Teddington Town Cricket Club

[ Home ] [ about ] [ teams ] [ fixtures ] [ batting ] [ bowling ] [ contacts ] [ links ]

Originating in 1891 from members of the choir of St. Peter's and St. Paul Church. The club later changed its name to Upper Teddington Cricket Club and finally after World War 1 took its present title. Early matches were played in a field the High Street side of Teddington railway bridge, which is now Station Road but was then open countryside. However, a tentacle of the London South Western Railway system cut a swathe through that area and the club moved to its present site in Bushy Park.

Always familiarly known to local residents as "The Town", distinguishing us from our much older illustrious friends and neighbors Teddington Cricket Club, we now complete what must be a unique quartet of century makers in one small park. Teddington (Pre 1833), Hampton Hill (1855) and Hampton Wick Royal (1863).

From its birth the club was the baby and eventually the life long hobby of a well known local family named Smith - six brothers and their sister who was scorer and general nursemaid to the team.

Family continuity has always been a strong feature of the club's success. Many families have contributed two and three generations of sons to the playing strength. This still continues today, but they have been too numerous over the years to all be mentioned by name. However, just two families must be accorded a special accolade as I'm sure the majority will agree.

So back to square one and the Smith family. The sister married and became Mrs. Crisp. Her two sons inevitably played for the club. The elder brother Arthur, developed into possibly the finest all-rounder the club has ever had. A top class wicket keeper and opening bat, he also became a very accomplished spin bowler in the later stages of his career. Existing club records seem to suggest that he is the only player to have scored a double century in an afternoon game on our present ground. Incidentally he did play county cricket for Northamptonshire.

Mention must also be made of the Bowpitt family. Four brothers all born with cricket in their blood. The youngest we all know as our Fred, dedicated club man and the most competent groundsman to have tended our sacred square in all of our hundred years. Friends and foes alike all acknowledge the quality of our wicket, so we all are deeply indebted to our Fred.

Eldest of this cricketing brotherhood, the late William (Bill) Bowpitt was - at least in the opinion of the writer - the best Teddington Town Club skipper ever. Bill was a strict disciplinarian both on and off the field. He led by example and expected his men to follow him. He was also great host at the bar after the day's action had ceased. Generous in the extreme to both the visitors and his own team, Bill loved to wind up the evening with a sing song around the piano which was a feature of the pavilion at that time.

Neither World War caused the club to cease activities, like the Windmill Theatre we never closed. Until comparatively recent times the backbone of the club consisted of local tradesmen. The butchers, bakers and candlestick makers of the Borough. The immediate post war period also seemed to bring an influx of policemen and the teaching profession. Fortunately we still have two enthusiasts in the later category with us today.

These histrionics must of course mention the Wednesday XI. Started in 1920 it was phased out in 1969 due to insufficient players able to play regular mid-week cricket. Always the favourite side of the 40's, 40's and 60's the Wednesday XI became probably the strongest team in the club. They competed with and frequently defeated some of the best clubs in Greater London and the Home Counties. The Club Secretary was of course everybody's friend and confidante the late Bertram Lloyd Waters.

One of the Wednesday regular fixtures with a difference was against 'The Stage'. This as its name implies was a team of stage, screen and TV personalities managed and captained by Gary Marsh, familiar face and figure in many British 'cops and robbers' films of that time. Gary Marsh's friend and collaborator Russell Napier always has a team of well known theatrical personalities most of whom were also good cricketers. Displaying their other talents on our Bushy Park ground were such familiar names as John Slater, Cardew (The Cad) Robinson, Harold Pinter and Clement (later Sir Clement) Freud. With the advent of BBC Television at Alexandra Palace the Stage team included Macdonald Hobley, the first TV Newsreader who brought glamour to the proceedings by bringing along Sylvia Peters, the first lady TV announcer and for good measure some of the long legged hoofers from the first troop of chorus to appear on the box - The Television Toppers. Autograph hunting and camera snapping locals had a field day.

Finally, we must mention the pavilion. Originally a very primitive, extremely stark wooden shack with no heat, running water or civilised toilet facilities, getting changed into cricket attire became a work of art in itself. Tea ladies performed miracles by boiling water on a primus stove, using water fetched in buckets from a stand pipe on the outfield.

The players only washing possibility was also to use the bucket. The only light was provided by swinging oil lamps. Then a converted effort by almost the entire club membership throughout one long winter resulted in the pavilion being almost rebuilt by hand. Running water was brought in, the friendly hissing glow of the Tiulley lamps replaced the oil lamps. In its turn then the modern miracle of Calor Gas and eventually electricity.

Raising the money to build a new pavilion was beyond the means of the Cricket Club alone. Loans for such a project were only given to clubs operating on a 12 months activity basis. So after much heart searching, an amalgamation was struck with our Winter tenants the Antlers Rugby Union Football Club. So it came into being Teddington Town Sports Club, now augmented by Teddington Riverside Football Club who use the facilities on a Sunday morning during the winter season. A general management committee with members from all three sections now control the affairs of the main club.

Much renovation is currently being done to the pavilion, both internally and externally, most due to the foresight and dedicated enthusiasm of a few. A lot sill remains to be done, all of which is costing .large amounts of money, so any contribution from any benefactor will be most gratefully accepted.

Since this story all revolves around the Cricket Club's Centenary we are happily enjoying a resurgence on the field. Many new players have joined us and we have a strong Commonwealth contingent in our ranks. Good calibre players from the Caribbean, India, Australia and New Zealand are integrating happily with our own native talent. More power to all of their elbows as we move confidently into our second century.

Teddington Town