Club History

The recorded history of cricket in Caterham extends back to a game on Catterham Common on October 14th 1767, when the Gentlemen of Catterham beat the Gentlemen of Hambledon. Further matches against Hambledon took place in 1769 - one at the birthplace of modern cricket (Broad Halfpenny Down, Hambledon) and a third "decisive" match at Guildford (Caterham losing the series 2-1). Other recorded matches around that time include Westerham & Caterham beating Bourne, Kent in 1768, and Catterham beating Chipstead on Catterham Common in 1800.

Caterham Park CC was founded on August 26th 1873, and it is this date that Caterham CC takes for its inauguration. As with most clubs that have survived so long, however, various amalgamations have taken place to create the club we now know. In 1876 Caterham Park amalgamated with the original Caterham CC (date of foundation unknown) and in 1946 with the Spartans of Caterham, and so it is not until 1953 that the name of our club became - and has remained - Caterham Cricket Club.

During the post-war period Caterham built a reputation as one of the foremost sides in Surrey, playing predominantly friendly cricket until the Saturday 1st and 2nd XIs joined the newly created Slazenger Surrey League in 1975 - finishing fourth and sixth respectively. We had to wait until our last season in the re-named Kookaburra Fordham League for the 1st XI to get within touching distance of the League title - finishing runners-up after a hotly contested defeat in the last game of the 2000 season. Our other notable near miss was in 1985 when we reached the final of the League Cup, losing by 86 runs. The 2nd XI enjoyed success in securing promotion in 1992, 1998 and 2000, and with the 3rd XI joining the League in 1998 (promoted at only the second attempt) the club joined the Fullers League full of hope in 2001.

Success in the Fullers League was proving equally elusive until the 3rd XI stormed to top spot in the 3rd XI division in 2003 - securing promotion to the Surrey Championship in the process - and then in 2004 the 1st XI pulverised the opposition and gained promotion to the First Division with an unbeaten record and an unprecedented points tally of 300. The Sunday sides continue to play a high standard of friendly cricket, and for the 2005 season the Sunday 1st XI have joined the "Sunday Development League" - a 40 over a side format with coloured clothing and requiring at least 6 players under the age of 21.

As you would expect for a club with our rich history, there have been many celebratory games in the last 75 years. Hambledon have played a big part in this, with bi-centenary games in 1967 and 1969 (photo), and we were victorious against Chipstead in a 150th Anniversary re-match in 1950. The centenary of the club was celebrated in 1973 with a match against Col. B.L. Evans (Presidents) XI, and an England Ladies XI were entertained as part of the commemoration of our 125th year.

The first Cricket Week was in 1981 (all matches abandoned) and in 1977 the Memorial Trophy was presented to the club to commemorate the memory of Col B.L Evans, W.M.L. Edwards, R.G. Peacock, C.G. (Nod) Bessy and A.T. Braid. This trophy was to be played for annually by the club and an XI of former players known as "Caterham Exiles". Other trophies are awarded at the annual Dinner Dance in memory of former players and friends of the club Sam Chapman, Tom Jones, A.J. Atfield, Billy Relfe, Bryan Stephens and Paul Fellowes.