BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB

Although the Club has complete minute books from 1881 to 1939, its actual birth year is veiled in the mists of obscurity. Its birth place however, is beyond doubt. Twenty yards south of Chiddingfold Church is Sydenhurst Lane. It runs for a mile and a half due westwards into beautiful countryside. Halfway along is a large country house called Sydenhurst and the ground is situated on the other side of the road from the house. The nostalgic pilgrim can be in no doubt that he has arrived because the ground is surrounded by attractive properties, bearing the Club's name, which must constitute a postman's nightmare - Sydenhurst Cottage, Sydenhurst House, Lower Sydenhurst and Sydenhurst Farm. There is a large attractive wooden Victorian Pavilion, similar to those which used to stand at Betchworth and Petersfield, but now are something of a rarity. It is now used as a barn and cattle shed. The ground is flat. It is in a perfect setting and is similar in size to the Hampshire Hogs' ground at Warnford. In the early part of the second World War it was ploughed up as part of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign. The wicket was never re-laid although, for several years, the Club retained an option to return by paying a peppercorn rent. Unable to afford the cost of re-laying its own wicket, Sydenhurst was obliged, through the medium of F. T. Gauntlett, for many years a prime mover in local cricketing affairs, to apply to those sides who used to play Sydenhurst before the war, for permission to play them "away". Thus the Ramblers were born. The Club's character owes something to its unusual constitution. Once described unkindly as a self perpetuating oligarchy, the Ramblers have no written rules and never hold a meeting. The Club's officials tend to come and go either by organic growth or natural attrition. One of the unique features of the Club is that it has complete records. Between 1946 and 1975 it played 894 matches; won 359; drew 293; lost 241 and tied 1.

The most significant individual batting performances are:-
                                  

The Ramblers' highest score in a single innings was at Mitcham in 1972 when they scored 315 for 5, in 2 hours 52 minutes. The greatest number of runs ever recorded in a single Ramblers match was at the County Ground,.Southampton in 1970 when 595 runs were scored in the day.
Last season, the Club played 35 games, won 14, drew 11, and lost 10. The finest batting performance was Andy Meads' 151 not out, against the Old Blues; and the finest bowling performance was Len Sanderson's 17 overs, 5 maidens, 8 wickets for 32 runs, against Reading. N. J. Harper had a batting average of 78.8 in 7 completed innings and M. Wiseman had an average of 55.13 in 19 completed innings.
The Club's philosophy is to recruit and retain the finest cricketers in the area; always to field the strongest side available on the day; and to up-grade continually the calibre of fixtures. The latter aspect still requires considerable attention.
From time to time, the Club has amused itself playing football in the winter months. It had a joint golf society with Brook CC and played at the West Surrey Golf Club. It still has a hockey club, which was founded in 1962, and which has played 240 matches; won 113; lost 84; drawn 42; abandoned 1. Goals - for 600; against 415.
The Club plays its home matches at Woolmer Hill, which is an excellent ground with a very competent groundsman. However, there could be no more exciting objective than that Sydenhurst should eventually return to its rightful birth place and have a permanent repository, in the form of a club house, for all its records, photographs, mementos and souvenirs.

The Ramblers' highest score in a single innings was at Mitcham in 1972 when they scored 315 for 5, in 2 hours 52 minutes. The greatest number of runs ever recorded in a single Ramblers match was at the County Ground,.Southampton in 1970 when 595 runs were scored in the day.
Last season, the Club played 35 games, won 14, drew 11, and lost 10. The finest batting performance was Andy Meads' 151 not out, against the Old Blues; and the finest bowling performance was Len Sanderson's 17 overs, 5 maidens, 8 wickets for 32 runs, against Reading. N. J. Harper had a batting average of 78.8 in 7 completed innings and M. Wiseman had an average of 55.13 in 19 completed innings.
The Club's philosophy is to recruit and retain the finest cricketers in the area; always to field the strongest side available on the day; and to up-grade continually the calibre of fixtures. The latter aspect still requires considerable attention.
From time to time, the Club has amused itself playing football in the winter months. It had a joint golf society with Brook CC and played at the West Surrey Golf Club. It still has a hockey club, which was founded in 1962, and which has played 240 matches; won 113; lost 84; drawn 42; abandoned 1. Goals - for 600; against 415.
The Club plays its home matches at Woolmer Hill, which is an excellent ground with a very competent groundsman. However, there could be no more exciting objective than that Sydenhurst should eventually return to its rightful birth place and have a permanent repository, in the form of a club house, for all its records, photographs, mementos and souvenirs.