A Brief History of Lamberhurst CC

Jerry Woodford writes:

Lamberhurst Cricket Club was founded in 1888 by Matthew Horan, and in 1903 his wife presented the club with two trophies, one for batting and one for bowling. These show that the club continued until 1914 when the players must have gone off to fight in the Great War. In 1920 the club resumed playing, but sadly the names then seen on the trophies differ from those prior to the war. The trophies were presented until 1928, when either the club must have folded or for some reason they were no longer presented.

LCC Bowling Trophy, 1903-1928. "Presented by Mrs Horan in 1903 in memory of Matthew Horan, Esqre, who founded the Club in 1888"

At one time before the Second World War there were no less than four cricket clubs in Lamberhurst. As well as the village club, Lamberhurst Down fielded a side, as did Lamberhurst Quarter and Bayham. Four clubs were able to survive because of the then large agricultural workforce, which since the Second World War has gradually shrunk.

The present club was formed in the 1950s, and continued in the same form until the year 2000. It was based at the Chequers Field at the rear of the Chequers public house at Lamberhurst and until recent years played both days of the weekend.

The fortunes of the club ebbed and flowed throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. In early 1970 the team was somewhat weak but during the mid-70s and again in the mid-80s a stronger team was produced that acquired the winning habit. In each case, however, the team did not stay together long enough to produce a lengthy period of success.

1979. Mervyn Carey, Joe Marshall, Dick Hodges, Jerry Woodford, Jerry Sands, Bill Warnett, Colin Avards, Dave Fuller, Paul Bones, Jeff Brain, Trevor Bones

With the benefit of hindsight there were two fundamental problems that hindered the club's progress. The first was the ever-present threat of the A21 bypass, which since the 1930s was said to be likely to pass through the middle of the ground. In fact as is now known its route is quite different. However this was a real disincentive to the club making serious efforts to purchase its ground, which in turn meant that there was no prospect of building an up-to-date clubhouse. The existing brick built clubhouse was by the end of the 1990s somewhat run down and inadequate.

The other problem was Lamberhurst's reputation for producing a "sporting track". There were indeed many periods when the wicket could be very fiery and bowlers would have a smile on their faces. However, the reputation was not always entirely deserved, as there were many games in some of the dry summers when at least 400 runs would be scored in an afternoon.

1987. John Wood, Matthew Hodges, Dick Hodges, Jerry Woodford, Dave Gurnett, Chris Stansbury, Mark Gurnett, Ken Owen, Darren Knight, Pete Champion, Mark Skinner, Trevor Hawker, Phyllis Kennaird (scorer)

However the club always retained a loyal band of members who, even if they at times lost matches with regularity, maintained a good spirit. During the late 1970s and early 1980s they retained fixtures perhaps more as a consequence of prowess in the pub rather than on the field. That time in the pub was not entirely mis-spent, as it resulted in the formation of the midweek cricket league in the mid-70s ("The Chequers League"), which was conceived in the Chequers public house and continued for many years.

1994. Dave Gurnett, Terry Turk, Mark Boorman, Steve Martin, John Barnes, Ken Owen, Ian Wicks, Jerry Woodford, Ben Greene, Milton Cartwright, Mick Jeffrey.

By the late 1990s the club, in common with many others, was struggling to field a full side regularly and the standard of cricket had dropped. As a consequence the decision was taken to merge with Kilndown Cricket Club at the end of the 2000 season, since when Chequers Field has not been used. Whether it will see Lamberhurst cricket again, time will tell.

Jerry played for LCC between 1970 and 1996, but is now adamant that he has retired from cricket. His brother Sean brings his Red Dogs team down from Blackheath each year, and plays the occasional game for us. Their father Francis played between 1967 and 1979.

Footnote: It is with sadness that we record the death of Phyllis Annie (Phyl) Kennaird, in March 2012. Phyl (pictured above in 1987 and here (click) in 1985) was an Honorary Life Vice President of LCC having been Treasurer and scorer over many years both before and after the retirement of her husband Stan as umpire.