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Club History

Delve into the captivating journey of Sutton Cricket Club, a tale that unfolds in two distinct phases. The first phase chronicles the evolution of the club’s grounds and infrastructure, while the second phase showcases the extraordinary achievements of its exceptional players and teams.

Grounds

The club was officially established in 1857 and played its home matches on ‘The Green’ in Sutton. The following year, the club moved to its current location, which was part of a local estate that offered the use of the land. The club acquired an old waiting room from Sutton Station in 1865 and used it as a clubhouse. It still stands today as the groundsman’s storeroom. In 1906, a large wooden pavilion was built on the site of the present one, and cricket thrived until the outbreak of World War I.

The club suffered a setback in 1940 when the pavilion was destroyed during the Battle of Britain. It took 15 years to secure funding and rebuild the structure, but cricket resumed after that. In 1974, another crisis occurred when the outgoing groundsman sabotaged the square. The club decided to lay a new square in a different orientation. The following year, the club agreed to lease part of the ground for the construction of a squash club, which shared facilities with the cricket club and enhanced its social aspect.

In 2012, the clubhouse underwent a major renovation, both inside and out. The interior was refurbished, and a new decking replaced the old terrace. The result is a modern and elegant clubhouse with excellent facilities that cater to both cricketers and other users. The club also owns a second ground, Holmwood Close, which was purchased in 1986 and has hosted matches since 1989. It is a stunning ground that adds to the club’s prestige.

Cricket

Sutton Cricket Club has a long and illustrious history of producing and hosting high-quality cricketers. The club has been a breeding ground for county and international players, as well as a venue for some of the legends of the game. The club’s competitive spirit and passion for cricket can be traced back to the late 19th century, when it started to field a second team and invite famous guests like W. G. Grace to play in Cricket Week.

Some of the notable achievements of the club in the post-War era include:

  • Donald Knight’s double century against the MCC
  • Caryl Thain’s nine-wicket haul against Epsom
  • Dick Bell’s 2000-wicket milestone in his club career

The club has also been fortunate to have some of the finest cricketers of their generation representing it, such as:

  • Graeme Pollock: ex-South Africa, Eastern Province and Transvaal.
  • Michael Carberry: ex-England and Surrey.
  • Sulieman Benn: ex-West Indies and Barbados.
  • Keith Medlycott: ex- Surrey and England.
  • Phil Sampson: ex-Surrey.
  • Johann Myburgh: ex-Durham & Somerset.
  • Arun Harinath: ex-Surrey and MCC.
  • Connor McKerr: Current: – Surrey.
  • Jamie Smith: Current: – England, Surrey, and London Spirit (The Hundred).
  • Josh Blake: Current: – Surrey.

The club has also won several Surrey Championships, starting from the first one in 1968, and most recently in 2009.