Cobham Avorians First XI 2007
Founded in 1928, the Avorians
Cricket Club celebrated its 75th Anniversary in 2003 but
the question most frequently posed by both club members
and visitors alike is “Who are the Avorians Cricket
Club.”
The club’s history can be traced back to shortly
after the end of the First World War when following de-mob
from the armed forces young men returned back to their
villages. Cobham at this time had only one village cricket
team so there was a need for another team.
This resulted in the formation of Cobham Juniors who started
playing at Cobham Meadows. One of the club’s founder
members was Berthil Gregory who recognized the need to
find alternative playing facilities. He and Charlie Cooper
approached a local landowner Mr Edward James Avory about
clearing and using his land opposite the Fairmile Hotel
as a new cricket ground. Mr Avory, the brother of the late
Mr Justice Avory, himself a former keen sportsman listened
to their request.
He agreed they could use the land and only
charged a peppercorn rent. Berthil and Charlie organized
the clearance of the land with the help of the club’s
enthusiastic members. The square was laid by Luffs and
in 1928 the club was named Avorians Sports Club after
its benefactor Mr. Avory.
The first ball was bowled on the ground in 1930. Ironically,
this is the ground now occupied by Cobham Cricket Club
following their recent amalgamation with Old Surbitonians!
Mr. Avory gave regular support to the club and was frequently
seen at the ground as an ardent spectator and when the
club expanded to run a tennis section, it was his foresight,
interest and financial support that assisted to build two
courts.
On Tuesday 30th May 1944 Mr. Avory aged 91years
met an unfortunate death when he fell in a bonfire at his
Fairlawn estate at Cobham. This subsequently led to his
beneficiaries offering the ground to the club at a purchase
price of eleven thousand pounds. This was unfortunately
way beyond the means of the club’s finances, something
which was clearly regrettable. As a result of the failure
to purchase, it was necessary to look at the club’s
future and the then President Mr L.C. Bullock approached
Burhill Estates. At this time the club’s Secretary
Freddie Edmonds’ wife was working for that company
and it was known that land at Convent Lane might be available!
Following long negotiations, a contract for
lease of this land was finally signed and once again enthusiastic
members along with contractors Frank Harris began clearing
the site for cricket. Members erected a pavilion and the
ground was finally made playable with the first ball being
bowled in 1948. The club still occupies the land to this
day and what a beautiful ground it is.
Ivan Bolton and his wife Sally are pictured here on the right whilst visiting the club in 2004. Ivan was one of the original players who helped in the construction of the club house at our current ground in the Burhill Estate and held the position of Secretary from 1948 to 1951
In 1949, the Avorians went on their first cricket tour
to Devon playing the strongest teams in that county. This
tour was to continue for 3 years and was reintroduced in
1962 and continued until the late 1960s.
Berthil Gregory became the Club’s president and
continued to play cricket in his own inimitable way. He
was undoubtedly the hardest amateur hitter of a cricket
ball and the late, great Wally Hammond wrote in his book
of our beloved game that “Greg”, as he was
affectionately known was, “The hardest hitter of
a cricket ball in cricket”. High praise indeed of
a club amateur who was a legend amongst his contempories.
Greg always led from the front and captained the club for
a number of years until his untimely death.
At this time Trevor Smith became the President and the
club continued to thrive under his guidance and became
one of the strongest in the South East of England with
a formidable fixture list.
The club in its 75 years has boasted some really top class
cricketers and probably top of the list has to be one R.G.D.
Willis. Bob played for the club for two seasons in the
late 1960s and displayed what a great fast bowler he was
to become. Two years after leaving the club to become a
professional he was opening the bowling for England against
Australia!
As mentioned in the Foreword, Bob introduced another soon-to-be
international skipper to the playing ranks in Geoff Howarth,
who played for the club for a couple of seasons.
Just as quick as Bob Willis was the incomparable Mick
Mitchell who opened the bowling for the Avorians in the
1970s. He was the opening bowler at Middlesex when John
Price was their number two and we all know that Pricey
went on to represent his country.
Probably the most successful bowling partnership in the
clubs history was in operation during this time. The combined
guile and spin of Gathercole and Holmes. Brian and Harry
were legendary as the left arm “Offer” and
the “Leggie” and they regularly bowled 20 overs
apiece dismissing the opposition. Brian Gathercole regularly
took over 100 wickets a season and was almost exclusively
awarded the annual Ronson Shaver award for most wickets.
I’m sure he had nearly as many electric shavers as
Victor Khyam!
Weybridge 2007 - Tony Longman and Dennis Jacobs
To be a successful spinner you have to have the services
of a good wicket keeper and Brian and Harry had a great
one in Tony “Chums” Longman. He provided them
both with wickets from balls that perhaps did not deserve
them, most notably Gathers’ arm ball down the leg
side! Tony was later to become President for 8 years and
what a great ambassador he has been for the club.
The advent of league cricket saw the Avorians enter the
Surrey Cricketers League at inception. A certain amount
of success followed, with the Club finally landing the
coveted SCL title in 1980. This was in no small part due
to the bowling of Dave McDonald, bowler of one of the most
consistent leg stump Yorkers in amateur cricket.
On 30th May 1983 Avorians played host to the touring New
Zealand Cricket Team on the opening game of their tour.
The New Zealanders fielded a full strength Test X1 against
the hosts including Lance Cairns, Martin and Jeff Crowe,
Ewan Gray, Jeremy Coney, Glenn Turner, Ewan Chatfield,
Warren Jones, Bruce Edgar and John Bracewell. The side
was led by ex-Avorian Geoff Howarth.
Hundreds of interested spectators witnessed a very close game with the tourists
just winning the day.
Throughout this period, a certain Dennis Jacobs was making
a significant contribution to the Club’s history.
Dennis occupied all positions in the club as player, Chairman
for 16 years, handyman and loyal supporter. Without Dennis’ unselfish
contributions over more than 2 decades the club would not
be in the strong position it is today.
Mention must also be made of David and Mary Cawsey. “Dear
boy” was club Secretary from 1977 until his death
in 1994 and Mary occupied the position of Treasurer from
1964 until 1996, some 32 years. Modern cricketers please
note, this type of loyalty is the cornerstone of all good
cricket clubs!
During the 1980s the club boasted a very strong Colts
Section, which was due entirely to the efforts of David
Cawsey and Jack Bailey. During this era the club enjoyed
great success in colts competitions and it was the breeding
ground for players like Matthew Jacobs, Mark, Tim and Charlie
Hodgson, Michael and Hugh Bailey, Mark Lane, Graham Crawford
and Daniel Lane to name but a few. The club owes a debt
of gratitude to David, Jack and their helpers who ran this
colts section and it is a great shame that the groundwork
that was laid is not followed by the club today. As without
doubt the backbone of all good club sides is a successful
colts section!
With the widespread introduction of ‘overseas’ players
during the mid-Eighties, Graeme Labrooy also graced the
sward at Convent Lane and had a very successful campaign
with the club before going on to represent Sri Lanka in
9 tests.
In 1987, the Surrey Cricketers League amalgamated to form
the Second Division of the Surrey Championship and the
Club competed in this Division for 11 seasons, generally
finishing in the top half of the table. The title was eventually
secured in 1997 under the astute captaincy of Andy Bell.
This however was perhaps not a good time to get promoted
to Division 1 as the Surrey Championship went professional
the next year. The players found themselves up against
the likes of Jimmy Adams (Sunbury), Reon King (Old Emanuel)
and Neil Johnson (Addiscombe) and unfortunately they were
relegated. The formation of the Premier League the following
year meant that the club effectively dropped two divisions.
Against this backdrop, 1998 saw perhaps the lowest point
in the history of the Avorians when, faced with apparent
indifference from the majority of the dwindling playing
membership, the Committee were forced to seek out an amalgamation
with Walton-on-Thames CC. This proved to be a catalyst
for change, however, as at a Emergency General Meeting
the membership voted unanimously to reject the proposed
merger, and under the leadership of the current Chairman,
Mark Barrow, and President, Darrell Hinds, and with the
generous support of Darrell’s son Jeremy, the club
has gone from strength to strength, in 2000 gaining promotion
back to Division 1 as Runners Up, where they remain.
The Avorians are extremely proud to simultaneously hold
three Surrey Championship batting records. In 1996 Matthew
Jacobs set the Division Two record in scoring 187 not out
in the game against Dorking, and in 2001, Matt Daykin,
an Australian with whom the club has had a 4 year relationship,
set a new Championship record when he hammered the Bank
of England attack for 208 not out in just 50 overs. In
2004 we set a new record for the highest score in the Premier
Division with 419-5 in 60.0 overs against Guildford.
Matt Daykin continued to play for the club having qualified
by residency and in 2002 the club were lucky enough to
to have as their overseas player Brad Haddin. Brad is an
Australian international and is currently pushing Adam
Gilchrist hard for the Wicketkeeper/Batsman slot in the
Australian One Day International side. Matt unfortunately
left the club at the end of 2003.
In 2003 the club completed the signing of Mark Higgs as
their overseas player. Mark is a left hand bat/left arm
spinner who is a regular in the South Australia state side
and made the original 30-man squad for the World Cup. He
returned to Australia at the end of 2003.
Paul Prichard, ex-Essex and England, also played for the
club in 2002 but due to Minor Counties and work commitments
his appearances were limited. He certainly made up for
it in 2003/4!
Other tireless workers on behalf of the club included
Tony Longman, Bill Murdoch, John Loose, Watkin Evans, George
Young and Steve Knight and more recently John Lane. Indeed
the Lane family has been represented at the Avorians through
4 generations with Ernie, Ernie Jnr, Harold, Cliff, Malcolm,
John and Daniel all playing.
Peter Smith is also one of its better known ambassadors
having played for the club as boy and man for 40 years
and only decided age had finally taken its toll in 2000
when he ended his playing days. Peter epitomised the Avorians
spirit, playing the game “the way it should be played” and
spending time socialising with the opposition and the umpires.
The club maintains this ethos to this day and it remains
a friendly place to play cricket for members and opponents
alike.
Ian Findlay who gained representative honours as a Surrey
opener also played at the club.
Ex-Chelsea footballer Peter Osgood also played for the
club for a short period.
In their 75th Anniversary year, 2003, the 1st X1 won the
1st Division of the Surrey Championship so gaining promotion
to the Premier Division. This was in no small part due
to the batting and bowling performances of Matt Daykin
and Mark Higgs who both topped the league averages.
Unfortunately the club lost the services of Matt before
the start of the season 2004. Playing in the elite Premier
Division however proved a bridge too far and despite the
best efforts of Paul Prichard, Aaron O'Brien (2004 International,
NSW, S Australia), Cliff Hill and his merry men, the club
finished second to bottom in the 2004 season and were relegated
back to Division 1.
2005 was a year of great hopes but sadly our cavalier
(and relaxed) attitude got the better of us after the half
way point. We rose magnificently up the table during the
first few games and at one point were challenging for second
position, however in usual style, once we had achieved
a safe position, availability took it's toll and we sank
slowly back down the First Division finishing one place
above relegation spot. Matt Daykin had returned (again)
for the season but even his game couldn't slow our gentle
slide back to the lower ranks. The committee was stronger
and more committed than ever and the bank balance was healthy
but the season ended on a low. Matt returned to Australia
at the end of the season to finally heed his parents constant
desire for him to finally attend university. The closed
season saw a concerted effort from Steve Lewis, Peter Ruddy
and Darrell Hinds and following their efforts, a strong
battlechest was put together to help us fight the 2006
season.
What a great season 2006 turned out to be as predicted!
The First X1 played some remarkable attacking cricket throughout
the season with Mark Higgs nearly completing a thousand
runs for his return season. However the whole success of
the season boiled down to the last game with Sunbury already
crowned champions of Division 1, Cobham Avorians had to
win the last game at Sunbury to gain promotion ahead of
Walton on Thames. Andy Umpleby produced a devastating opening
spell and eventually took seven wickets dismissing Sunbury
for less than 100.Then openers Higgs and Auri Basu knocked
off the runs in 10 overs without loss confirming the clubs
rise back to the Premier Division for 2007. However the
promotion meant that the club had to find forty thousand
pounds to have the pavilion extended to enlarge the changing
facilities to meet ECB specifications. The second eleven
also enjoyed unmitigated success by becoming champions
of Division 3 of the second X1 league by a staggering 37
points. So both sides were promoted and mention must be
made of the work of the cricket chairman Andy Bell who
worked to strengthen both sides during the close season.
During the close season on the run up to 2007 the clubhose
work was undertaken and grateful thanks must go to one
of the clubs sponsors Andrew Beaumont whose company Runneymede
Homes undertook the work. The changing rooms are now completed
and ready for use. With the backbone of the club now underpinned
by a very active Colts Academy run by Darren Talbot and
Peter Worth along with a very committed group of members
and parents the clubs future looks extremely bright. Mark
Higgs returns for 2007 as the overseas player and along
with stalwarts Scott Jarvis,Andy Umpleby,Steve Harpley,Graham
Crawford and captain Jerry Hinds the 2007 season is eagerly
anticipated.
John Lane |
