Esher Cricket Club History

The club was formed at Esher Schoolroom on 9th October 1863 with the first match being played on the President's field on May 7th 1864.

The present ground at New Road was opened on May 15th 1869 and a pavilion erected in 1871. The club owes a great debt to the Martineau family who rented the ground to the club for a modest fee and granted the club the freehold in 1935.

From it's start until the Great War the club had a strong fixture list and fielded many fine cricketers including A. P. Lucas who played in 5 Tests v. Australia.

Play resumed after the war in 1921 when the club amalgamated with the Esher Village Club who played on Esher Green. Sunday matches were first arranged in 1930 and during the 2nd War the ground was used by the Welsh Guards. Many prominent cricketers played at the ground during the 40's and 50's including Walter Hammond and Sir Leary Constantine (a close friend of the then President Ebby Gerrish who was involved with the club for over 50 years).

The current pavilion was built in 1967 and in 1971 the club joined the Surrey Cricketers League. On the death in 1978 of Ebby Gerrish, Peter Wreford took over as President, a position he holds to this day.

In 1980 the club entered the Surrey Championship winning their first title in 1983, the team including the England Rugby player Simon Halliday and the present Chairman Andrew Bernard.

An Historical Sketch

Year Description

1757 The London Chronicle records a cricket match on Hampton Wick Green on August 26th when Kingston beat Esher by 30 notches.

1863 Esher Cricket Club was formed on October 9th at a meeting in the Old Esher Schoolroom. Wilford George Brett was elected President and Frederick Brown Honorable Treasurer. £45 was pledged to meet the formation expenses. Subscriptions were one guinea for effective members and a half a guinea for non-effective members. During that winter an area of 60 square yards was levelled for £65 in Brett's field adjoining the Portsmouth Road.

1864 The first match was played on May 7th.

1869 Builders having taken over the original ground, the present ground in New Road was rented for £20 per annum and opened on May 15th.

1871 A one room pavilion was built that was in service until 1937.

1873 PM Martineau elected President and except for a gap of four years remained President until 1910.

1880 Archive records show that Dr WG Grace played for Esher CC on June 12th vs. West Kent at Chislehurst. He scored 89, took six wickets and held three catches. The West Kent CC record states that "we knew the Esher District was a large one.....but we had not yet learned that it had extended to Gloucestershire.......however we were glad to welcome to our ground the greatest batsman of all time."

1889 Six members of the Martineau family turned out for the club.

1899 Australian legends VT Trumper, FW Laver and MA Noble played for Esher vs. Thames Ditton. Their club records state "Esher having lost the May 1894 match took no chances by having Australian stars Victor Trumper, Monty Noble and Frank Laver in their side." Esher won. Sir Neville Cardus later described Trumper as "he will always remain for your true Australian as the greatest batsman that ever lived".

1902 AJ Hopkins, WW Armstrong, RA Duff and H Carter of the Australian Touring side played for Esher CC vs. Thames Ditton.

1911 Charles M Martineau becomes President until his death in April 1935. Born in Esher in 1861 he lived in the family home Littleworth near Littleworth Common.

1920 On March 31st a tenancy agreement was signed for use of the ground for £30 per annum between Esher CC and the Martineau family. The tenants to pay all rates and taxes.

1921 A severe lack of players after the First World War led to the amalgamation with the Esher Village Cricket Club, that played on the green, and an Esher Sports Club was formed. This catered for cricket, tennis and football.

1929 Esher Colts founded, membership subscription 2/6d.

1930 Sunday fixtures first arranged.

1932 32 matches out of 54 played were won. Leading players who played a large part in the revival of the club's playing strength were HA Packham, RJ Woollatt, HR Crouch, BJA Lowe and the Eglington brothers R and RC.

1935 With the death of Charles Martineau, the Trustees of the Martineau family decided to dispose of the Littleworth Estate. The Sports Club was wound up. Esher CC bought the five and a quarter acres for a negotiated friendly price of £2,750, on a valuation of £4,000, with the stipulation that the area remained permanently assigned as a sports ground. The First Club Annual Ball was held at St. George's Hill.

1937 New clubhouse built replacing the one room pavilion that had served for 70 years. On October 26th the Esher CC colours of dark green, yellow, cerise, navy blue and white were adopted.

1939 During the 2nd World War the ground was handed over to the Welsh Guards at Sandown Park and the acute problems of maintenance were solved.

1942 The President Sidney A. P. Kitcat died aged 73. An accomplished cricketer for Marlborough and Gloucestershire with a career first class batting average of 22 from 97 innings plus 14 wickets at 34. In 1896 he and W.G.Grace put on 193 for the 9th wicket for Gloucestershire vs Sussex at Bristol. This record partnership for Gloucestershire still stands in 2006. He played for the Gentlemen vs Players in 1897 at the Oval. Prominent in the Esher X1 for many seasons. He captained the Veterans vs the Colts when over 70 years of age. He was also a good rugby player and played Hockey for England.

1944 Sam Ryder scores his first match on August 13th.

1945 The ground in good condition, 25 matches played after VE Day.

1948 WE (Ebby) Gerrish stands down as Captain after sixteen years. BH Lyons XI included Test players CWL Parker, CJ Barnett, LN Constantine, PGH Fender, HJ Butler, C Cook, D Emmett. Learie Constantine hits 4 sixes and 5 fours in his innings of 57.

1949 Devon and Dorset tour, continued annually to 1955.

1950 WR (Wally) Hammond tops the Esher CC batting averages with 81.3

1951 Peter Wreford heads the batting averages for the first time with 82.4

1953 Esher CC bought an additional piecde of land behind the pavilion for parking and nets for £825.

1954 Esher CC playing subscriptions raised to four and a half guineas.

1955 A cricket week was revived after 21 years. Peter Wreford scores record aggregate of 1,689 runs in the season.

1956 £82 for professional umpires in the Esher CC accounts for the first time.

1957 Garth Morgan takes record 152 wickets at 12.9 in a season.

1963 Esher CC centenary year sees new scorebox opened, costing £300. PBH (Peter) May scores a classic 100 for the President's XI. Garth Morgan retires with career record 1,285 wickets for Esher CC.

1964 Nigel Paul scores 201* vs. Incogniti. First double century since Kim Crouch's 206 in 1933.

1965 New Road Tennis Club ends, the Cricket Club takes over the courts.

1966 The Esher CC Golf Society founded with Seaford weekend in October.

1968 The present pavilion, truly a club project costing £18,000, was officially opened in June by Lord Nugent. The Surrey Championship (SC) formed with 17 founder members, Esher CC declined to join.

1971 Esher CC became part of the newly formed Surry Cricketers League. Harry Randles, after 25 years as groundsman and steward, retires.

1973 Peter Wreford stands down after 18 years as Esher CC captain.

1977 Led by Peter Robinson, Esher CC take a party of 26 on first tour to Barbados, West Indies (W3 L4 D1).

1978 WE (Ebby) Gerrish dies on June 7th. Peter Wreford elected as only the 8th President of Esher CC.

1980 The Surrey Championship (SC) increased to 22 clubs. Esher CC join.

1981 Ebby's Room opened, an extension to the pavilion, by Stuart Surridge, President of Surrey CCC. Anthony Wreford takes 69 wickets at 10.4 in the SC.

1982 Andrew Bernard sets new batting record with 1,703 runs in a season. Peter Robinson takes 10-49 vs. The Cricketers Club of London.

1983 Freehold to the North of ground sold.

1985 Record 9th wicket of 112 by Peter Segal and Anthony Wreford in SC Top Division, Esher CC vs. Guildford. Bobby Lowe plays in 52 matches.

1986 The John Harrison memorial flagstaff erected.

1987 Jimmy Fulford appointed Surrey CCC Chairman of Cricket Committee.

1988 Esher CC's 125th anniversary. Peter Clare-Hunt takes a record 31 catches in a season for the top division of SC. Esher CC's second tour to Barbados.

1990 Esher CC's accounts show first surplus since 1978 thanks to Lease Management Services Limited sponsorship support.

1992 Colts section reformed. Les and Judy Wood, groundsman and steward, retire. First overseas player, Barbadian Dexter Toppin, recruited.

1994 First all weather net practice pitches put down. Sam Ryder celebrates 50 years as scorer. Esher CC's 3rd tour to Barbados led by Bobby Lowe.

1996 Esher CC's Ashley Fine tops the SC Division 1 bowling averages. National Lottery Grant received for Esher CC's Colts development. Vision 2000, a strategic business plan for the 21st century, launched. Esher CC host a Surrey CCC benefit match for David Ward. Sal Lalani takes and esher CC side to Sarasota Florida Thanksgiving Festival for the first time.

1997 Four all weather net pitches, scorebox redeveloped, the tennis courts removed and Colts square put down. Tony Shilson made SC Chairman.

1998 Andrew Bernard enters CCC Hall of Fame and retires with 11,555 runs, all for Esher CC, in the SC.

1999 Peter Wreford celebrates 50 years as Esher CC player, Captain and President. SC Premier League formed with 10 clubs including Esher CC. AE (Max) Seager stands down as Honorary Treasurer after 31 years.

2000 Final and 19th year of Eve Group sponsorship of SC.

2001 Record SC 2nd wicket partnership of 248 vs. Guildford by Jonny Robinson and Zedi Sadiq. Peter Clare-Hunt completes most career catches in history of SC Top Division. Sam Parsons in U11 League match vs. Epsom returned bowling figures of 4-2-2-7 taking 5 wickets in 5 balls. Lashings CC play at Esher, including Richie Richardson, Shoaib Akhtar, Stuart Williams, Junior Murray, Franklyn Rose.

2003 140th anniversary, Lashings CC played and Summer Ball renewed. With the death of Ellen Martineau, aged 98 widow of Meadows who was the grandson of the first Martineau to live in Esher, the Club's last link with the Martineau family was finally broken. Tony Shilson retires as Chairman Surrey Championship.

2004 ECC beat Lashings CC XI

2005 Sam Ryder inducted to the C.C.C. Hall of Fame for services to cricket. Sam scored his first ECC match on Aug. 13th 1944. ECC 3rd X1 Surrey Championship Division 1 Champions & promoted to Premier Division. ECC 1st X1 finish 3rd in Premiership, the highest position since Premiership Division founded.

2006 New pavilion built. Shepherd Neame take over from Castle Lager as main Surrey Championship sponsors.

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Year	Description
1757	The London Chronicle records a cricket match on Hampton Wick Green on August 26th when Kingston beat Esher by 30 notches.
1863	Esher Cricket Club was formed on October 9th at a meeting in the Old Esher Schoolroom. Wilford George Brett was elected President and Frederick Brown Honorable Treasurer. £45 was pledged to meet the formation expenses. Subscriptions were one guinea for effective members and a half a guinea for non-effective members. During that winter an area of 60 square yards was levelled for £65 in Brett's field adjoining the Portsmouth Road.
1864	The first match was played on May 7th.
1869	Builders having taken over the original ground, the present ground in New Road was rented for £20 per annum and opened on May 15th.
1871	A one room pavilion was built that was in service until 1937.
1873	PM Martineau elected President and except for a gap of four years remained President until 1910.
1880	Archive records show that Dr WG Grace played for Esher CC on June 12th vs. West Kent at Chislehurst. He scored 89, took six wickets and held three catches. The West Kent CC record states that "we knew the Esher District was a large one.....but we had not yet learned that it had extended to Gloucestershire.......however we were glad to welcome to our ground the greatest batsman of all time."
1889	Six members of the Martineau family turned out for the club.
1899	Australian legends VT Trumper, FW Laver and MA Noble played for Esher vs. Thames Ditton. Their club records state "Esher having lost the May 1894 match took no chances by having Australian stars Victor Trumper, Monty Noble and Frank Laver in their side." Esher won. Sir Neville Cardus later described Trumper as "he will always remain for your true Australian as the greatest batsman that ever lived".
1902	AJ Hopkins, WW Armstrong, RA Duff and H Carter of the Australian Touring side played for Esher CC vs. Thames Ditton.
1911	Charles M Martineau becomes President until his death in April 1935. Born in Esher in 1861 he lived in the family home Littleworth near Littleworth Common.
1920	On March 31st a tenancy agreement was signed for use of the ground for £30 per annum between Esher CC and the Martineau family. The tenants to pay all rates and taxes.
1921	A severe lack of players after the First World War led to the amalgamation with the Esher Village Cricket Club, that played on the green, and an Esher Sports Club was formed. This catered for cricket, tennis and football.
1929	Esher Colts founded, membership subscription 2/6d.
1930	Sunday fixtures first arranged.
1932	32 matches out of 54 played were won. Leading players who played a large part in the revival of the club's playing strength were HA Packham, RJ Woollatt, HR Crouch, BJA Lowe and the Eglington brothers R and RC.
1935	With the death of Charles Martineau, the Trustees of the Martineau family decided to dispose of the Littleworth Estate. The Sports Club was wound up. Esher CC bought the five and a quarter acres for a negotiated friendly price of £2,750, on a valuation of £4,000, with the stipulation that the area remained permanently assigned as a sports ground. The First Club Annual Ball was held at St. George's Hill.
1937	New clubhouse built replacing the one room pavilion that had served for 70 years. On October 26th the Esher CC colours of dark green, yellow, cerise, navy blue and white were adopted.
1939	During the 2nd World War the ground was handed over to the Welsh Guards at Sandown Park and the acute problems of maintenance were solved.
1942	The President Sidney A. P. Kitcat died aged 73. An accomplished cricketer for Marlborough and Gloucestershire with a career first class batting average of 22 from 97 innings plus 14 wickets at 34. In 1896 he and W.G.Grace put on 193 for the 9th wicket for Gloucestershire vs Sussex at Bristol. This record partnership for Gloucestershire still stands in 2006. He played for the Gentlemen vs Players in 1897 at the Oval. Prominent in the Esher X1 for many seasons. He captained the Veterans vs the Colts when over 70 years of age. He was also a good rugby player and played Hockey for England.
1944	Sam Ryder scores his first match on August 13th.
1945	The ground in good condition, 25 matches played after VE Day.
1948	WE (Ebby) Gerrish stands down as Captain after sixteen years. BH Lyons XI included Test players CWL Parker, CJ Barnett, LN Constantine, PGH Fender, HJ Butler, C Cook, D Emmett. Learie Constantine hits 4 sixes and 5 fours in his innings of 57.
1949	Devon and Dorset tour, continued annually to 1955.
1950	WR (Wally) Hammond tops the Esher CC batting averages with 81.3
1951	Peter Wreford heads the batting averages for the first time with 82.4
1953	Esher CC bought an additional piecde of land behind the pavilion for parking and nets for £825.
1954	Esher CC playing subscriptions raised to four and a half guineas.
1955	A cricket week was revived after 21 years. Peter Wreford scores record aggregate of 1,689 runs in the season.
1956	£82 for professional umpires in the Esher CC accounts for the first time.
1957	Garth Morgan takes record 152 wickets at 12.9 in a season.
1963	Esher CC centenary year sees new scorebox opened, costing £300. PBH (Peter) May scores a classic 100 for the President's XI. Garth Morgan retires with career record 1,285 wickets for Esher CC.
1964	Nigel Paul scores 201* vs. Incogniti. First double century since Kim Crouch's 206 in 1933.
1965	New Road Tennis Club ends, the Cricket Club takes over the courts.
1966	The Esher CC Golf Society founded with Seaford weekend in October.
1968	The present pavilion, truly a club project costing £18,000, was officially opened in June by Lord Nugent. The Surrey Championship (SC) formed with 17 founder members, Esher CC declined to join.
1971	Esher CC became part of the newly formed Surry Cricketers League. Harry Randles, after 25 years as groundsman and steward, retires.
1973	Peter Wreford stands down after 18 years as Esher CC captain.
1977	Led by Peter Robinson, Esher CC take a party of 26 on first tour to Barbados, West Indies (W3 L4 D1).
1978	WE (Ebby) Gerrish dies on June 7th. Peter Wreford elected as only the 8th President of Esher CC.
1980	The Surrey Championship (SC) increased to 22 clubs. Esher CC join.
1981	Ebby's Room opened, an extension to the pavilion, by Stuart Surridge, President of Surrey CCC. Anthony Wreford takes 69 wickets at 10.4 in the SC.
1982	Andrew Bernard sets new batting record with 1,703 runs in a season. Peter Robinson takes 10-49 vs. The Cricketers Club of London.
1983	Freehold to the North of ground sold.
1985	Record 9th wicket of 112 by Peter Segal and Anthony Wreford in SC Top Division, Esher CC vs. Guildford. Bobby Lowe plays in 52 matches.
1986	The John Harrison memorial flagstaff erected.
1987	Jimmy Fulford appointed Surrey CCC Chairman of Cricket Committee.
1988	Esher CC's 125th anniversary. Peter Clare-Hunt takes a record 31 catches in a season for the top division of SC. Esher CC's second tour to Barbados.
1990	Esher CC's accounts show first surplus since 1978 thanks to Lease Management Services Limited sponsorship support.
1992	Colts section reformed. Les and Judy Wood, groundsman and steward, retire. First overseas player, Barbadian Dexter Toppin, recruited.
1994	First all weather net practice pitches put down. Sam Ryder celebrates 50 years as scorer. Esher CC's 3rd tour to Barbados led by Bobby Lowe.
1996	Esher CC's Ashley Fine tops the SC Division 1 bowling averages. National Lottery Grant received for Esher CC's Colts development. Vision 2000, a strategic business plan for the 21st century, launched. Esher CC host a Surrey CCC benefit match for David Ward. Sal Lalani takes and esher CC side to Sarasota Florida Thanksgiving Festival for the first time.
1997	Four all weather net pitches, scorebox redeveloped, the tennis courts removed and Colts square put down. Tony Shilson made SC Chairman.
1998	Andrew Bernard enters CCC Hall of Fame and retires with 11,555 runs, all for Esher CC, in the SC.
1999	Peter Wreford celebrates 50 years as Esher CC player, Captain and President. SC Premier League formed with 10 clubs including Esher CC. AE (Max) Seager stands down as Honorary Treasurer after 31 years.
2000	Final and 19th year of Eve Group sponsorship of SC.
2001	Record SC 2nd wicket partnership of 248 vs. Guildford by Jonny Robinson and Zedi Sadiq. Peter Clare-Hunt completes most career catches in history of SC Top Division. Sam Parsons in U11 League match vs. Epsom returned bowling figures of 4-2-2-7 taking 5 wickets in 5 balls. Lashings CC play at Esher, including Richie Richardson, Shoaib Akhtar, Stuart Williams, Junior Murray, Franklyn Rose.
2003	140th anniversary, Lashings CC played and Summer Ball renewed. With the death of Ellen Martineau, aged 98 widow of Meadows who was the grandson of the first Martineau to live in Esher, the Club's last link with the Martineau family was finally broken. Tony Shilson retires as Chairman Surrey Championship.
2004	ECC beat Lashings CC XI
2005	Sam Ryder inducted to the C.C.C. Hall of Fame for services to cricket. Sam scored his first ECC match on Aug. 13th 1944. ECC 3rd X1 Surrey Championship Division 1 Champions & promoted to Premier Division. ECC 1st X1 finish 3rd in Premiership, the highest position since Premiership Division founded.
2006	New pavilion built. Shepherd Neame take over from Castle Lager as main Surrey Championship sponsors.