We can't believe it is finally here - our 100 Years Cricket Week celebrations are upon us, starting this Sunday.
Unless you've been hiding under a rock here's the reason we're all here today:
In the early 1920s the club played a lot of their games at Chertsey Rec, but it was time to try and secure a permanent home, as it was deemed the ground was not quite at the standard of the rigours of continuous cricket, an article at the time deemed it "dangerous and unsatisfactory, and that some neighbouring clubs declined to play there".
A new ground had been long-desired but deemed unrealistic due to the amount required to buy the amount of land required.
In the off season of 1921 it was down to Club Secretary WH DuCros, with passion and quiet enthusiasm, to set about securing the £500 needed to procure 5 acres of land from local Lt Col EW Bryan (a Chertsey CC Vice President) in the Gogmore area named Gogmore Meadow. Surely the Clubman of the Year of his day.
Mr DuCros persevered and had promises amounting to £380, amongst them a Sir Edward Stern, a local philanthropist and the current residing President of the time (following the club's merger with Gogmore Cricket Club around the turn of the century) who chipped in the greatest amount, £248 10s.
Along with funds raised from local businesses (TE Stevens & Sons, Waterers & Sons to name a few),and members' subscriptions the princely sum of £438 13s was raised, enough to purchase the ground, and it was put into trust, a law-abiding tradition that stands to this day.
To celebrate, we are hosting something that hasn't been seen at Chertsey for a while - a cricket week, ensuring all corners of the club are covered. Here's what happening each day:
Sunday 12th June
Chertsey Legends Home v Away 2pm
Monday 13th June
Ladies Interclub Match 6pm
Tuesday 14th June
Chertsey XI v Surrey XI Walking Cricket 2.30pm
Wednesday 15th June
Chertsey XI v The Stage 11am
Thursday 16th June
The Social League is 25 - Bab's Army v Chertsey Ladies & Co 6pm
Friday 17th June - Colts Family Fun Evening - 6pm
Saturday 18th June - Surrey Championship League Game 1st XI v Streatham & Marlborough - 12pm/55 overs max
Sunday 19th June - Chertsey XI v Lords Taverners - 2pm/35 overs
We will be supporting the Lords Taverner's during the week, and will be donating all gate donations for the Tav game (we ask a minimum of £5) to the Taverners so dig deep.
Everyone is welcome to attend throughout the week, so bring your family, bring your neighbours, bring Mike Gatting (we are) and let's celebrate one of Chertsey's treasures together.
You'll be pleased to know the bar will also be participating; collect a card over the weekend and get Monday - Friday stamped when you buy a drink to redeem a free one on the Saturday or Sunday as a thank you for your support, and there'll be special promotions on each day.
