Sussex Cricketing Society

Sussex Cricketing Society
Name	Sussex Cricketing Society
Formation	20th century
Type	Sports club
Headquarters	Sussex
Region served	Sussex, England
Membership	Amateur cricketers, historians, supporters

Sussex Cricketing Society The Sussex Cricketing Society is an association of cricket enthusiasts, historians, and supporters in Sussex, England, formed to promote cricketing culture, preserve records, and provide a forum for players and spectators. The Society cultivates links with county institutions, touring teams, local clubs, and media, hosting lectures, dinners, matches, and archival projects that engage figures from across the Marylebone Cricket Club, England cricket team, Sussex County Cricket Club, Kent County Cricket Club, Surrey County Cricket Club, and Hampshire County Cricket Club worlds.

History

Founded during the 20th century by enthusiasts drawn from towns such as Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Chichester, and Arundel, the Society emerged amid wider movements represented by Marylebone Cricket Club conservatories and the revival of interest in county roots after World War II. Early patrons included individuals with connections to County Championship campaigns and fixtures at grounds like The County Ground, Hove, Arundel Castle, and Lewes Priory. Over decades the Society intersected with events such as tours by Australian cricket team in England, West Indies cricket team in England, South Africa national cricket team in England, and the arrival of headline players from Sri Lanka national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team. The Society’s archive grew to include scorebooks, programmes, and correspondence relating to fixtures at venues such as Lord's, The Oval, Old Trafford, and Headingley.

Organisation and Membership

Governance follows a committee model influenced by traditions found in institutions like Marylebone Cricket Club and Cricket Writers' Club. Officers have included chairmen, secretaries, and treasurers drawn from professions linked to University of Sussex, Brighton College, Hove Grammar School, and local civic bodies. Membership includes former players from Sussex County Cricket Club, coaches associated with NatWest Trophy and Gillette Cup campaigns, statisticians influenced by publications from Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, and collectors networked with societies such as Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Subscribers often live across constituencies like East Sussex, West Sussex, Mid Sussex, Adur District, and Worthing.

Activities and Events

The Society organises talks featuring speakers linked to England national cricket team triumphs, touring series, and county seasons, inviting authors whose works appear in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Cricket: A History of Its Growth and Development, and biographies of figures like Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Ian Botham, Sir Alec Bedser, Sir Len Hutton, and Sir Jack Hobbs. Annual events include dinners at venues near Arundel Castle Cricket Ground and meetings timed with fixtures such as Royal London One-Day Cup and County Championship matches. The Society stages friendly matches against sides from clubs like Brighton and Hove Cricket Club, Chichester Priory Park Cricket Club, Midhurst Cricket Club, and touring university teams from Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club. Educational activities have linked to projects with East Sussex County Council heritage programmes and exhibitions at local museums.

Notable Members and Guests

Guests and speakers have included figures celebrated in county and international cricket: past and present members or invitees associated with Ted Dexter, Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, Jim Laker, Tony Greig, Graham Gooch, Marcus Trescothick, Alec Stewart, Mark Robinson (cricketer, born 1975), Mick Newell, Ian Botham, Darren Gough, Michael Atherton, Phil Tufnell, Dominic Cork, Simon Jones (cricketer), Oliver Popplewell-type personalities from legal and civic life, and historians akin to John Arlott and Neville Cardus in influence. Visiting international guests have included members of touring squads such as the Australian national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team whose fixtures historically drew county crowds.

Relations with Sussex County Cricket Club

The Society maintains a collaborative relationship with Sussex County Cricket Club focusing on heritage, player relationships, and support at fixtures held at The County Ground, Hove and outgrounds such as Arundel Castle. Liaison has involved arranging club talks with directors, facilitating signings of county publications, and supporting fundraising efforts similar to partnerships seen between county supporters’ organisations and professional clubs. The Society’s contacts extend to coaching staff, talent pathways linked to Sussex Academy, and alumni of Sussex campaigns that included internationals like John Snow (cricketer), Mickey Stewart, Jonny Bairstow-style developments, and domestic stalwarts who have appeared in Gillette Cup and Benson & Hedges Cup fixtures.

Publications and Records

The Society produces newsletters, match reports, and monographs documenting local fixtures, player reminiscences, and statistical compilations akin to entries in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack and works by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Its archival holdings encompass scorecards, programmes from tours including Australian cricket team in England 1948, correspondence with touring bodies, and photographic collections featuring grounds like The Oval and Lord's. Publications have featured contributions by journalists and historians linked to outlets such as The Times (London), The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph (London), and broadcasters from BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

Category:Cricket clubs in England Category:Sport in Sussex