History of Waldron C.C.

The Village were playing cricket from 1757 on. They are referred to in Turners diary in an expedition down to East Hoathly in 1759 already as the lead team in the area. The aristocrats/land owners used to finance horse and carriage caravans to Chiddingly circa 1759, The Dicker (older than us, as have had some cricket for 300 years.) The wealthy batted, the farm staff bowled and fielded.

The game had it's origins in Sussex with the shepherds. The ball was a stone wrapped in wool and dyed the red of today, (the dye was always used to identify whose sheep) the wicket was the wicket gate in a fence they aimed at and the bat, the staff of their trade.

Our motto means "only snow can stop play." This is a flippant reference to our magnificent drainage and that we play through most weather but more importantly it is a reference to the history research that I did with a few others in the beginning of the 90s. We eventually found the origin of the club by discovering knowledge of its 100 year celebration match on May 24th 1857. A notice went up on the ground with the statement that for travellers the game had been called off due to snow. This was eventually found on the back of an outside toilet in warren lane. The club minutes show that the 200year celebration was delayed until 1960 when a game was played with original dress and equipment. The club was having a rough time administratively and finally got it's act together. I got a lot of information from Ray Pettit ( Life member and groundsman for 40 years) who I interviewed in a nursing home about the history and also from that we found the origins of the club cap and colours. The badge is sadly a Simmons design.

Rupert Simmons 29th May 2001