Now we don't want to alarm you, but we need to sound the 100 Years at... klaxon - as in just over three weeks we are due to host arguably the biggest week-long schindig for 100 years (just a heads up to get the pain killers and energy drinks in now), in a repeat of the schindig where 100 years to the day (raise a receptacle of something wherever you are) Edward Stern cut the ribbon to our little old newly funded cricket & tennis ground down Grove Road (we knocked tennis on the head obvs) and invited the whole of Chertsey to sample it. And look at how glorious it is now - we think he'd be mightily impressed. All the great and the good were there and 100 years later, its no different... Because you will be there this time around.
Opening the Batting
Those over on the socials will have started to see posts going out about each day of the 100 Years at Grove Road Cricket Week to whet your appetite - and whether you're in the Ladies, Colts, or Phil Jay Appreciation Society tribe (we're Chief of that one for info), we've got you covered.
First up in #GroveRoad100* news we have a big cheese roll to dangle in front of you - we can release name #1 of the Lords Taverners team to face a Chertsey XI in the culmination of the week on Sunday 19th. Let us throw you some clues - he's an ex-Middlesex and England legend retiring on the same amount of first class & List A matches (551), a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1984, he was part of the 1990 rebel tour, and he was victim to the ball of the century. Plus we let him jump the queue for the loo at the 2009 Ashes. It can only be Mike "Gatt" Gatting OBE.
Just a little reminder of what's happening each day and the details for the first two days we've released:
12th June – Chertsey Legends Day Home v Away - 2pm
13th June – Ladies Interclub Match - 6pm
14th June – Chertsey XI v Surrey XI Walking Cricket - 2.30pm
15th June – Chertsey XI v The Stage CC - 11am
16th June – The Social League is 25 Years Old - Babs' Army v Chertsey Ladies & Co - 6.15pm
17th June – Colts Family Fun Evening - 6pm
18th June – League Game - 1st XI v Streatham & Marlborough - 12pm
19th June – Chertsey XI v Lords Taverners - 11am
Tuesday 14th June
Chertsey XI v Surrey XI Walking Cricket
Start Time: 2.30pm
Overs Each Side: 20
Walking Cricket is an inclusive format of cricket which is low impact and ideal for those who used to play the game but no longer can or want to spend a whole afternoon running around.
Their mixed over-50s sessions train on Thursday mornings from 10.30am – 12pm at Cobham Avorians CC so why not give it a go, and will be taking on their Yorkshire CC equivalent in late summer. For more info check out www.twenty20cricketcompany.com/walking-cricket-over-50s. We will be taking on the Surrey arm of the format on the Tuesday.
Thursday 16th June
The Social League is 25 Years Old!
Babs' Army v Chertsey Ladies & Co
Start Time: 6.15pm
Overs Each Side: 20
In the heady days way before the Hundred and T20 Blast, the Social League was born.
Way back in 1997, when Shane Warne was all the rage, a way was found of combining pyjama cricket and beer, two of our favourite things. Now its in its 25th year it is a double celebration! Under the curation of Richard Luff, it has not lost any of its charm, becoming quite a precious string to CCC's bow.
So what's the hook? 20 overs of semi-competitive cricket playing at your local ground and maybe seeing a man wearing a ballerina's outfit as a forfeit, if you fancy joining with 11 of your colleagues or mates, we take admissions by early Spring. The only prerequisite is that you come down the club after, putting the "Social" into Social League.
So why not come down for the show, there's simply nothing better than sampling a pint and a burger on a balmy Thursday night with a side of good, fun cricket. The night's match features the Chertsey Ladies & Co and Bab’s Army in an epic interclub battle.
You will also see our new addition in the clubhouse - our "100 Years" noticeboard, you might even see yourself on there, so head over there for a quicky shufty.
You also need to get in quick if you want to hire a tent, as we only have 4, no 3 spots left. Might be two now. This is what you get for your buck:
100 Years at Grove Road Celebrations Marquee Hire
Price: £500 per tent
- 1 x case of Peroni
- 2 x bottles of Prosecco
- Traditional cricket tea for 10 people
- Dedicated bar staff for the duration of the match & 30 minutes before
- An opportunity to meet the Lords Taverners
- Opportunity to place advertising about their marquee advert in the programme
- Social media and website promotion
If you would like to take advantage of the package you're running out of time, contact chertseycchire@outlook.com soon as you can to avoid disappointment.
Also in CPL100 news, the kit has arrived! And it looks faaaaaaaabulous, our four Captains couldn't wait to try it on. Round 1 is shaping up to be bold and brilliant, and we've just done the draw:
Bourne Stars v Grove Armada
Gogmore Knights v Meads Enforcers
More news on that little lot next week.
Notable Mentions
In possibly one of just a handful of long-distance trips we'll be making this season, there two things you need to know about Cheam - its very far away, and as a club there's a lot going on, what with being one of those sports ground places. A place where specifically there was not a lot going on however was over on pitch #1 early on Saturday afternoon, where you could find the 1s fielding, toiling in the heat, and wickets hard to come by. Captain Hanger threw the kitchen sink at it, and the reward came with Jacob Loveridge involved with the first two wickets, one a lbw and one pouched from Josh Jackman. The Cheam 3&4 put on a big stand, and we have to be honest, we got itchy and decided it was be time to get in the Comms-mobile and seek out some shade and wickets nearer to home, game was lost it seemed, but just as we packed away... wicket, 135-3. Got in the car, wicket, 139-4, and another six went down while we were on the motorway (went the right way this week - was rather pleased). We were left feeling like we may have brought some sort of hex upon the team with our mere presence (we can have that effect tbf). Captain Hanger wanted to restrict them from reaching 200, and Cheam were all out for 198, Jacob Loveridge with 3-43. First part of the task done.
In reply the fairy tale continued. Opener Jake Taylor had one of his heads on and biffed a 63-ball 101, including twenty fours and one a-six-aaaaa. Bet that annoyed the oppo... Karthik Menon, usually in the mix with this sort of thing, said he had the best seat in the house and himself put on 40*, Captain Hanger getting in on the act with 32 from 33 to get the job done, overseas Eric coming in two balls from the end. So two lessons learnt here - know when to make your excuses and Cheam ain't so bad after all. Plus the 1s find themselves top of div 3 after two games. Huzzah.
The 2s elected to bat first at the Edward Stern versus Camberley, and started positively; openers James Baldwin and Greg Burton putting on 30 before Greg departed, and James sharing the crease with three other partners before making way for 51, his first since the Covid season. There was a requirement to bat deep (as per), and the combination of 7&8 Marsh & Bailey had a good old go, putting on 43 between them, but John was unlucky not to get more from his 27 coming out the wrong end of a run out. Ravi Patel also broke his golden hex. Huzzah. Captain Wiggins' only request was to bat to 50 overs, and it was achieved, the 2s ending 156-9.
They were cock-a-hoop at the beginning of the response as Camberley found themselves. The second wicket proved slightly more elusive, coming on 53-2, the opener stickier than our forehead pootling down that motorway. Camberley set up shop and got their heads down though, the win coming in the 38th over.
Now the 4s have thought we have been avoiding them of late, and this simply isn't true, so we made a special trip to Shepperton to see what was going down in their game. And we were pleasantly surprised, they never cease to awe us. When we arrived Shepperton were 99-2, and as we fried and accumulated ants in our rucksack we didn't mind because magic was happening in front of our eyes, and it wasn't the poplar fluff or suntan lotion. Finally a team we could be a good luck charm for. Connaill Keating impressed - head down and maturely carrying out the job at hand whenever he had the ball, and he put on a marvellous spell with Beardy Steve Reynolds at the other end, which resulted in the bearded one's first ever Chertsey 5-fer and reluctantly accepting our Bluecaps Champagne Moment of the Week. Drink it in Sir. What's so special is that in amongst that lot we had seven wickets with Colts involved, a quick-thinking run out by Aiden Cassin, who also bagged two effortless skiers, one off the bowling of Connaill, himself and Henry Edwards also nabbed epic catches, and Josh Hawksley took the last wicket to finish off the tail, valuable bowling points in the bag and 162 the target. With batting on the light side it was always going to take something magical to get over the line but Jonny Altham on club debut impressed with 31 (he can come again next week) and Captain Mukund was unlucky not to progress - it's coming.
Over at the Rec the 3s were making their first appearance of the season at our favourite hunting ground for carnage. Their Camberley counterparts batted first, the opener made hay on the Rec trifle and hung about, Vishnu Remesh removing him and making an entry into the bruise of the season competition when forehead met ball for one of the four of his catches from behind the stumps. Wickets were shared around the team, Ethan Austin, Captain Boast, Ammad Zulfikar all with two, but it was Dylan Pandya popping up just at the right times, ending with three and the 3s were set 172 for the win.
In reply it was down to opener Jack Lloyd to hang around which he did, and Vishnu flicked the switch he's been trying to reach all season - resulting in a 67-ball 50 and out. We nearly jinxed him by saying the last time he landed a big one he was paired with his partner Boasty at the crease, but we were stopped short. We'd done enough damage through the day tbf. At 67-4 it was going to need some special sorcery to get over the line, 3s-style. Step forward Boast & O'Flynn - in a deja vu moment they put on a valuable 78, Kevin unlucky not to get to his 50, just shy on 47 (from 44). 141-5 with 8 to go. They lost four wickets in three overs, Captain Boast the man hanging about throughout which meant we were in for a close game. A 3s trait we have become accustomed to dear reader. Nearing 8pm, two overs to go and nine down, we were treated to a Stokes and Leach sitch, aka Boasty & Pandya. 1.2 overs to go, run one, level, and Camberley finally got Dylan on strike, last ball of the over. Oh gawd, but fair play, the yout held his nerve and saw us home. The 3s find themselves top of Div 2, second place Hampton Wick up next.
Over in a largely rain-affected week in Colts Land, on Sunday unlike some of our oppo we wouldn't let a thing called rain get in the way of getting some cricket in. The U11s got in a full game against Barnes before the heavens opened, that Mann Harry and Captain Oscar Toogood the top biffers there, in reply the Captain fantastic nabbed two wickets from his five balls to take the team to victory. The U11 devvers were our Monday Match at the club taking on East Molesey, and were unlucky to come away without the win - Coach Felix said in his post-match interview "Big shout to Robert who retired out and Jess who played her first hardball game. Fielding was best of the season so far". Bagshot were the opponents for the U13s on a gloomy Tuesday evening, after missing out on play Sunday. The bowlers were tidy, but the breakthrough hard to come by - it came though via Dylan Gamble. The girls impressed with a busy but unflappable Edie Schofield behind the sticks, Freya and Sienna confidently piling on the pressure, and 92 was the target. Bagshot were unable to break the partnership of Kit Schofield and Dylan Gamble until over 7, Kit retiring (he did the same the next day for the U12s v Woking & Horsell), and it was left to Luke Russell and Adam Osborn to take us home with the win in 11 overs. The U12s were up against Woking & Horsell last night, and batting first Kit & Alfie put on a mega stand, Kit batting the whole 20 overs through, 113 the target. In reply W&H found themselves 4-3, wickets shared around but Alfie Meredith bowled a tidy 2-3 and the win by 35 runs was secured.
Saturday 14th May
League - 1st XI 201-3 v Cheam 198 a/o (A)
Jake Taylor 101, Jacob Loveridge 3-43
League - 2nd XI 156-9 v Camberley 157-4 (H)
James Baldwin 51, Josh Fyfe 1-16, Ed Marsh 1-21, Stuart Eagles 1-26, John Bailey 1-37
League - 3rd XI 172-9 v Camberley 171 a/o (HRec)
Vishnu Remesh 50, Dylan Pandya 3-31
League - 4th XI 112 a/o v Shepperton 161 a/o (A)
Jonny Altham 31, Steve Reynolds 5-25
Sunday 15th May
U8s 27-3 (net score 212) v Woking & Horsell 51-2 (net score 241)
U10s 63-1 (net score 223) v Leatherhead 905- (new score 265)
Max Haynes 11, James Rees 2-2, Louis Bailey 2-9
U11s 106-7 v Barnes 92-9
Harry Mann 20, Oscar Toogood 2-1. Nathan Osborn 2-4, Zach Edwards 2-12
Monday 16th May
U11 dev 91-6 v East Molesey 92-4
Robert Gannicliffe 20 (ret), D Ambrose 2-6
Wednesday 18th May
U12s 112-6 v Woking & Horsell 77-8
Kit Schofield 32* (ret), Alfie Meredith 2-3, Lottie Sewell 2-11
Fixture Card
Friday sees the U9 girls undertake their first ever Smash It festival at Woking & Horsell - trust us, you will have an absolute blast we assure you. Tell us all about it.
Saturday sees the 1s hoping to continue their good form in front of a home crowd taking on Chessington, the 2s take the trip down the '25 this week to Dorking, and the 3s & 4s play their Hampton Wick counterparts away and home respectively.
Monday sees the U13s in our Monday Match feature, and the Ladies are Slammin' Wednesday v Twickenham. Go well all.
Thursday 19th May
Social League - Vet Labs v Dads Army (H)
Social League - Chertsey Ladies & Co v Salesians (HAbb)
Social League - Woking Council v Pirates (HRec)
Friday 20th May
U9 Girls Smash It Festival - Woking & Horsell
Saturday 21st May
League - 1st XI v Chessington (H) 12pm
League - 2nd XI v Dorking (A) 12pm
Pixham Lane, Dorking, RH4 1PL
League - 3rd XI v Hampton Wick Royal (A) 1pm
Kings Field, Hampton Wick Royal Cricket Club, KT1 4AZ
League - 4th XI v Hampton Wick Royal (Hrec) 1pm
Sunday 22nd May
U15s v Wimbledon
U12s v Sunbury
U10s v Malden Wanderers
U14s v Windsor
Sunday XI v TBC (H) 2pm
Monday 23rd May
U13s v Maori Oxshott - THE MONDAY MATCH
U12 dev v Frimley
Tuesday 24th May
U13s v Thames Ditton
Wednesday 25th May
U15 dev v Finchampstead
U11 dev v East Molesey
Surrey Slam - Ladies v Twickenham 6.30pm
Dates for Your Diary
29th May - CPL100 Round 1
100 Years at Grove Road Cricket Week
12th June – Chertsey Legends Day Home v Away - 2pm
13th June – Ladies Interclub Match - 6pm
14th June – Chertsey XI v Surrey XI Walking Cricket - 2.30pm
15th June – Chertsey XI v The Stage CC - 11am
16th June – The Social League is 25 Years Old - Babs' Army v Chertsey Ladies & Co - 6.15pm
17th June – Colts Family Fun Evening - 6pm
18th June – League Game - 1st XI v Streatham & Marlborough - 12pm
19th June – Chertsey XI v Lords Taverners - 11am
26th June - CPL100 Round 2
10th July - Colts Day
17th July - President's Day
24th July - CPL100 Round 3
28th August - CPL100 Finals Day
2nd October - Cowpat Day
We're off to toast what would have been happening 100 years ago at this minute in time - we reckon the port would be dented right about now. Cheers all.
