Wimbledon Corinthians CC, “The Story So Far”…

The club have moved into the luxurious surrounds of Wimbledon Rugby Club for the 2012 season, which hopefully sees the start of the permanent residence the club have been seeking since their inception in 1997.

The club’s origins were as the 3rd team of Morden Cricket club, however after years of seeing players lost to the 1st and 2nd teams on the eve (or even morning) of games, the core of the 3rd XI took the bold step of separating away from Morden CC and setting out on their own, under the leadership of our founding father Graham Pinkney (left). Initially the club still were using the title of Morden 3rds, but the following year formally registering as Morden Corinthians Cricket Club.

The following seasons saw the club maintain their social roots, whilst playing as a wandering side throughout Merton. The club expanded in 2000 when local club Robin Hood folded and the players joined Morden Corinthians which allowed MCCC to field sides on both days of the weekend, with the Robin Hood players becoming the core of the Sunday side.

Throughout the early 2000s the club continued to build on its solid start, aided by the influx of a strong set of local South Africans. For a while the Sunday side were literally unbeatable, remaining unbeaten for more than two seasons. Eventually in 2007, seeking a greater challenge, the club dipped their toe into league cricket for the first time.

To say the early league seasons were a success would be an understatement. The club won the Wey Valley League Division 2 at the first attempt in 2007, winning every game.

Having appraised our progress and the likely standard of Division 1, the club successfully applied  moved to a higher league, again seeking a sterner challenge for our first team. We entered Division 2 of The Surrey Cricket League. Surprisingly (although in hindsight perhaps predictably) the first team again won the league, remaining undefeated. The feat was repeated in the following season, finishing undefeated champions of Division 1 and winning promotion to the Premier Division.

The Premier Division proves a far tougher test, with the long unbeaten run being ended in spectacular style early in the season, however a fine late season saw the side again finish top of the league and secure the Surrey Cricket League title.

This success was set against a backdrop of ground problems however, as the playing facilities at Raynes Park Sports Ground continued to show signs of underinvestment and with an unreliable square, the ground was ranked as unsuitable for play in the top two divisions of The SCL. This meant that not only would the club be unable to defend its title, it would actually be relegated back down the leagues.

The desire was to promote from the Surrey Cricket League and try the higher ranked Surrey County League (Fuller’s League). However, without a suitable ground this was not feasible. At this point, a deal was struck with Old Tenisonians, a side from the Surrey County League, a side who had a suitable ground, but a dwindling player base. For the 2011 season, the two sides combined under a Tenisonian Corinthians banner, with our first team taking part in the Surrey County League alongside the existing Old Tenisonians side.

This proved a partial success, a both teams finished in respectable midtable positions in the Surrey County League. However, with the remaining 3rd and 4th teams playing at RPSG and no sign of the pitch and outfields improving, along with signs of the circumstances which had caused the split from the original Morden club (continual poaching of players to higher sides, with little movement in the opposite direction), it was increasingly clear a change in structure was needed.

It was agreed with heavy hearts in late 2011 that the club would split along the informal lines which had developed during the season, the all conquering Corinthian first team would formally become a part of Old Tenisonians, with the remaining sides returning to the Wimbledon Corinthians banner. This allowed our first team to play cricket at the standard they desired, while also allowing WCCC to restructure itself closer to its Corinthians ideals, rather than as a feeder club for a club we had little relationship or interaction with. The core of the WCCC side remained strong, highlighted by the Sunday side winning the 2nd division of the Thameside Sunday League and in the process being promoted to the 1st division. The Sunday side had moved into league cricket the year before and finished just below the promotion places, but managed to take the title thanks to a nerve shredding one run win in their final game.

In the background, moves were being made to find a more appropriate, longer term home. With years of renting council pitches behind us this was a venture into the unknown. We were fortunate that a chance umpiring stint at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club brought their ground to our attention. Lengthy negotiations over the close season eventually came to fruition and we have agreed to move into our new home for the start of the 2012 season. We start the season with 15 years of experience behind us, a Saturday first team competing at a decent standard within the Surrey Leagues, a welcoming social side below it and a strong Sunday league side. The future looks bright, so long as we do not forget our past and instead embrace it and use it to guide our future.