2026 is the 250-year anniversary of the middle stump!
Find out the history and our schedule of events here!
2026 Membership now open!
Chertsey Cricket Club are Proudly Sponsored by
World Cargo Logistics
2026 is the 250-year anniversary of the middle stump!
Find out the history and our schedule of events here!
Chertsey Cricket Club are Proudly Sponsored by
World Cargo Logistics
It was during a match with Hambledon on 22nd - 23rd May 1775 that Lumpy beat batsman John Small three times by the ball going through the middle of the two stumps. Lumpy, as a typical precious bowler, was understandably upset, and along with the other patrons at the game (we can only imagine during conversation at the bar post match, where most decisions are made) agreed this gap must be filled and a third stump introduced, and after a meeting with the great and the good, the rest they say is history. If you check out our current logo, this is reflected with the golden middle stump and the year of its introduction, 1776.
2026 marks 250 years since the first match the middle stump was played with, on 6th September 1776 against Coulsdon, and to honour this history-defining event we'll be hosting events right through 2026.
Two hundred and fifty years and a lot of middle-stump wickets - and it all started here.
It was Chertsey man Edward “Lumpy” Stevens whose sharp thinking and sharper bowling exposed a flaw in the game, leading to the introduction of the middle stump as a permanent feature of cricket. A simple change, born at Chertsey, that went on to shape the game worldwide.
This year marks 250 years since the first match was played with the middle stump, way back in 1776, and Chertsey Cricket Club is immensely proud to honour its place at the very heart of cricketing history.
To celebrate this remarkable anniversary, we’re hosting events throughout the year, including a week-long festival of cricket, bringing together players, supporters, families and friends to reflect our past, celebrate our present, and inspire the future.
From walking cricket to our Saturday league fixture, social league to dedicated section's evening events, everyone's included in the celebration!
We hope you’ll join us in celebrating an achievement that has influenced world cricket, and get involved to put Chertsey in the spotlight!
Please email us with any enquiries about our anniversary year to comms@chertseycc.org.uk
Sunday June 21st to Sunday 28th June - Cricket Week
Sunday 21st June - Chertsey Strollers v Surrey Seniors Cricket - 1.30pm
Monday 22nd June - Ladies Interclub Match - 6pm
Tuesday 23rd June - Walking Cricket Celebration - 12pm
Wednesday 24th June - Chertsey v The Stage - 10.30am
Thursday 25th June - Social League - Dad's Army v Bab's Army 6pm
Friday 26th June - Colts Challenge Night - 6pm
Saturday 27th June - League Match - 2nd XI v Hampton Hill 12pm
Sunday 28th June - Chertsey v Lords Taverners - 1pm
The celebrations continue with President’s Day on Sunday 26 July, featuring Chertsey v MCC XI, and culminate with our 250th “To the Day” Anniversary Matches on Sunday 6 September, as we host Coulsdon, Chipstead, and Walcountians (Coulsdon being the team Chertsey played in the original match back in 1776) and travel to Hambledon, who along with Chertsey are one of the oldest clubs in the world.
President's Day
Sunday 26th July - Chertsey v MCC XI
250th "To the Day" Anniversary Matches
Sunday 6th September - Chertsey v Coulsdon (H) & Chertsey v Hambledon (A)
Sunday saw the Lords Taverners in town - and ex-England and Lords Taverners President Captain David Gower our star guest. Batting first, the Taverners had the scoreboard ticking along nicely against the Chertsey Seniors, opener Eddie Spence with 58, and the Captain Matt Swarbrick 63*, ending 182-6 off their 35 overs, Ed Marsh with 2 wickets. In reply Chertsey's openers Cade Skelton (52) and David Sloan (49) set up the foundations of the win, Elliott Bloomfiel also with a 50* (ret) at #3, and the win went Chertsey's way by 6 wickets.
Chertsey team: Ben Hanger (C), George Simpson, Cade Skelton, David Sloan, Hugh Aish-Lyons, Barnaby Rowe, Eric Osner, Dan Perks, Elliott Bloomfield, Ed Marsh, Troy Bolger
The league 2s match with Hampton Hill ended unbelievably in a tie, both sides ending on 124 all out. Captain Perks winning the toss and bowling, Troy Bolger ending on 4-22, three run-outs, and on the reply there were pockets of runs, Raun Patil 21, Luke Westcott top scoring with 34, and Kit Schofield 30.
Our Colts came out in force to try their hand at our challenges - the speed test, longest throw, fastest between the wickets, then we all congreated for one big 250 photo on the outfield... watch that come together here on Instagram.
Our Social League experience in our feature match at the club included a helicopter trying to land on the pitch, an absolutely banging burger and chips dinner from GreedyBoyz, and raining sixes from Dad's Army as they batted first agains Bab's Army, ending 153-5. Lilly Rowe ended with 3-25 for Babs, but the total was too much for the chaps and chapesses in maroon, Pete Scott a worldy catch and two wickets along with Paul Fyfe for the Dads, fireworks from Maff Barnes at the end for 23 for Babs, and they ended 139-6. We also had an appearance from team matriarch herself, Babs, for an over, and it was a real family affair, the Reischs, Eagles, and Barnes family all represented between both teams.
The Chertsey Seniors invited The Stage to be part of 250 week for their annual midweek match, and it was a hot one, the home team finding all kinds of inventive ways to keep cool. Batting first, Chertsey aptly put on 250-4 declared, with Eric Osner 82 and Dan Perks 55, and on the reply things started fairly even, but a worldy caught and bowled from Sanj Sachdeva removed The Stage's dangerman on 69, and The Stage wilted to defeat.
(H) 250 Years Middle Stump Anniversary Cricket Week - Chertsey 250-4 (dec) v The Stage 180 all out - Eric Osner 82 & 3-19, Dan Perks 55, Steve Reynolds 3-35
Chertsey team: Hugh Aish-Lyons (C), Sanj Sachdeva, Dan Perks, Ben Hanger, Eric Osner, Nick Barnes, Felix Reisch, Neil Latham, Steve Reynolds, Barnaby Rowe, Jack Lloyd
Westcott and Dorking were the winners of our first ever walking cricket festival, beating Chobham in the final. With over 60 walkers in attendance, they braved the heat for our inaugural tournament, and we also had a Chertsey-themed cake!
Teams participating:
Chertsey, Banstead, Valley End, Westcott, Wallington, and Chobham
An evening showcasing the continued growth of women’s cricket at Chertsey Cricket Club, the Ladies Interclub Match features the section going head to head - Molly's Tigers, captained by trailblazer Molly Sellars, and current Ladies League and Slam Cup Captain Lilly Rowe captaining Lilly's Leopards.
Teams:
Molly's Tigers - Molly Sellars ( C ), Katie Butler ( W ), Alex Schofield, Beth Bailey, Bron Mayne, Elise Perry, Katie Lack, Katie Weston, Lola Hubbard, Lorna Bailey, Madi Hinton, Mary O'Farrell, Ria Patel
Lilly's Leopards - Lilly Rowe ( C), Isabella Cappiello ( W ), Amy Bailey, Anna Marsh, Carli Weston, Chloe Hardwick, Dhyanna Raja, Edie Schofield, Ellie Searle, Jessica McNae, Lexie Fewell, Rosie Barnes, Tilda Morris
Our cricket week kicked off with the Chertsey Strollers taking on Surrey Over 50s, and despite a close game, the Surrey Over 50s were victorious by just 13 runs, the Strollers mercurial with the bat, Rorie O'Keefe 53 off 59, and Matt Gibbs 51 off 56 at the end.
Team:
Stuart Chenery (C), Steve Bussey, Phil Jay, Denis Perks, Tim Beer, Paul Russell, David Chatfield, Phillip Boast, Rorie O'Keefe, Matt Gibbs, Stuart Eagles
Surrey Seniors Cricket Association Over 50s 187-5 v Chertsey Strollers 174-4
Tim Beer 2-17, Rorie O'Keefe 63, Matt Gibbs 51*
Now you can commemorate the 250 Years of the Middle Stump Anniversary with our 250 merch - as the week progresses you'll begin seeing our 250 baggie caps and pins being handed out, but you can also buy your own over the bar. Baggies courtesy of Cobra Cricket are £20 and pins from Insignia for £3, so go forth and represent!
We received a very special message from ex-England bowler Stuart Broad to launch our 250 Year Middle Stump Anniversary!
Our very own Martin Allen spoke on Boom Radio about the 250th Anniversary on Friday 22nd May - have a listen here!
If you're heading up to the Oval this summer, look out for mention of Edward Lumpy Stevens in their museum...
To mark the 250th Anniversary of the Middle Stump this year, we've placed our very own blue plaque and info board on the front wall as you come in to the club to show how proud we are to have been involved in such a momentous rule change, and this was the town it originated in. You can read a bit more about the origination of the middle stump as well as using the QR code to find out more about Chertsey CC's rich history.
Again thanks to Facilies Manager Andy who got the plaque sorted and up ready for you take a look at!
The Surrey Lieutenancy mentioned our anniversary celebrations on Facebook and went into detail around our history and the 250-anniversary history.
Chertsey make the February edition of The Cricketer - buy your copy here!
Chertsey legend Martin Allen and Communications Manager Claire Wright sat down with Oscar Ress of The Cricketer in December to talk about the middle stump event and outlining Chertsey's plans for honoring the event in the 2026 season.
"We're fiercely proud," Allen said. "There are a number of times when clubs come down to play us, whether a friendly game or a league game, and they'll see the logo up against the bar and say, 'oh, what does that mean?' And then when we tell them, they're astonished because, with great respect, some of these clubs are only 50 or 60 years old. And there we are, 250 years old.
They are truly astonished, particularly those players in those clubs who are interested in the history of the game, not just in what happened yesterday."
Martin Allen
