higher quality finish to your caps.

Designing & Ordering is simple…

If you would like your team to be attired in the best caps on the market or want to award honours caps to your high achievers. We will contact you to ensure we have your full requirements and send you a digital design of your cap prior to you ordering. We look forward to pleasing you with our caps.

We are proud suppliers to many fantastic cricketing organisations

  • The MCC
  • The Lord’s Shop
  • Durham County Cricket Club
  • Middlesex County Cricket Club
  • Somerset County Cricket Club
  • Surrey County Cricket Club
  • Sussex County Cricket Club
  • Worcestershire County Cricket Club

But they’re not just for cricket …

Whilst we started off supplying caps to cricket clubs, we now supply caps to many other sporting organisations and teams from the world of football, rugby, hockey, rowing, polo and many more.

THE HISTORY BEHIND OUR NAME

In the early days of cricket, the game was played by either amateurs (Gentlemen) or professionals (Players) with the difference being dictated by the English class system in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Players were typically working class and the Gentlemen middle and upper class – usually products of the English public schools. The Players were paid wages by their counties or clubs but the Gentlemen merely claimed expenses (often in the form of a good lunch!).

The year 1806 saw the first ever Gentlemen v Players match and the fixture continued until 1962 with two or more games each season – with a break for the Napoleonic Wars. During the mid-19th century, the matches lacked interest as the Gentlemen were often outclassed. Bbut the fixture gained prestige during the career of a certain W. G. Grace when the matches became very competitive.

The advent of Test cricket coupled with social change in the 20th century saw its importance decline, especially in the aftermath of the Second World War.

On 31 January 1963, the committee of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) voted to abolish the concept of amateurism and all first-class cricketers became professional and the Gentlemen v Players fixture was discontinued. A total of 274 Gentlemen v Players matches were played from 1806 to 1962. The Players won 125 and the Gentlemen 68. There were 80 draws and one tie

OUR CRICKET CAP MAKING PROCESS

  • A bale of 100% Melton wool is rolled out across the pattern masters working desk
  • Each component of the cap is drawn onto the cloth using Gentlemen & Players special templates
  • The components of each cap are then cut out by hand
  • The front panel is then machine embroidered
  • The outer crown is sewn together
  • Two pieces of crescent shaped cloth are sewn together to create the outer peak
  • A polycarbonate insert is sewn into the peak to help keep the shape and can be moulded to the wearer’s preference
  • A high quality satin liner is cut into a long narrow rectangle
  • The satin liner is stiched onto the Gentlemen & Players branded centre piece to create a bowl
  • The inner crown is sewn along the top of the peak
  • A small length of elastic is sewn into the outer crown allowing the cap to stretch by up to 1 cm
  • The embroidered panel of the outer crown is sewn to the inner lining along the top of the peak ensuring that the logo is central
  • The cap is manipulated into its finished position ensuring that no stitches are visible
  • The inner and outer crown are sewn along the base of the cap leaving a neat and tidy seam