Thames Ditton Cricket Club

Since that time many famous cricketers have played on the Green. Heathfield Stephenson, who captained the first English side to tour Australia, played for the Club. He is buried in the graveyard at St Nicholas Church. His nephew, Maurice Read, was the first Thames Ditton player to score a century in a club match. He became a professional with Surrey, and played 14 test matches for England in the 1880s and 1890s. In 1892 Tom Richardson, the great Surrey and England fast bowler, came to live in Angel Road. He played many times for the Club until his death in 1912.

In the 1890s Thames Ditton, and their rivals Mitcham, were regarded as the leading clubs in Surrey. Matches between the two clubs attracted crowds of up to 5000 spectators. Other England cricketers played for the Club on occasions, Leonard Braund and Tom Haywood amongst them.

The Centenary Year was celebrated in 1933 with matches against Twickenham. Eddie Watts, one of three brothers in that era, went on to play for Surrey. He took all 10 wickets for Surrey v Warwickshire in 1939, and had not the War intervened may well have become a test player. He returned to play for TDCC when he retired from first class cricket in 1952.

League cricket

Prior to 1970 all club cricket in Surrey was played as ‘friendlies’. Then leagues were formed to encourage more competitive cricket. The Club joined the Thamesside League, and played in it until a re-organisation of Surrey clubs in 1993, when they became members of the Fullers Surrey County League. In 1995 the Club won the League Cup. The following year 1996 was the best ever, with both the 1st X1 and 3rd X1 becoming league champions. In 1999 and in 2000 the 3rd X1 were again champions, while the 1st X1 won the League Cup in 1999 for the second time. In 2003, the 1st X1 became league champions, winning 13 games from 18, and winning promotion to the Surrey Championship, while in 2007 the 2nd X1 were champions, being promoted to join the 1st X1 in the Surrey Championship.

Membership

The Club puts out 4 sides on Saturdays. In 2007 the 1st X1 had mixed results to finish 7th in the 5th Division of the the Surrey Championship. The 2nd X1 won the Fullers League first division and will play in the Surrey Championship in 2008. The 3rd X1 ended in third place, frustratingly close to promotion to the Championship.

One X1 (occasionally 2) is usually fielded on Sundays. In 2007 the Under 21 side played in the Surrey Trust League. The Cricket Week has been a regular event since 1914, and for the last eight years the Club have toured the West Country.

A Colts section, for ages 8 to 17, meet on the Green on Sunday mornings. League and friendly matches are played against neighbouring clubs. For details see the Colts page.

The Club always welcomes new players, and also non-playing members. If you would like to learn more, email: StJohn Farley (stjohn.farley@blueyonder.co.uk), tel 020 8943 1755 or Howard Frish (sherlockwines@btinternet.com)

Harry Hawkes Eight

The Harry Hawkes Eight is an 8 mile race and fun run, introduced by the Club 20 years ago, in memory of Harry Hawkes, a president of TDCC, who was particulary active in promoting youth cricket. It is very much a fun event and the picturesque course follows the banks of the Thames via Kingston and Hampton Court bridges. Over the past years the event has raised well over £55,000 for local schools and charities and has also provided essential funds to the Club itself.
Click on the link to Harry Hawkes Eight for details.

Feedback

Please feedback by email any comments, questions, etc to Graham Ashton (gjashton@aol.com)

Hitometer : number of hits since 7 April 2003.