Article copied from "Club Cricketer" magazine - April 1987


by Richard Campion

As well as its long and distinguished history the Guildford club has the distinction of being the only cricket club in Surrey to stage a three-day first-class game each year. Other Surrey clubs, such as Sutton, have staged Sunday League matches but only Guildford is awarded a full county game.
It seems that the earliest printed record of a game which can definitely be identified as cricket is dated 1598, and it tells of cricket being played at Guildford in the mid-16th century. This priceless document is held by Guildford Royal Grammar School, and it would appear that the land used was near where today the Habitat store and Horse and Groom pub stand. The Surrey diarist, John Evelyn, a contemporary of Pepys, refers to a match being played at Guildford. One interesting report of cricket long ago in the area is with reference to a game in June 1762, when the gentlemen of Chertsey narrowly beat the gentle men of Guildford 'with several hundred pounds depending.'
The club was actually founded in 1866 by two stalwarts, the brothers W and J Stevens, the former surviving until 1936, aged 91. The two brothers were so keen that they evidently got up at four o'clock each morning for practice before going to work. A celebrated player of that era was the Rev H.Farnfield, who despite having only one hand, was a fine lob bowler, and a more than useful bat (see note at end of article). At that time cricket was played on what became the cattle market, and is now the site of the Law Courts. The club faced some strong opponents in that era, such as C T Studd, who scored 222 not out for Horsham against Guildford, and W W Read who made 263 for Reigate Priory


(click on image to expand)
Guildford Cricket Club, first team 1986.
Left to right, back row. Norman Pratt, (groundsman), Darren Bicknell, Andrew Davies, Martin Bicknell, Simon Brown, Gary
Winterbome, Roger Hambidge, Bob Bannel! (umpire). Front row. Charles Woodhouse, Eric Neller, Tim Waiter, Nigel Pestifield, Rob Meyer.

Photograph courtesy of Surrey Advertiser Ltd

at Reigate against Guildford. For Guildford, leading players, apart from Farnfield, were T Smith and J Stevens.
The club's present ground, at Woodbridge Road, was given to the town by Sir Harry Waechter, in 1911. Cricket, cycling and military parades were included in the objects of his charitable donation. The cricket club was disbanded between 1914 and 1922, although under the title Guildford Wanderers a nucleus of players kept together and they were the driving force in re-establishing the club.
The headquarters of the club at that time was the Corona Cafe in the High Street, which was run by Frank Robson Ayres, who was an important figure in the club's history. For some years he was club president, and helped the club survive during the Second World War.
Another important contribution he made was to be a joint founder of the Flora Doris evening knock-out competition. The first final, played in 1946 was won by Guildford, the umpires on that occasion being the distinguished duo E R T Holmes and Andy Sandham.
A notable landmark in the club's history was in 1938 when for the first time a county game was played at Guildford. One important feature which helped the club receive blessing for the same was the new scoreboard and pavilion which were built by the council, the trustee owners of the ground. In the 1938 match Surrey beat Hampshire by an innings, but in the next year the visitors, Derby- shire, won the match in two days.
After the Second World War, county cricket was again played at Guildford, and without doubt the most notable game of the 1950s, the period of Surrey dominance, was the game against Hampshire. Loader, Bedser and Laker were so effective that the match was over before tea on the second day.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were visiting Guildford that day, and part of their schedule was a spell at the match.
Due to Surrey's early win a special exhibition match had to be arranged before the royal couple met the players. As can be deduced from the brevity of the match the Guildford wicket was not al it might have been and sadly over a period of years this problem continued. As a result in the mid-60s Surrey suspended these visits but these were fairly quickly resumed.
Guildford fields three sides on Saturday-two on Sunday-and there is also a mid-week side. Guildford competes in the Eve Construction Surrey Championship and was founder member of the league in 1968. Guildford won the league in 1972, helped by former Surrey fast-bowler David Sydenham. He and his new ball partner, Eric Neller, were a highly effective pair, backed up by spinners, David Crouch and Chris Galloway. While at Guildford 'Dad' Sydenham persuaded his former Surrey colleague, A B D 'Albert' Parsons, to return to his old club.
Currently Martin Bicknell, a 17 year-old pace bowler, has graduated from Guildford to the county side. His brother, Darren Bicknell, a 19 year-old batsman, looks likely to follow in his footsteps. Young players at Guildford are carefully nurtured in a thriving Colts section, organised by Brian Ruby and Rob Meyer. Groundsman Norman Pratt has encouraged the youngsters as well, as part of the splendid service he has given the club in the 15 years since he arrived, having been previously groundsman at Oxshott village. Last year Guildford provided five players in the Surrey Young Cricketers' team, which bears testimony to the emphasis on youth in the club.
Roy Brockington is the club president, Charles Woodhouse is chairman and Simon Wade is secretary. Richard' Tinson handles the club's finances, while Bob Bannell arranges the fixtures. Saturday first captain is Tim Waiter, while Simon Wade and Niall Edwards lead the second and third XIs respectively. On Sundays, Robert Meyer is first XI captain, and Vic Perren leads the second XI. Jim Gilchrist is captain of the. mid-week side. David Frith, the editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly, is a playing member and also sits on the general committee.
With such a healthy emphasis on encouraging young cricketers, the future strength and prosperity of the club seem well assured and it may well be that before too long a second winning of the Surrey Championship will be achieved to add to the 1992 success.

Ramblers have had 7 fixtures with Guildford, all at Woodbridge Road. Details as follows:

They also played an unofficial team of Guildford members raised by Eric Neller's father Freddie and called the October Gentlemen on the first Sunday in October for 3 seasons at Brook and latterly at Ebernoe, near Petworth:

Eric Neller played in 18 matches for the Ramblers over the 10 seasons 1966-76. He scored 357 runs including 104 against Mitcham on Mitcham Green in 1967. He bowled 200 overs and took 26 wickets - the best being 5-57 against Gosport Borough at Woolmer Hill, Haslemere.

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