History of Merton Cricket Club

The history of Merton Cricket Club can be traced back to 1890. The Surrey Independent reported on the 11th July match between two locally selected teams by Mr T.P. Harvey and Dr. W.H. Frome-Young (both club members). The inaugural match was played on the site of the Fosters Engineering Works at South Wimbledon. Since that day, the club has developed and moved in many directions to its current playing status. In 1908 the club moved to its current home ground at John Innes Recreation Ground, where the local benefactor Mr John Innes provided the upkeep of the grounds through his local charity trust. Mr Innes sadly died in 1904 but his trust competently managed the ground in until 1949, where administration was handed over to the Urban district of Merton and Morden (now Merton Council). Mr Innes decreed the ground should be “used for outdoor games, especially for cricket and football and the meeting and drilling of volunteer or other military bodies”. Merton Council have abided to this agreement ever since. The ground has through the years attracted famous teams and players to its surface. In 1910 records show a minor counties championship match between Surrey and Dorsetshire ended with a 10 wicket victory for Surrey. The Surrey and England legend Sir Jack Hobbs also became an instrumental member of the club, during his organisation of annual charity matches at the ground in the 1930’s raising money for local hospitals. His son played for Merton throughout the 1933 season. Friendly cricket in the 1940’s and 1950’s attracted the talents of Laurie Fishlock (ex-Surrey & England) and those of Pat Pocock (ex-Surrey & England) who scored for Merton at the age of six and played his first game at the age of twelve. The club has also attracted foreign sides to play the game and in 1964 the South African touring side the Bloemfontein Ramblers beat a strong Merton side by 28 runs. The clubs desire for more competitive cricket was achieved when in 1972 it became a founder member of the “North Surrey South Middlesex League”. It has played competitive league cricket on Saturday’s ever since. After many fruitful years in the North Surrey league, the club moved to the Surrey Downs league in the 1980’s before joining the Morrant Wey Valley league in the 1990’s. In 2001 the club enjoy’s its only success when the 1st XI win the Division Two title. Since 2002 the club's Saturday teams have been competing in The Surrey Cricket League. Sponsorship of the club by Brooks Carling, a locally based accountancy firm, has coincided with success on the pitch with the 1st XI gaining promotion in 2006 and the 2nd XI gaining promotion in 2007. For the 2009 season the 1st XI will compete in division 2 and the 2nd XI will compete in division 4 adapted from "The Merton Cricket Club Centenary Brochure" by Chris Argyle (Merton CC Club Captain)