Cricket Club History
Gerrards Cross Cricket Club is part of the Gerrards Cross Sports Club which consists of, Cricket, Hockey and Tennis. The club was formed in 1882 and was originally known as Gerrards Cross United Cricket Club , later to be known officially in 1892 as Gerrards Cross CC. Their original home ground was on Gerrards Cross Common opposite ‘The Bull Hotel’. The same open area on the common and a wicket were reinstated for a Centenary match in 1982. The club was formed initially to play cricket during July and August but within the first season matches were arranged between May and September. They also played on a Saturday; locally clubs had previously played mid week with due regard to the authority of the Church. The club played its inaugural match on Easter Monday (10th April) 1882 against Chalfont St Giles on Gerrards Cross Common. Chalfont St Giles scored 15 and 20 and Gerrards Cross scored 54.
The Reverend Alfred Kennion, vicar of St James, Gerrards Cross between 1879 and 1894 and a Yorkshireman by birth, played a large part in the formation of the new cricket club. The Reverend had previously lived in Eastington, Gloucestershire and was instrumental in appointing the young 22 year old Charles Edward Colston also from the same village in Gloucestershire to the local National School. Together with their individual influence they blended a mixture of local gentlemen, supporters of the church and tradesmen to both play and support the club.
Gerrards Cross inhabitants, then part of Chalfont St Peter, had in previous seasons played as a combined team with Chalfont St Peter CC members. In 1861 Gerrards Cross was an ecclesiastical parish formed from five adjoining parishes Langley Marsh, Fulmer, Chalfont St Peter, Iver and Upton–cum-Chalvey. Parish Council boundaries today were not defined until after 1894. The common covered an area of over 1000 acres with the east side in Fulmer and the west side in Chalfont St Peter and opposite the Bull Hotel, the cricket ground.
The club
moved to its present
site in 1912 when
the cricket club was
offered land behind
the Parish church. A Tennis
Section was formed
soon afterwards and
in the early 1950s
many of the
cricketers, who were
keen hockey players,
created a winter
section which kept
the club active
throughout the year.
A former
winner of the Thames
Valley League, the 1st XI was promoted
in 2002 and played
its first season in
the Home Counties
Premier League in
2003, finishing in
third place. The 1st XI finished as runners-up in 2006 and 2007. The
2nd XI won the Thames Valley League Division 3a title in 2004 and
played in Division 2b in 2005.
There are two adult sides on a Saturday and one on
a Sunday. There is
also a large young
cricketers section of over 100,
playing at all age
groups from 7 to 16.
The club is proud of
the number of colts
that have been
selected for
Buckinghamshire in
recent years. One former Cross
player has played
Test Match cricket
for England - Andrew
Strauss.
In 1985 a
magnificent club
house was built to
replace the ageing
tennis and cricket
pavilions and this
has enabled the club
to expand. This is a
thriving and
extremely social
club where all
sections support and
enjoy each others
company. If you are
moving to the area
or did not know of
our existence then
come and pay us a
visit.
Click here for a more detailed history supplied by
former Cross player Roger Cook
