In 1885, the Rev. W. Hook-Longsdon MA., an assistant master at Colfe's Grammar School, Lewisham, and an enthusiastic organiser of sports and social activity, played a major part in the formation of "The Abraham Colfe Club" later to become known as the "Old Colfeians' Club". Not long afterwards, he left the teaching profession to become Curate of St. Lawrence's Church, Rushey Green, Catford.
At that time, Rushey Green was little more than a hamlet, separated from the urban sprawl of S.E. London by open fields. In 1890, Hook-Longsdon founded the "Rushey Green Cricket Club" with the objective of bringing together the young men of the district in sport and recreation. The wicket was pitched in an adjacent field leased from the freeholder, Mr. H. W. Forster MP, (later Lord Forster) whose name is commemorated to this day by the Forster Memorial Park. Five years later the name of the Club was changed to "Catford Cricket Club" and it began to expand its activities.
This rural field on which the Club started its life, abutted onto Sangley Lane to the north, with fields continuing to Hither Green Lane. To the south, more fields to Southend Pond and to the west, Berlin Road (later renamed Canadian Avenue) had six houses only.
Among the founder members were the Kent cricketing brothers, George and Alex Hearne. Many famous names, such as Hayes and Lee of Surrey, Braund of Somerset, "Nutty" Martin of Kent and Walter Mead of Essex, played on the ground. Another prominent founder was W. Fieldson, later to become known as "the Father of the Club" who, in 1911, wrote a "Monograph of the Catford Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club" a copy of which hangs in the Pavilion to this day. Much of the information concerning those early days is derived from the Monograph.
These original members took over a ground which was a mere wilderness with rotten fences, straying cattle and open to all and sundry. Within a short time, they had transformed it into a good cricket ground with a small hut as a forerunner of the pavilion to come.
The history of St. Lawrence's Church is woven into the history of the Club and for many years, the clergy of the district met the Club in friendly matches on or near the 16th of August, the date of St. Lawrence's Day. In those early years, there was great rivalry between the Club and St. Mary's Club, Ladywell, and when the latter broke up, some of their members joined the Club.
In April 1893, Hook-Longsdon left St. Lawrence's for St. Michael Lant, Borough (a street immortalised by Dickens) and the Club made him a presentation, one of several on that occasion.
As the Club progressed, a 'Cricket Week' was instituted and in 1895 - 96, a tour to Devon. More members joined, one of whom, Thomas French, was to found a remarkable family dynasty.
Three of his sons played for the Club, one of whom, Horace, Captained the 1st XI just prior to the First World War. Horace's son John, carried on the tradition becoming 1st XI Captain in the fifties, and later President. His wife, Doreen, was an active tennis member and his son Nick played cricket through the seventies and eighties, to establish a century of family involvement.
With property development around the ground increasing rapidly, the year 1905 marked a crisis in the life of the Club. Faced with the expiry of the lease, it seemed the Club would disappear, but fresh support arose from the new local residents and Mr. Forster lent his aid by prolonging the lease for five years.
These years of grace saw a small pavilion built to replace the original hut, and in 1906 the Club could be said to have "arrived" when the legendary Dr. W. G. Grace brought his London Counties XI to Penerley Road, as the ground location was now known.
This became an annual fixture and the highlight of the season and on at least one occasion, "W.G was accompanied by his great friend W. L Murdoch, the Australian Test Captain of the eighteen-eighties. To this day, a treasured memento is a yellowed photograph of the bearded Doctor surrounded by the players of both teams, dated 1907.
1910 marked the second stage in the life of the Club when, after lengthy negotiations and with once again the generous support of Mr. Forster, long lease was obtained. With ever-increasing support, funds became available to build a larger Pavilion, the cricket extended, new fencing and the laying of tennis courts. The arrival of tennis as the second major activity of the Club led to another change of name to "Catford Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club".
Benefit Match to J.E. Tompsett (Proffessional) - London County CC v Catford CC August 5th 1907
It was in these pre-1914 years that playing links with Catford Bridge Rugby Club were first established, which continued into the twenties and thirties, with many members belonging to both clubs.
Progress was slowed but not halted by the First 1,Vorld War, when the Club continued to function as well as possible in the circumstances.
After 1918, there began the great post-war boom in sport, and in the early twenties, a waiting list for membership was necessary. Cricket flourished with five sides being fielded and a second ground was rented in nearby Bromley Road (adjacent to the site of what is now Catford Police Station) to cater for the 3rd and 4th Xls. This ground was also the home of Catford Bridge Rugby Club until building development forced a move to Hayes and the eventual change of name to Bromley Rugby Club, as it is today.
In 1924, Sunday cricket was introduced and two teams were fielded.
In 1925, a new lease was signed incorporating an offer of the freehold for £7,500. The Committee of the day decided that the Club could not afford the outlay and turned down the offer. If only those members could have looked forty-five years into the future and foreseen the consequences of that decision.
Among those who became members in the twenties were George Watson and Billy Warnes, both amateur football internationals. Subsequently, Watson became a professional cricketer with Kent and Leicestershire and Warnes a professional footballer with Arsenal.
It was in 1924 that a young man playing at Penerley Road for Kent Club and Ground scored his 'maiden' century for the County. Not a particularly significant event but that young man was to become the most prolific wicketkeeper [batsman of all time. His name—Leslie Ames.
The late twenties [and early thirties saw an influx of several fine cricketers, all of whom had established reputations with Honor Oak C.C.These included Laurie Thompson—later to become Club Captain, Andrew Kempton—a Surrey Il player who in 1946 became the first post-war Club President, Bill Gracey—a prolific scoring opening bat and Reg Henty—whose aggressive hitting was already a byeword in Club Cricket circles. The reasons behind this exodus from Honor Oak are now lost in the mists of time.
In 1930, the Pavilion was enlarged and a "luxury" fitting was installed—cold showers! In 1931, at the instigation of Andrew Kempton, the New Zealand touring side played at Penerley Road in a game to boost Club funds. During this decade, many very popular Benefit
Matches for County professionals were played and amongst those who appeared were Jack Hobbs, Maurice Nicholls, Tom Shepherd, Frank Woolle and Leslie Ames. In these pre-Sunday League days, large crowds turned out to watch and express their appreciation.
The 'thirties' is recalled as an era of high-scoring and big-hitting batsmen, none more so than Reg Henty. In 1938, playing for the Barristers' Clerks against the Bar at the Oval, he scored a double century before lunch. Such was his ability, that in 1945 he played at Lords for the Central Mediterranean Forces XI and was the only member of that team not to have been a full-time first-class cricketer in pre-war days.
View of Pavillion, Penerley Road - Circa 1935
Among other outstanding players of the period were Bill Gleave, Archie Perry, Ken Mackintosh— a leg break bowler who could have walked into most County sides had he chosen to make a cricket career—and Bob Meikle, later to become a long Secretary and then President.
The outbreak of war in 1939 soon took the younger members away but cricket continued during 1940 until September when a direct hit by a German bomb destroyed the Pavilion with the loss of life. This tragic event effectively finished playing for the duration; but for members not in Forces or on leave, our friends at Catford Wanderers offered hospitality and playing facilities and many members had occasion to be grateful to the Wanderers during those grim years.
Fortunately, there was a nucleus of older members who maintained a skeleton organisation and did what they could to keep the Club alive. Amongst other things, the ground was used by the Air Training Corps, and this allowed a petrol ration to keep the grass under control. The northwest corner of the ground was the site of a large emergency water tank for use during air raids.
Members returning from the forces in 1946 were confronted by the daunting sight of a rough field with no sign of a cricket square, ruined tennis courts, no fences, no pavilion and the above-mentioned water tank. Nevertheless, at a special meeting held in the Private Banks Pavilion, Catford, in March it was resolved to re-start the Club. The pre-war Groundsman, Ernest Coombes, was re-engaged and many members spent their demob leave erecting fencing and clearing the ground. In May, cricket commenced once more.
Initially, changing accommodation was made available in the big Victorian house backing onto the ground (now the site of the rebuilt St. Lawrence's Church). The 1st XI Captain for that first season was Freddie Sayers, a partner in local Estate Agents, Stanley Prior, and he negotiated the purchase of an ex-War Office pre-fab which was transported from Dartford and erected on the foundations of the old Pavilion later that year. Although intended as a temporary measure, this building was to serve the Club for eleven years. A new lease was obtained and the Club entered the third phase of its life.
In due course, the emergency water tank was removed and the tennis courts re-laid so that the tennis section could be revived.
A potential new member, still in the Army and bought to that special meeting in March by a member at whose home he was lodging, described himself as an off-break bowler and batsman. Joining the Club, he played throughout that first season with marked success and then through the recommendation of Andrew Kempton, accepted professional terms with Surrey. Ten years later he accomplished a feat never likely to be beaten, or even equalled when he claimed 19 wickets in a Test Match against Australia. He was, of course, Jim Laker.
Other well-known names who played for the Club in the decade or so after the war were Arthur Phebey, subsequently to become Kent's opening batsman, Leslie Todd—after retirement from Kent, South African, Dick Cheetham, brother of Test Captain Jack Cheetham, and Geoff Chubb, later to become President of the South African Cricket Board.
The late forties and fifties was the era of popular Sunday Benefit Matches against County sides. Arising from a war-time friendship between Notts and England opener Walter Keeton, and Club Captain Pat Thompson, the full Notts County XI came to Penerley Road on the August Bank Holiday Sunday in 1946. So successful was this match that it was repeated in 1947 and continued for several years after that. An abiding memory is of a majestic 166 by Joe Hardstaff in 1951. Not to be outshone in this company was our opening batsman, Albert Penfold, always remembered for centuries against the County in 1946 and again in 1947.
Catford Cricket Club - 1st XI 1946
E.O Rand (Umpire), P.M.J Thompson, D.D. Harris, J.C. Laker, J.R.H French, F. Hurst, A. Goater, R.H Rees (Umpire)
D.K. Mackintosh, A.W Penfold, F.G. Sayers, A.E Cottrell, W.J. Tidswell (Captain)
In 1951 Dudley Nourse, Captain of the touring South African side, and several of his team played a match against the Club and Nourse used the occasion to test a forearm, broken in the first Test that year. He was very satisfied with the result as he scored an immaculate century.
Kent continued their pre-war association with the Club and Benefit Matches were staged for Leslie Ames, George Watson (then with Leicester) Leslie Todd and Doug Wright—whilst in 1949, Kent wicket-keeper Howard Levett, brought a mixed Kent and Surrey XI including the Bedser brothers.
1955 saw two notable events, the first being an opening stand of 241 by Club Captain Fred Peake and Syd Aylen against Honor Oak. This is a Club record in living memory. The second happy event was that negotiations with the War Damage Commission were finalised and work commenced on a new pavilion. During rebuilding in 1956, the Groundsman's shed was converted into a makeshift bar and such was the spirit prevailing at the time, that this unlikely rendezvous was packed every Saturday night.
At the start of the 1957 season, the new pavilion was still not ready for use and emergency dressing rooms were arranged in the old Victorian house once again. Thus when Jim Laker brought a virtual Test XI (including England Captain Peter May) for his Benefit Match that season, the club Secretary had to guide the distinguished visitors through the overgrown shrubbery to their very basic dressing room!
Later in 1957, the new two-storey Pavilion opened. Impressive as it was from the outside, its use of interior space left something to be desired and, designed on pre-War thinking, maintenance was a constant and expensive headache. Nevertheless, it was a considerable improvement on the prefab which had served the Club so well, and to move with the times it was agreed to allow ladies in the Bar for the first time in the history of the Club!
The last Benefit Match to be played at Penerley Road was in 1960 for former member Arthur Phebey, who enlivened the proceeding by including in this side those great comedians Sid James and Tony Hancock
If the years 1905, 1910 and 1940 were years of crisis, so was 1959, only this time it was of the Club's own making. On the advice, not to say encouragement, of the then Groundsman—whose name shall remain unmentioned—a decision was made to re-lay the square. Throughout October, a squad of members toiled at lifting and moving turves, until at last the new square was laid and left to establish. The following Spring, the Groundsman, showing considerable foresight, resigned and the Club was left to start a new season with an under-prepared new square. The result was all too predictable, and the long-held reputation of Penerley Road as a batsman's wicket was rapidly destroyed. It took some three seasons before wickets were brought back to their previous standard, and by that time some fixtures had been lost and, more importantly, some of the most promising young cricketers had departed to more comfortable venues.
CATFORD CRICKET CLUB - 1ST XI 1951
Mrs P. Mackintosh (Scorer), K.Winnifrith, J.J. Clegg, R.T. Pattison, J.A. Pearce, L.Hemans, E.Rand (Umpire)
S.Aylen, J.R.H French, P.M.J Thompson, A.F. Mackintosh, L.J. Todd (Captain)
The sixties was the time of change in the social scene, and the Cricket world was no exception. growth of the professional one-day game killed off Benefit Matches and at the club level e was a move away from the traditional home-away fixtures to a wider single fixture list. The end of the decade saw the beginnings of League et, a development which was to change the structure of club cricket—whether for better or worse remains a matter of opinion.
It was during the sixties that the Tennis section folded from lack of support, and financial pressures bought about by the introduction of football. In order to mark out a pitch, it was necessary to pull the picturesque old oak tree in the corner of the ground, which had always been such a part of the scene that it is incorporated in the Club crest. Sad but unavoidable.
Whilst this period may have lacked some of the glamour of the previous decade, it did bring to fruition the talents of a handful of cricketers able to bear comparison with an earlier generation. The consistent and unassuming brilliance of Tommy Byrne—who kept wicket for the 1st XI for no less than 35 years—the pace of Arthur Cooke—who turned down the chance of a professional career with Kent and in the 1962 season took 109 wickets in 27 games, and completed 1000 wickets for the Club in ten and a half seasons—and Len Kenny— who on one occasion against Gravesend in 1964, with 20 runs needed off the last five balls, hit five successive fours to win the game.
As the time to renew the lease came nearer, so a tiny cloud began to appear on the horizon, which was to bring the most serious crisis in the life of the Club. As attempts to discuss a new lease with the leaseholders were consistently stonewalled, it became apparent that the generosity and farsightedness of H. W. Forster had not been inherited by the company that bore his name. Then came the news—via a third party at that—the ground had been sold to the Greater London Council to rebuild Plassey Road School. The reason given was that the growth of traffic in central Catford necessitated the transfer of the school, and Penerley Road was the nearest open space.
CATFORD CRICKET CLUB - 1ST XI 1968 - EVENING STANDARD, SOUTHERN CHAMPIONS
D.D Harris (Secretary), L.Trethewie (Umpire) R.J.Sargeaunt, A.W Davis, J.N..Dummer, D.G..Bunney, J.A.Gardner, T.Revett (Scorer)
G.G.Ordway, T.L.Byrne, J.J.Clegg, R.T.Pattison (Captain), A.W.Cooke, P.D.J.Garrett
The Club's reaction was to contact every possible source for advice and help and pressure was brought upon the G.L.C. by organisations such as the National Playing Fields Association and the National Cricket Association amongst others. Whilst it proved to be too late to save the ground, the Club was allowed to retain the Pavilion and offered a lease on a small ground at nearby Abbotshall Road, a ground used by a school during mid-week. Thus the Club was saved from extinction.
The detailed negotiations with the G.L.C. were handled by 3rd XI Captain John McCaughin, who used his professional expertise to good effect. The Club has every reason to be grateful to him.
1970 was the last season at Penerley Road, on September 20th Lord's Taverners managed by Arthur Phebey and former England, Kent and Catford Wanderers fast bowler Martin, played against the Club to boost funds. Included in that eleven was actor Alderton, who scored an impressive half-century and said afterwards that had he not taken to stage he would have aimed at being a professional cricketer.
On September 27th, the last match on the ground took place. The opponents were Selsdon and the home Captain of the day was John Clegg —whose active playing association dated back to 1940 Appropriately, he it was who on that last succeeded in driving a ball through the porthole window of the house at the top of the ground feat long attempted with frequent near misses the years since the direction of the wicket changed in 1963
The loss of Penerley Road, unfortunately, coincided with the formation of Leagues and it was generally assumed by other clubs that the Club was doomed. Thus by the time the rescue act had been mounted, the Club found itself with the loss of many fixtures and no opportunity to join the newly formed South Thames League. As a means of self-preservation, the Club founded the North es League, incorporating local clubs not already committed, and in 1971 commenced cricket at Abbotshall Road.
Although facilities at Abbotshall Road were basic, the ground itself was in excellent condition for cricket. Retired Cuaco Groundsman and well-known local cricketer Jack Moseley were engaged to look after the square, and there was no probing producing good wickets. The biggest handicap was the small size of the ground itself, and although surrounded by a 9ft. wire fence, balls were frequently hit into the street or gardens. Understandably, local residents did not appreciate cricket balls through the windows of their houses or parked cars, and inevitably friction arose from time to time.
Despite the difficulties, the Club continued throughout the seventies and much good cricket was played. As time went on, however, it became increasingly difficult to attract new members of the required standard and to retain old fixtures outside the League. Competition from the many clubs in the area with better facilities lured some members away, and by the end of the decade, the long-term future was subject to doubt.
CATFORD CRICKET CLUB v SELSDON NOMADS
At Penerley Road, Sunday, October 4th 1970 - THE END OF AN ERA (1890 - 1970)
Then in 1981 a lifeline was thrown from a most unexpected source. Forest Hill Cricket Club, founded in 1886 and based at Rubens Street, Catford, and for many years one of the strongest clubs in the South East, folded up for reasons which do not concern this narrative. The Rubens Street ground was shared with Blackheath Hockey Club, and Blackheath, alarmed at the prospect of no summer sport and knowing of our difficulties, invited the Club to take over from Forest Hill. There could only be one answer to this invitation and in the Spring of that year, the Club left both Penerley Road and Abbotshall Road—not without regret and sadness from the older members who recalled happy days from the past—and began a new era at Rubens Street.
The partnership with Blackheath was an immediate success and rewarding to all concerned. Hockey and cricket share much the same attitude to sport and in many ways make an ideal combination.
Following the retirement of Jack Moseley, a young assistant Groundsman from National Westminster Bank—Michael Bryans—was engaged. By the time of his departure at the end of 1987, he had transformed a rather neglected ground to a point where it could stand comparison with the best in the district and a square on which batting was a delight.1985 saw another change of direction and again from an unexpected source. Cyphers Cricket Club. founded 1890, lost the use of their main ground at Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, and found themselves in a similar position to the Club in 1970, if for different reasons. Following discussions and meetings during the winter of 1984-5, an agreement was reached to merge the two clubs under the title " Catford Cyphers Cricket Club. The South Thames League, of which Cyphers was already a member, agreed that the new Club take over Cypher's fixtures in the League. Catford resigned from the North Kent League and in late April 1985 the new Club played its first match.
In 1890 a Cricket Club—The Brixton Amateurs —was formed by two brothers Charles and Frederick Adye. After 16 successful years, they left their ground at Dulwich and migrated to Beckenham.
It was Frederick Adye who suggested that the club might be interested in using as a cricket ground some freehold pasture land which he owned in Kings Hall Road, Beckenham, which he would be prepared to let the club have at a nominal rent. The offer was accepted and the club played its first match at Kings Hall Road in 1907, which was to remain its home until 1984.
The name Brixton Amateurs no longer being acceptable the club adopted the title of Cyphers Cricket Club. How did the strange name of Cyphers come about?
There is a story, which has been passed down from generation to generation which is very plausible. It is also the only story known and has never been challenged. The story goes that in a match played in Dulwich in 1906, seven members of the side were out without scoring. Because of this, the suggestion was put forward of Cyphers meaning the Greek letter 'O'
One of the earliest games played at Kings Hall Road was against a team captained by the great all-round cricketer W. G. Grace—and on many occasions, he played at the ground with his inseparable friend Murdoch. In the early years, Cyphers entertained many famous cricketers. Archie Maclaren, the Ashton Brothers, Arthur Day, Ernest Beldam, H. E. Enthoven, C. T. A. Wilkinson, Johnny Douglas, to mention but a few.
During the early years of the century, the club played as a two-eleven club and quickly built a reputation in the Beckenham and Bromley area for playing cricket to a reasonably high standard
The first world war period was a particularly anxious one for all sports clubs. But the efforts and foresight of the Adye brothers ensured that cricket was again in full swing in 1919.It was over the next few years that the club grew in reputation and strength. The fortitude of the members was such that a modest clubhouse was erected, a Tennis section was formed in 1920 and an outdoor Bowling club sprang into being in 1921.
The success of the club was such that in 1922 Frederick Adye suggested that Cyphers might be interested in buying the freehold site. The value placed upon the property was £8,000. Cyphers were faced with a problem. wanted to buy the ground which had become their home. But how could a private club with not a large income raise such a princely sum as £8000?
After numerous meetings a formula was agreed upon: The club would form a limited company. Shares. valued at £1 each would be sold until the figure of £8,000 was achieved. These shares would only be sold to members of the club, those members who became shareholders would then elect a Board of Directors. The newly formed company would own the freehold site, which would then ensure the future of the Cyphers Club. The scheme was unique.
The company would be known as the Kings Hall Sports Ground Ltd. and would ensure in its memorandum the continuance of sport at Kines Hall Road for evermore. The idea hit snags, only 5,000 shares were sold, leaving a shortfall of £3,000. Certain affluent members dug into their pockets on a long loan basis and the extra £3,000 was raised. The Kings Hall Sports Ground Ltd. granted the Cyphers Club lease. The club would be responsible for the overall expenditure, rates, electricity, gas, water etc., as it had been in the past. The only difference was that the rent would be paid over to the company instead of Frederick Adye. The company would use the money to improve the facilities. And as the club was the company, and the company was the club things looked very sound financially.
The club was thriving, so much so that in the early thirties the company set itself the target of building a new clubhouse which would be in keeping with the status the club had achieved. It was the ambition of the Directors to have a clubhouse which would match the commercial enterprise clubhouses such as Midland, Lloyds and West minster Banks. They wanted a clubhouse which would be the best private clubhouse in South London if not in the whole of the South East.
Kings hall Road Clubhouse, home of Cyphers Cricket Club 1936 - 1984
The reader must appreciate that this decision was taken in a situation as it was in the 1930's, without any possible vision of the problems financially that this project could create 40 years later. The money was raised through donations, loans and surplus cash over the previous few years. And on 30th May 1936, the new and splendid clubhouse was opened.
It was from this period through to the late sixties that must be considered the golden years of Cyphers. Particularly the early second world war post years when the club became arguably one of the strongest clubs in South London if not the entire South East. The cricket club had acquired a second playing area behind the clubhouse and by the mid-fifties were fielding five Saturday and four Sunday elevens.
The Tennis section were enjoying the facility of eight grass courts and four hard courts with numerous members representing Kent County. An indoor Bowling clubhouse had been built in 1937 which was being used for International matches. A relationship had been formed with Tulse Hill Hockey club who were sub-leasing the ground as a home base during the winter months.
Due to the vast internal management required of a club of that size an Executive Committee was formed in the 1940s comprising of representatives from each playing section plus elected officers. The Executive Committee was responsible for the overall finance and running of the club and was directly responsible to the Kings Hall Sports Ground Ltd. Each playing section had its own committee running its own affairs.
It was during the mid-fifties that the club came up against its first taste of financial trouble. Money was needed to meet the increasing cost of staff wages. In order to prevent further increases of subscriptions, the company decided to issue a further 5,000 shares at £1 each of which 4,000 were eventually sold making a total distribution of 9,000 shares.
Many fine cricketers were members of the club during the period 1936 to 1969. It is not for this history to enter into a lengthy description of individuals, suffice to mention certain outstanding players.
John Iberson was one of the finest wrist spinners in club cricket, taking over 2,400 wickets during his career. With a best season in 1954 of 155 wickets at an average of 7 runs each.
Egerton Wisdom (Wizzy) scored over 47,000 runs for Cyphers and performed the remarkable feat of one hundred hundred. His highest score of 250 not out was scored in a half-day game between 2.30pm and 5.00pm (150 minutes)
Arthur Beardwell father of our joint President, scored five consecutive centuries, one on every day of a cricket week. Neil Small who during the late fifties and sixties had the reputation of being the fastest bowler in South of England Club Cricket. With the combination of Small and Iberson bowling at each end, the Cyphers looked invincible.
The names are endless and only by the reader appreciating the talent that was available to Cyphers over a thirty-year period, can one wonder at the sequence of events over the following years that resulted in the demise of a great club.
CYPHERS 1ST XI - 1952
F.Margham (Umpire), F.W Kettle, W.A. Dorest, P.B. Smith, J.Iberson, E.G. Purnell, N.F. Pedgrift
T.H. Jenner, F.J Kelsh, E.M.Wisdon (Captain) F.E.Brigden, G.W. Higgs
Prior to 1967 league cricket was not played in the South East of England. In 1965 the threat of the possible formation of the Surrey Championship league caused concern amongst a number of clubs. At that time Cyphers were playing at 1st and 2nd XI level, thirteen of the proposed founder members of the Surrey Championship league. A tentative approach was made by Cyphers (even though the club was resident in Kent) on the possible entry into that league. The response was favourable And the club called Extraordinary General Meeting at which the members rejected any possible entry into the league.
Within a few seasons, the Kent league came into being. Again the cricket club went to its members and asked for a mandate to apply for entry into the Kent league. Again by a majority, they turned down the suggestion of league cricket at Kings Hall Road.
The non-entry of Cyphers into one of founder leagues was the beginning of the gathering clouds. Within a short time, a large number of the better players had left the club to play league cricket for neighbouring Kent or Surrey clubs. The members became aware of their lack of vision. League cricket was spreading. To not join a league could result in a gradual loss of good opposition and quality players.
When the South Thames league was formed the members agreed to apply for entry. It became apparent in the first few years of the South Thames league that Cyphers were finding it difficult to compete. The erosion of its better players during the late sixties had left a void difficult to fill.
It was during the early 70's that Cyphers started to come up against serious financial difficulties. The club was struggling to field four sides. There were not sufficient members to generate the income needed to support their inherited 1936 dream clubhouse. It was starting to become a financial millstone.
The Executive Committee appealed to the Kings Hall Sports Ground Ltd for a solution to a serious situation. Many meetings took place to try and produce a formula of survival. Eventually, the company came forward with the proposal to try and find an organisation that would be prepared to take on the lease and yet allow Cyphers to continue to use the facilities. After many enquiries, the Company leased Kings Hall Road to the Sedgewick Group (formerly Sedgewick Forbes). Sedgewick required a sports ground for their employees to play mid-week Brokers League Cricket in the summer and weekend football in the winter.
The arrangement seemed ideal. The property would be available at the weekends in the summer for Cyphers to use. The Company agreed a 21-year lease with Sedgewick providing they allowed Cyphers to use the facilities at a nominal rent. The latter arrangement was never put in writing. It was a "Gentlemans Agreement " taken on trust. It proved to be the thin edge of the wedge.
EVENING STANDARD LEAGUE TROPHY FINAL 1953 - (WINNERS CATFORD CC)
Cyphers (Winners South) v Ilford (Winners North) at Brondsebury, 16th September 1953
It is difficult to establish whether the Directors of Kings Hall Sports Ground Ltd believed that the future of the club was secure by this arrangement. At least until 1994. Or whether they actually gave this any consideration. The relationship between the Company and the Club had deteriorated considerably over the period 1970 to 1973. The Directors who were totally different representatives to that of 1922 had become frustrated by the club's struggle to survive. The main concern of the board was to ensure that the property was maintained in good order and the overheads were met.
The relationship between Cyphers and Sedgewicks was very amicable during the first few years, A Director of Sedgewicks, John Breething (who later became Chairman of Holmsdale Cricket Club) was responsible for the management of Kings Hall Road. And was extremely sympathetic to Cyphers' problems.
A change of Sedgewick management in the mid-seventies plus very high inflation resulted in a tot change of attitude by Sedgewicks. The question was asked. Who are these Cyphers people who pay only a nominal proportion of what had become a high cost? Cyphers were forced to renegotiate their terms with Sedgewicks. The outcome was far in excess to any costs that they had previously encountered.
The Executive Committee called an extraordinary meeting and appealed to all sections rally in a last effort to save the club. At this point, the Outdoor Bowling Club decided that survival was more possible by negotiating separate terms with Sedgewicks. Sedgewicks did not use the bowling area and were not particularly interested in using it. Therefore they might be more reciprocal to a separate arrangement.
The breakaway of the Bowls Section from the overall Cyphers Club left the Cricket and Tennis with an insurmountable problem. It was agreed between the two sections that they should also try to negotiate their own separate terms.
CYPHERS 1957 TOUR
D.C.C.Scott, R.C. De-Berry, J.Cair, H.A Beardwell, W. Russell
C.Mote (Umpire), J.Guest, F.W.Parker, W.E.Wadman (Captain), A.P.M.Severen, E.M.Wisdom
A.Faulkner, A.Stevens
The demand made by Sedgewicks relating to the upkeep of tennis courts was excessive. The projected rent of £1,000 per court per annum resulted in the liquidation of the Tennis Section. The terms presented to the Cricket Club were quite clear. " You can only have what you pay The gentleman's agreement of 1973 had been forgotten. The overall estimate to the Cricket Club for using the facility during five months of the year was an impossible situation. The cost just to play cricket was excessive without consideration of outdoor nets and use of the clubhouse in mid-week. The year was 1979.
The situation deteriorated, and by 1981 the Cricket Club was not permitted to enter the clubhouse between Monday and Friday. The club could not offer its members outdoor zets or any form of social functions. And the committee held its meetings at members' homes.
The club was no longer a proper club. Members started to drift away. The attraction of other local clubs that could offer full facilities was more appealing. A drastic situation resulted in drastic action. The shareholding members decided to elect a new Board of Directors. They felt rightly or wrongly that the existing board were not making a sufficient effort or putting enough pressure on their tenants Sedgewicks to honour their gentleman's agreement.
In 1983 the newly formed board formulated a proposal which they believed was the only salvation left, if Cyphers Cricket Club was to survive. The Sedgewicks' lease was not due to terminate until 1994. The chance of the club surviving until that date was remote with the restrictions imposed on them.
Company law had recently changed allowing companies to purchase back from shareholders their shares. The scheme was to sell the main sports ground and clubhouse to Sedgewicks at the current market value and still retain the second playing area. With the proceeds of the sale to buy back the shares from those disenchanted shareholders who wish to sell. The value of the shares to be determined by the sale value being divided by 9,000 issued shares.
As there were a number of shareholders who preferred not to sell in order that the club could continue this would leave sufficient funds to erect a modest clubhouse on the second playing area. And allow the club to start afresh, trimming its cloth to suit its needs.
It was while negotiations were in progress that the Catford and Cyphers Cricket Clubs entered into a discussion about a possible amalgamation. Catford Cricket Club were currently sharing a ground with Blackheath Hockey Club but were struggling through lack of members, even though they had excellent facilities.
Cyphers Cricket Club had sufficient members to field three sides but lacked suitable facilities to encourage new members.
The decline and fall of the Cyphers Club is a tragic story which arguably in hindsight, might have been avoided if different decisions had been taken during its 100-year history.
The marriage of Catford and Cyphers Cricket Clubs has created a new era. Both former clubs are seeped in tradition and with the hindsight of their own past independent problems will grow together as one club and hopefully recapture their former glories during the next 100 years.
The Club played at Rubens Street from about 1899 and Forest Hill Cricket Club Ltd owned the ground. The Club Treasurer in 1900 was the father of EW Swanton the Daily Telegraph Cricket Correspondent. (EW Swanton was one of the biggest names in cricket journalism and contributed an end-of-play summary regularly to Test Match Special radio commentaries for nearly 50 years).
Forest Hill was a prominent Club in south London for 90 years.
The Club entered into a ground-sharing arrangement with Blackheath Hockey Club in 1958. For 50 years the Hockey Club used the ground in the winter. The Hockey members and the Cricket members set up a Trust Deed for the Freehold of the Ground in 1959 in place of the limited Company and that arrangement has continued to the present day.
Forest Hill CC rose to prominence in the 1970`s winning the South Thames League in 3 successive years 1973-1975. The Forest Hill CC First team then fielded 9 Minor Counties cricketers including Bob Wardle the son of England Test cricketer Johnny Wardle. It was captained by Graham Jarrett who was good enough to play for the Minor Counties against visiting Test Match Touring sides in the 1960s and 1970s and whose details are in Wisden. As a result of this talent, Forest Hill joined the Kent League in 1976 which at that time comprised the top 18-20 Club sides in Kent.
Unfortunately, the success was not sustained. Age took its toll and also prominent players moved away. Forest Hill CC could not overcome the loss of key playing members in the late 1970s and the Club was not able to find players of sufficient quality to compete in the Kent League. Those that remained were not able to keep the Club playing at this level because its colts and other playing members were unable to meet the heavy demand of strong opposition and Kent League fixtures involving long journeys to grounds like the Mote and other leading Kent grounds like Folkstone and Dover all of which hosted First Class cricket for Kent CCC in the early 1970s. Forest Hill ceased to play League cricket and left the Kent League. Its better players such as Bobby Duckworth who coached the Forest Hill colts moved to Bickley Park CC. The Club folded.
Richard Dawbarn a Hockey Club member and the Joint Club Chairman approached John Clegg the President of Catford CC and invited Catford CC to come and play at Rubens Street with effect from 1st April 1981. A few of the old Forest Hill players such as Roger Harris and Paul Gregory played in the 3rd Xi for Catford CC in 1981 and for some years to come. Some of the former Forest Hill CC colts such as Perry Thorn, Andy Page and Ian Hopkins also played alongside Catford CC members from 1981 and went on to play with great distinction for Catford & Cyphers CC.
In 1984 Catford CC merged with Cyphers CC when Cyphers lost their main ground at Kings Hall Road. Another influx of new faces came to Rubens Street and the Forest Hill legacy was further blurred.
40 years later we have no active former Forest Hill CC players. The photos from the history of Forest Hill Cricket Club remain in the Club's possession but unfortunately, few of the Forest Hill players are alive and around today to speak to these.
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