The Ancient Mariners are a wandering cricket side based around the Surrey / Sussex borders – although we are not afraid of the odd venture into Kent or Hampshire – or even Norfolk if the mood takes. We play Sunday friendly village cricket – although sometimes on a Saturday. The team can be made up of players of all abilities and ages (10 – 70 would be an ideal spread). Some players have 50+ seasons under their belts and others may have been drafted in just for the day. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to have fun – no matter what “Mother Cricket” is always the winner and the ultimate leveller.
Meeting in the local pub before and after the game and enjoying tea are just as important as the cricket matches. Likewise annual dinners, social gatherings, committee meetings and the AGM are also crucial in sustaining the club and the joy (and at times despair, no doubt) it has brought to all associated with it over the last seventy plus years.
“…the quintessential Englishness of the game and of the delightful places where we play it. Characteristic too, is our organisation; mercifully unpretentious, haphazard perhaps, but never quite falling apart…” Michael Spratt, writing as President in 1997
Founded in 1948 the history of our illustrious club and its shenanigans heads in some strange directions at times but by dipping into the archives and tying up some frayed ends we’ll try to give a feel the club and it’s story. Acknowledgments obviously extend to all of our founders, members, players, opponents, scorers, tea ladies, publicans and families that have served the club, but special mention should go to those who have kept the records and tales of this shambles in some order for the last 60 years. Dick Holmes, Ant Hook, Pat Moorhead, Jake Holmes & John Hook being I think suitable chief suspects and it is their work that makes up the bulk of these sections.
The AMCC will shortly be starting it's 38th season; the Club's existence has at times been precarious, but it has survived, Few of the early members are now active, and it has occurred to me that some reminiscences of the Founding of the Club and its early days may be worth recording before they are lost in the mist of time and alcohol.- It is believed that the first Mariner dinner was held on 19th December 1947. At the time of course the name 'Mariners' had not been thought of; the intention was to hold regular dinners, and there was also a hazy idea that cricket might occasionally be played.
- The following is a letter from Michael Spratt our then President writing in 1997 to the club. Dear Ancient Mariners, When as Secretary, I sent out my first club circular in March 1955 I wrote: “...snow is falling outside, and the villages, whose names for all mariners are redolent of summer and the summer game, are icebound....” a literary tone I quite failed to sustain; now we enjoy the succinct Home office Mandarin-speak of our current long serving and admirable Secretary.
- A tale from a forlorn Mariner taken from he 1988 statistics.
- Dick Holmes recounts memorable Mariners batting collapses.
- John Hook recounts his Mariners Career back in 1997 - 23 years later and John remains a much relied upon playing member.
- Tim Petzold recounts his introduction to the Mariners and the days that saw the changing of the guard from the founders generation to the young bucks.
Ant Hook recalls the much told tale of his Indian balls. A story that remains a firm favourite of many a senior mariner! On a business trip to India in October 1988 I decided to enquire about the cost of Indian cricket balls for the Club. I made my way by taxi to the Pioneer Sports Co. (the Delhi equivalent of Lillywhites).- Jake Holmes lets us in on his secrets to keeping the good ship AMCC afloat - tips from the helm.
- An Invite to the Mariners 10th Anniversary from 1957.
- A Poem by an Unknown member...
- The most uncommon on Mariner things - A Catch?!