Banstead Cricket Club

OUR STORY SO FAR

Victorian Roots

Much has changed since the club was formed in 1842. Major events occurring in the country at the time of the Club’s founding included banning women and children working in mines and the introduction of income tax. One of the Club’s earliest fixtures is revealed in our first scorebook – against Bromley in 1847. The Club’s current square off Avenue Rd,  appears to have come into existence in 1850, funded by Sir George Glyn. In 1892, the original pavilion, now the changing rooms overlooking the main ground were constructed and have become an icon of the Club ever since. and a permanent home for the Club was provided by the Hon Francis Baron, who purchased the Avenue Rd ground in 1899 before setting up a trust deed for the land with management handed over to a Board of Managers. It is not known if the appearance of WG Grace playing at Banstead  one year later was in celebration of this development.

Banstead expands in the 1900s.

The first half of the 20^th century saw steady expansion of the Club with the ultimate creation of 4 adult sides. The Club continued to function through both World Wars with a celebration held in 1942 to mark the Club’s centenary, a year which co-incided with the arrival at the Club as juniors of Derek and Ron Pratt, two of many  famous names in our history who went on to achieve county status. As with many clubs Banstead mourned the loss of members and players in both wars, these are commemorated on a plaque in the clubhouse.

As the country emerged from post war austerity, membership reached over 350 as the local population sought entertainment and enjoyment through sport.

The second ground at the Club, known as the Rosehill Ground was purchased in 1964 for £4000 and opened for play in 1966. Development of the Club was accelerated in 1968 with the creation of a league with Banstead one of the founding members. Two years later, the Club’s current clubhouse was purchased for £1 from Barclays Bank and the existing clubhouse was refurbished as changing rooms. This held Banstead in good stead until the further refurbishment of the clubhouse and building of a terrace in 1996.

Key Events and Achievements.

1975 – Two members each take all 10 wkts in a match. John Jake against Sutton and John Wilcox against Beddington the latter on the same day Mike Carver scored a maiden hundred. The Condie family also took all wickets and catches in a match against Old Paulines in this year.

1982 – Banstead win the Warwick Wright 20 over competition, aided by a hundred in the final by David Ward one of the biggest hitters to have ever played for the Club. This victory was repeated in '83, '88, '96 and '98.

1984 – First Class cricket comes to Banstead when Surrey play Cambridge Univ. A remarkable event when two debutants to first class cricket both make maiden hundreds in the same innings, Nick Falkner 101* and Keith Medleycott 117*, the first time this had happened in English cricket.

1986 – Banstead First XI win the Surrey Championship.

1998 – Banstead Third XI win Division 1 of the Third XI league.

2000 – Banstead U-15s win the  National U-15’s Championship.

2008 – Banstead First XI is promoted to the ECB Premier Division of the Surrey Championship.

2010 – Banstead Second XI is promoted to the Premier Division of the Surrey Second XI Championship – all three Banstead sides are now in the Premier Division of their respective leagues.

But perhaps the greatest achievement of this village Club is the years, even decades, of pleasure enjoyed by hundreds of cricketers who have played on this picturesque ground, the pinnacle for which is the list of players who have progressed from their development years to play county and international cricket. Below are two tables listing each player who has represented the club and gone on to play at First Class level.

First Class Cricketers who also played for Banstead

If you would like to know more about the history of Banstead Cricket Club, a copy of – ‘Playing On The Green – A celebration of 150 Years of Banstead Cricket Club ‘by John Wilcox, with a forward from John Major  is available at the Club