Sevenoaks Vine CC Fixture Card 2016

Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club 2016 SEASON

Kent Premier League Runners Up 2015

SEVENOAKS VINE CRICKET CLUB

PRESIDENT Lord Robert Sackville

VICE-PRESIDENTS D.J. Abbott R.N. Alwen M.R. Benson J. D. P. Bowden M.J. Bowden G.D. Burden R.J. Clout P.R. Downton * G. Durdant-Hollamby D.P. Fulton G.D. Gaston R.N. Golds W.M. Gray J.M.H Hornsby A. Iqbal O. Iqbal S. Iqbal Mrs C. Johnson C.H.A. Judd, C.B Mrs E.M. Judd

Mrs W.P.Kynaston-Jones B. Leeke A.E. Morris D.J. Morrison D.W. Notley R. W.Parsons M.S. Paterson R.G. Raikes B. Richardson J.G. Sagar A.M. Sims E T Smith P.J. Smith R.D. Smith T.P. Smith W.L. Stewart K.R. Storey C.J. Tavaré R.D. Thomas R.P. Wilkinson

* Hon. Life Member

VPs’ day 11th June at The Vine from 12:30 onwards.

We hope as many VPs as possible will come along TRUSTEE OF SEVENOAKS VINE CRICKET CLUB G. Durdant-Hollamby TRUSTEES OF SEVENOAKS VINE CLUB K. Miller R.N. Golds G. Durdant-Hollamby CLUB HISTORIAN

R.J. Clout

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: O Iqbal S Iqbal A Richardson

G D Burden A Akerman T P Smith

B Cooper-Fogarty R Parsons R J Clout

A Gibson O Durell C. Procter

CLUB CHAIRMAN

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Omar Iqbal

Gavan Burden

Winsford Woodland Rise Sevenoaks TN15 0HY

Hilltop 50A Greenhill Road Otford TN14 5RS

H: 01732 490752 Mob: 07798 780303 omariqbal27@gmail.com

H: 01959 525001 Mob: 07779 725730 gavan.burden@svcc1734.org

SECRETARY

TREASURER

Andy Richardson

Byron Cooper-Fogarty

67, Timberbank Vigo Village Kent DA13 0SN

Beech Nut Barn 6a Ivy Mill Close Godstone RH9 8NG

H 01732 823058 Mob 07535 672450 secretary@svcc1734.org

Mob 07990 567 105 byronsvcc@hotmail.com

CHAIRMAN CRICKET

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY

Shami Iqbal

Alan Gibson

10 Quaker Close Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3XG

The Pavilion, Sevenoaks Vine Hollybush Lane Sevenoaks TN13 3UH

Mob: 07766 717727 shami.iqbal@gmail.com

Phone: 07771 561 112 senior.membership@svcc1734.org

CHAIRMAN GROUND

CHAIRMAN JUNIORS

Shami Iqbal

Omar Iqbal / Byron Cooper-Fogarty

Mob: 07766 717727 shami.iqbal@gmail.com

Mob: 07798 780303 / 07771 911 253 omariqbal27@gmail.com byronSVCC@hotmail.com

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP

CLUB COACH

Catherine Procter

Richard Parsons

Mob : 07770 592 675 Junior.membership@svcc1734.org

Mob: 07793 289384 richardparsons@talk21.com

CHAIRMAN SELECTION

GROUND HIRE / HISTORIAN

Shami Iqbal

Richard Clout H: 01732 742716

Mob: 07766 717727 shami.iqbal@gmail.com

richard.clout@tiscali.co.uk

CLUB WELFARE OFFICER

DEPUTY CWO

Sandra Robinson H : 01732 883313

Vacancy

Club.welfare@svcc1734.org

EQUIPMENT Tim Smith W : 01732 749675 Mob : 07881 923281 tim@batandballsports.co.uk

Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club is affiliated with ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) Sevenoaks District Sports Council CCC (Club Cricket Conference) KCC (Kent Community Cricket) Shepherd Neame Kent League Kent Regional Cricket League North Kent Junior League Border League Sevenoaks and District Chamber of Commerce

Spirit of Cricket:

Preamble to the Laws

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.

1. There are two Laws which place responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.

Responsibility of captains The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Player's conduct In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decision of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

2. Fair and unfair play According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.

The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of: · · · · ·

Time wasting Damaging the pitch Dangerous or unfair bowling Tampering with the ball Any other action that they consider to be unfair

4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for: · · · ·

Your opponents Your own captain The roles of the umpires The game's traditional values

5. It is against the Spirit of the Game: · · ·

To dispute an umpire's decision by word, action or gesture To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance: (a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out (b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing (c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side 6. Violence There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

7. Players Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution towards this.

© Marylebone Cricket Club

CAPTAIN

TEAM

VICE – CAPTAIN

Olly Durell 07753 410233

1st XI Kent Cricket League

tbc

Mike Thompson 07742 633305

2nd XI Kent Cricket League

Steve Salisbury 07867 973280

James Page 07765 402051

3rd XI

Freddie Elliott 07753 371295 Andy Hatton 07717 442193

Kent Regional Cricket League

Shami Iqbal 07766 717727

Midweek XIs

Charlie Compton 07500 124845

Old Oaks T20 Friendlies

LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES Kent Cricket League

Kent Regional Cricket League

Alan Gibson

Alan Gibson FIXTURES

Ground Hire

Mid-week

Old Oaks

Richard Clout

Shami Iqbal

Charlie Compton

SEVENOAKS VINE C.C. CRICKET WEEK 2016 Day

Date

Friday

1st July nd

Saturday

2 July

Sunday

3rd July

Monday

4th July

Early

Late

(no game)

1st XI League vs Lordswood

12:00

(no game, but Beer on the Vine)

11:30

Lloyd’s of London

5 July

11:30

Kent Community Cricket 18:30

Wednesday 6th July

10:30

MCC

Tuesday

th

Old Oaks vs Knockers

18:00

Thursday

7th July

10:30

Friday

8th July

11:30

Wagamama 6 a side Competition

18:00

Clark Trophy Final

SVCC Juniors vs Holmesdale Juniors

Old Oaks vs Royal Brussels CC

Friday 8th July: Catered Lunch with “Kent Legends”, tickets from Gavan Burden Beer on the Vine: 5pm Friday 1st July – Sunday 3rd July The Club extends its thanks to all our sponsors for their continued support.

SVCC 1st XI 2015

SVCC 2nd XI 2015

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 1st XI FIXTURES Captain Olly Durell 07753 410233

Vice-Captain

Oliver.Durell@HISCOX.com

Date APRIL: Saturday Saturday

Time

Opponents

Ground

16 30

12:30 12:30

Tunbridge Wells Reigate Priory

Away VINE

MAY: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

7 14 21 28

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Tenterden Bromley Hartley Bexley

L L L L

VINE Away VINE Away

JUNE: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

4 11 18 25

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Beckenham Blackheath Dartford Tunbridge Wells

L L L L

Away VINE VINE Away

JULY:

Friday 1st to Friday 8th July

CRICKET WEEK

Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

2 9 16 23 30

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Lordswood Tenterden Bromley Hartley Bexley

L L L L L

VINE Away VINE Away VINE

AUGUST: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

6 13 20 27

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Beckenham Blackheath Dartford Tunbridge Wells

L L L L

VINE Away Away VINE

3

12:00

Lordswood

L

Away

SEPTEMBER: Saturday

OLD OAKS

Captain Charlie Compton 07500 124845 ccompton1970@gmail.com

Date

Vice-Captain

Time

Opponents

Ground

APRIL: Friday

29

18:00

The Judd School

VINE

MAY: Friday Friday Friday Friday

6 13 20 27

18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

Otford Solefield Slumberers New Beacon St. Michael’s

VINE VINE VINE VINE

JUNE: Friday Friday Friday Friday

3 10 17 24

18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

Plaxtol Sevenoaks Prep Orbilians Savills

VINE VINE VINE VINE

OLD OAKS

Captain Charlie Compton 07500 124845 ccompton1970@gmail.com

Date JULY:

Time

Vice-Captain

Opponents

Ground

Friday 1st to Friday 8th July CRICKET WEEK Friday Friday Friday Friday Friday

1 8 15 22 29

AUGUST: Friday Friday Friday

5 18:00 12 18:00 19 18:00

Friday

26

SEPTEMBER: Friday Friday

18:00 11:30 18:00 18:00 18:00

18:00

2 18:00 9 17:00

Knockers Royal Brussels Blackwood Hockey Club Trinortherners

VINE VINE VINE VINE VINE

The Heathens Presidents XI Ightham (Rawlinson Cup) Shoreham: Couver Walker Memorial

VINE VINE Away

Sevenoaks Rugby Club Rye Golf Club

VINE VINE

VINE

SHEPHERD NEAME KENT CRICKET LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION 2nd XI FIXTURES Captain M Thompson 07742 633305 mikeythompson5@hotmail.co.uk Date APRIL: Saturday

Vice-Captain S. Salisbury 07867 973280

Time

Opponents

Ground

16

12:00

Tunbridge Wells

VINE

MAY: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

7 14 21 28

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Sandwich Town Bromley Hartley Bexley

L L L L

Away VINE Away VINE

JUNE: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

4 11 18 25

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Folkestone Orpington Dartford Tunbridge Wells

L L L L

VINE Away Away VINE

JULY:

Friday 1st to Friday 8th July

CRICKET WEEK

Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

2 9 16 23 30

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Whitstable Sandwich Town Bromley Hartley Bexley

L L L L L

Away VINE Away VINE Away

AUGUST: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

6 13 20 27

12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00

Folkestone Orpington Dartford Tunbridge Wells

L L L L

Away VINE VINE Away

3

12:00

Whitstable

L

VINE

SEPTEMBER: Saturday

SVCC 3rd XI 2015

In action at Otford

KENT REGIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE DIVISION 1A - WEST : 3rd XI FIXTURES Captain James Page 07765 402 051

Date

Vice-Captain Freddie Elliott 07753 371 295

Time

Opponents

Vice-Captain Andy Hatton 07717 442 193

Ground

APRIL: Saturday

30

13:30

Snodland

L

Away

MAY: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

7 14 21 28

13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30

Gravesend Leybourne New Ifield Belvedere

L L L L

Away Away Away Otford

JUNE: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

4 11 18 25

13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30

New Ash Green Lessa Christ Church Oakfield Warriors NO GAME

L L L L

Away Otford Away

JULY:

Friday 1st to Friday 8th July

CRICKET WEEK

Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

2 9 16 23 30

13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30

Gravesend RF Gravesend Leybourne New Ifield Belvedere

L L L L L

Away Otford Otford Otford Away

AUGUST: Saturday Saturday Saturday Saturday

6 13 20 27

13:30 13:30 13:30 13:30

New Ash Green Lessa Christ Church Oakfield Warriors Snodland

L L L L

Otford Away Otford Otford

3

13:30

Gravesend RF

L

Otford

SEPTEMBER: Saturday

Olds Oaks on tour at Waterloo – 200 years after a certain battle.

And victorious again

All the very best to Sevenoaks Vine CC for the 2016 season The Black Boy Public House 13 Bank Street Sevenoaks TN13 1UW Phone: 01732 452192

Email: blackboy@shepherd-neame.co.uk

Chauffeur Car Services

Chauffeur Car Services Proudly supports the Sevenoaks Vine CC Charles Hornsby T 020 8249 6211 chhcars@gmail.com

Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club would like to thank all our sponsors for their support during the 2016 season

Junior Section Sponsors 2016

Club contact: Tim Smith Shop Tel: 01732 450111 www.batandballsports.co.uk 10, London Road Sevenoaks, TN13 1AJ (Opposite the Stag Theatre)

SEVENOAKS VINE C.C. JUNIOR SECTION 2016 CO-HEAD JUNIORS

SECRETARY / MEMBERSHIP

Omar Iqbal H: 01732 835507 Mob: 07798 780 303 omariqbal27@gmail.com

Catherine Procter

CO-HEAD JUNIORS

CLUB WELFARE OFFICER

Byron Cooper-Fogarty Mob: 07771 911 253 byronSVCC@hotmail.com

Sandra Robinson H : 01732 883313 Club.welfare@svcc1734.org

Mob : 07770 592 675 Junior.membership@svcc1734.org

TEAM AND MATCH MANAGEMENT U11 Border League Division 1

U13 Border League Division 1

Nigel Taylor Mob: 07887 948 464

Richard Collens Mob: 07891 654 891

U15 Border League Division 1 Border League Representatives Marcus Gavin Mob: 07894 208 699

Omar Iqbal

COACHING TEAM OTFORD

HOLLYBUSH

Nigel Langley Richard Collens Simon Williams

Omar Iqbal Mob : 07798 780303 omariqbal27@gmail.com Junior Coaching Coordinator: Mike Barber Mike Thompson Mike Wright Miles Richardson Lorne Burns

Omar Iqbal

Coaching: Club Coach / U17 Manager – Richard Parsons U7 to U9

Sundays

10:00 - 12:00

Hollybush

1st May to 17th July

U10 & U11

Fridays

18.00 - 19.30

Otford

15th April to 15th July

U12 & U13

Thursdays

18:00 - 20:00

Otford

14th April to 14th July

U14, U15, U16

Thursdays

18:00 - 20:00

Otford

14th April to 14th July

SEVENOAKS VINE C.C. JUNIOR SECTION 2016 U11 Border League Division 1 Nigel Taylor Mob: 07887 948 464 All Fixtures Subject to Change Date MAY: Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday Tuesday

Time

Opponents

Ground

10 18 24 31

18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

Plaxtol Withyham Tunbridge Wells Edenbridge

OTFORD Away Away OTFORD

JUNE: Monday Tuesday Tuesday Tuesday

6 14 21 28

18:00 18:00 18:00 18:00

Holmesdale Plaxtol Withyham Tunbridge Wells

Away Away OTFORD OTFORD

JULY: Tuesday Tuesday

5 12

18:00 18:00

Edenbridge Holmesdale

Away OTFORD

U13 Border League Division 1 Richard Collens Mob: 07891 654 891 All Fixtures Subject to Change Date MAY: Sunday Sunday Sunday

Time

Opponents

Ground

8 15 22

10:00 10:00 10:00

Edenbridge Holmesdale Cowdrey

VINE Away VINE

JUNE: Sunday Tuesday Sunday

12 21 26

10:00 18:00 10:00

Tunbridge Wells Withyham Bidborough

VINE Otford VINE

JULY: Sunday

3

10:00

Speldhurst

Away

SEVENOAKS VINE C.C. JUNIOR SECTION 2016 U15/16 Border League Division 1 Marcus Gavin Mob: 07894 208 699 All Fixtures Subject to Change Date MAY: Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday JUNE: Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday

Time

Opponents

Ground

8 15 22 29

10:00 10:00 10:00

Plaxtol Holmesdale Cowdrey No Game

Away VINE Away

5 12 19 26

10:00 10:00 10:00 10:00

Withyham Southborough Speldhurst Bidborough

VINE Away VINE Home

JULY:

Victorious Vine U15 team vs Holmesdale Mini Super 8’s Finals Day at Beckenham

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Alan Gibson senior.membership@svcc1734.org

SUBSCRIPTIONS Full Playing £125 £180 (if paid after

MATCH FEES (including Tea) All Games 1st / 2nd 3rd Evening Games

31st May)

£15 £10 £ 6

Playing: U21 / full time education Juniors, Schoolboys & Students (only adult cricket) in Senior Sides (age as of 1st April of Current Season)

1st / 2nd 3rd Jazzers

£50

Playing: Old Oaks £50

£10 £ 7 £ 5

NOTE: A £5 non-refundable levy will apply to match fees for players who have not paid their annual subscription by 31st May

Non Playing Membership £35 individual

Match fees including teas must be paid by captains at the end of each game to Andy Akerman or lodged behind the Junior Membership £120 includes coaching and match fees Bar.

CLUB KIT Club Sweaters : Baseball-style caps : Woollen Caps : Club Ties :

(Navy Blue/Cerise with Badge) (Navy Blue with Badge) (by award only - Navy Blue) (Navy Blue/Cerise)

available from Bat & Ball Sports Baseball and plain woollen caps can be purchased by any member.

Special woollen caps can only be worn if awarded by the Cricket Club Committee

USEFUL CONTACTS Sevenoaks Vine Club Chairman Vine and Otford Groundsman Vine Pavilion Bar Manager

Martin Platt Jason Carr Steve Huggett

07870 07863 01732 07930

267524 351688 453945 932188

MATCHES ON THE VINE 2016 Date

Time

Opponents

Team

APRIL: Saturday Friday

16 29

12:00 18:00

Tunbridge Wells The Judd School

1st XI Old Oaks

MAY: Friday Saturday Sunday Friday Saturday Sunday Friday Saturday Sunday Friday Saturday

6 7 8 13 14 15 20 21 22 27 28

18:00 12:00 10:00 18:00 12:00 10:00 18:00 12:00 10:00 18:00 12:00

Otford Tenterden Edenbridge Solefield Slumberers Bromley Holmesdale New Beacon Hartley Cowdrey St. Michael’s Bexley

Old Oaks 1st XI U13 Old Oaks 2nd XI U15 Old Oaks 1st XI U13 Old Oaks 2nd XI

JUNE: Friday Saturday Sunday Friday Saturday Sunday Friday Saturday Sunday Sunday Friday Saturday Sunday Wednesday

3 4 5 10 11 12 17 18 19 19 24 25 26 29

18:00 12:00 10:00 18:00 12:00 10:00 18:00 12:00 14:00 10:00 18:00 12:00 10:00 16:00

Plaxtol Folkestone Withyham Sevenoaks Prep Blackheath Tunbridge Wells Orbilians Dartford Beechwood Speldhurst Savills Tunbridge Wells Bidborough SDC

L

L

L

L

L

L

L

Old Oaks 2nd XI U15 Old Oaks 1st XI U13 Old Oaks 1st XI Private Hire

L

U15 Old Oaks 2nd XI U13 Private Hire

MATCHES ON THE VINE 2016 Date JULY Friday

Time 1

18:00

Saturday Monday Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday Saturday

4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9

Thursday

14

Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Friday Saturday

15 16 22 23 29 30

18:00 12:00 18:00 12:00 18:00 12:00

AUGUST: Friday Saturday Friday Saturday Saturday

5 6 12 13 20

18:00 12:00 18:00 12:00 12:00

Friday

26 18:00

Saturday

27 12:00

SEPTEMBER: Friday Saturday Friday

2

2 3 9

12:00 11:30 11:30 18:15 11:30 11:00 18:00 11:30 12:00

18:00 12:00 17:00

Opponents Knockers : Trounce Memorial Lordswood Lloyds of London Kent Community Cricket Clark Trophy Final MCC Wagamama 6-a-side Holmesdale Royal Brussels Sandwich Town Joh. Berenberg Gossler & Co. KG Blackwood Bromley Hockey Club Hartley Trinortherners Bexley

The Heathens Beckenham Presidents XI Orpington Dartford Shoreham: Couver Walker Memorial Tunbridge Wells

7oaks Rugby Club Whitstable Rye Golf Club

Team CW Old Oaks L CW CW CW CW CW CW CW L

1st XI Cricket Week Cricket Week Cricket Week Cricket Week Cricket Week U17s Old Oaks 2nd XI Private Hire

L L L

L L L

Old Oaks 1st XI Old Oaks 2nd XI Old Oaks 1st XI

Old Oaks 1st XI Old Oaks 2nd XI 2nd XI Old Oaks

L

1st XI

L

Old Oaks 2nd XI Old Oaks

MATCHES AT ORCHARD FIELD, OTFORD - 2016 Date APRIL: Sunday Wednesday

Time 24 27

MAY: Sunday Wednesday Saturday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday Saturday Sunday Tuesday

1 4 7 8 10 11 15 18 22 25 28 29 31

JUNE: Sunday 5 Wednesday 8 Saturday 11 Sunday 12 Wednesday 15

14:00 14:00 14:00 18:00 14:00 14:00 13:30 14:00 18:00

14:00 13:30 14:00

Opponents

Team

Beechwood St Michael's

Private Hire Private Hire

Beechwood St Michael's Sevenoaks School Beechwood Plaxtol St Michael's Beechwood St Michael's Beechwood St Michael's Belvedere Beechwood Edenbridge

Private Hire Private Hire Private Hire Private Hire U11 Private Hire Private Hire Private Hire Private Hire Private Hire 3rd XI Private Hire U11

Beechwood St Michael's Lessa Christ Church Beechwood St Michael's

L

L

Private Hire Private Hire 3rd XI Private Hire Private Hire

Kent Visually Private Hire Impaired Kent Disability Performance Visually Impaired, The Spitfires v Hampshire Visually Impaired Cricket Club in the ECB, Blind Cricket England & Wales, South & East Regional League.

Sunday

19

13:00

Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday

21 21 22 26 28 29

18:00 18:00 14:00 18:00

Withyham Withyham St Michael's Beechwood Tunbridge Wells St Michael's

U11 U13 Private Hire Private Hire U11 Private Hire

MATCHES AT ORCHARD FIELD, OTFORD - 2016 Date JULY: Saturday Tuesday Saturday Sunday Saturday

Time

Opponents

Team

9 12 16 17 23

13:30 18:00 13:30 14:00 13:30

Gravesend Holmesdale Leybourne Beechwood New Ifield

L

AUGUST: Saturday Sunday Saturday Sunday Saturday

6 14 20 21 27

13:30 14:00 13:30 14:00 13:30

New Ash Green Beechwood Oakfield Warriors Beechwood Snodland

L

SEPTEMBER: Saturday Sunday Sunday

3 4 11

13:30 13:30 13:30

Gravesend RF Beechwood Beechwood

L

L L

L L

3rd XI U11 3rd XI Private Hire 3rd XI

3rd XI Private Hire 3rd XI Private Hire 3rd XI

3rd XI Private Hire Private Hire

A Brief History of SVCC and Cricket on Sevenoaks Vine The current earliest known reporting of cricket in Sevenoaks is based one report in the London Evening Post of a match between the Gentlemen of Kent and Sussex, which took place on 6thSeptember 1734. On that occasion it was Lord John Philip Sackville who pitted his team and his purse against the Gentlemen of Sussex. The Sackvilles of Knole were among the many aristocracy of the day who matched their XIs against neighbouring estates for high stakes, which could be as much as 1,000 guineas! In 1773, John Frederick Sackville, the 35 Duke of Dorset and a great patron of the game, presented the Vine Ground out of the Knole Estate to the town of Sevenoaks to be a cricket ground forever.

The Pavilion, itself a listed building, was built in 1850 and extended in 1975 when the Club merged with Sevenoaks Hockey Club. The bandstand was built in 1894. The Club Score box was refurbished in 1993 following donations from members and friends in memory of Alan Housden, affectionately remembered as a cricketer and Chairman of the Club and again in late 2008, when an electronic scoreboard was added due to the kind bequests from three late stalwarts of the club, Ken Smart, Norman Golds and Steve Trounce.

The Club is the proud owner of many interesting items of cricketana, including a bat dating from 1745 made by the Pett Family of Sevenoaks, the first known bat maker. The Club is also the proud possessor of many fine prints, a number of which hang in the Pavilion.

During the 18th Century great England players of the time included Lumpy Stevens, Joseph Miller, William Bowe and John Minshull, who were all employed on the Knole Estate. All were feared by the famous Hambledon Club. In fact it was reputed that the accuracy of Lumpy Stevens led to the introduction of the third stump on 18th June 1777 on The Vine. The old notch stick was eventually replaced by score cards, the first of these being printed by Pratt, scorer to Sevenoaks Vine Cricket Club.

Since those early days the Club has seen five recent members, Chris Tavaré, Paul Downton, Mark Benson, Ed Smith and Alex Loudon play for England and one, Steve Smith, play for Australia. In addition former players David Fulton and Ed Smith have both been in the Kent county side, with David as Captain in 2004, whilst Ed was made the captain of Middlesex in 2008. A number of other players have held contracts with various counties including Will House, John Bowden, Tom Parsons, Maurice Holmes and Fabian Cowdrey, making a unique third generation at Kent CCC. Most recently Zak Crawley was awarded a Kent contract in 2015.

1971 saw the introduction of the Kent League, which title the 1 st XI won in 1972, 1978 1997 and, of course, in 2014, and the 2nd XI in 1974, 1987, 1998, 1999 and most recently in 2007 and 2012. Latterly the 3rd and 4th XIs joined the Mid-Kent League, with the 4th XI winning the title in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2005- the last one by 1 point on the last day of the season! In 1996 the Kent League merged with the South Thames League and East Kent League to produce 3 divisions and promotion and relegation. In 1999 the Kent Premier League was created and the Club became one of the top 10 County sides playing 2 day cricket. In 2000 the 2nd XI also qualified for the 2nd XI Premier League. 1997 also saw the Club reach the Evening Standard knockout trophy Final at the Oval, sadly losing a tense match by 2 runs.

In 1975 the Cricket Club joined with The Sevenoaks Hockey Club to form the Sevenoaks Vine Club and in 1982 a second ground was acquired at Orchard Field, Otford, to replace the much loved and much missed Knockholt ground. Substantial fund raising over many years finally culminated in the erection of the Otford Pavilion. In 1994 the Cricket Club assumed full responsibility for the costs of maintaining the Vine ground and in 2000 also took over the Otford ground as all hockey moved to Astroturf.

Strangely, the actual name of The Vine is a mystery, but possibly relates to the existence of a vineyard near the Ground in the 14th Century when the Knole estates were owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The hurricane on the night of 16th October 1987 will long be remembered in Sevenoaks for changing the whole character of the ground, as six of the famous seven oak trees planted for King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 came crashing down in the fiercest winds seen in the south-east region for 250 years. Subsequently, on the 6th December 1987 seven sapling oaks were planted – resulting in eight oaks lining the northern (lower) end of the Vine.