The Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club was founded in 1968, initially for the purpose of running a tour of Kent and Sussex which two years earlier Teddington CC had taken over from Maidenhead & Bray CC. With fixtures against Hastings, Rye and the Mote, it was proving too much of a challenge for any one club.
The new team proved popular with one and all, and in time they added midweek games in the London area. With access to Teddington’s picturesque Bushey Park ground, they had no difficulty attracting opponents such as Stoics as well as various Australian touring sides, most notably the Australian Old Collegians, Newcastle Cavaliers and Western Plains. Then they undertook a second tour to Devon, where again they played at superb grounds such as Sidmouth, Seaton and Budleigh Salterton.
Internationally, there have been two tours to Jamaica in 1976 and Barbados in1985 – the latter saw an 18-year old Angus Fraser cutting his touring teeth. In addition to anything else he may have achieved in cricket, Angus went on to be become the first and only President of The Club.
In addition to Angus, the following international players have also represented the TVG: James Tredwell (England), Robin Browne (Zimbabwe) - although the weather meant he never made the field and remains uncapped! - David Gilbert & Steve Waugh (Australia), Majid Khan (Pakistan) and Devon Smith (West Indies) along with a plethora of State, County and Minor County players. Our long serving and suffering scorer is none other than Don Shelley, for the last decade the county notcher and scratcher for Middlesex CCC.
Those who were present will long remember the day Steve Waugh (already a regular in the Australian side) nicked a delivery to third slip against the Australian Old Collegians. An eternity passed before it dawned on the hapless umpire that he was going to have to raise the fickle finger of fate if justice were ever to be done!
Sadly the last twelve months have seen the club bid farewell to three stalwarts: John Overy, for many years the Club’s Treasurer, Roger Kingdon, once a fine opening batsman who became the Club’s administration genius after a cruel illness ended his playing days over thirty years ago, and Geoff Peake, probably England’s most Caribbean-connected cricketer who had just joined the TVG Committee.
The Club is looking forward to the 2015 season and is actively seeking new players – all we ask is that they know which end of the bat to hold (not that it ever stopped Dorothy), they are sociable and can stand their corner (and round) in the bar in the evening and want to uphold all that is good in our great game. If you are interested in playing or just supporting, please contact Clifford Pile - 07999 929 834 or email clifford.pile@ntlworld.com