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About Kings Cricket Club
Firstly, many people ask us the origins of the Club badge, and the nickname 'Spitter'. Originally the club's badge was a plain crown (as seen above). Then one year at a particular game the ball kept getting up off a length, where upon some wit in the slips 'hissed' like a snake in reference to the 'Spitting Cobra'. This was also accompanied by the phrase to 'charm out' the batsman and the humming of the snake charmers tune. Then on tour a large rubber King Cobra was purchased, this snake had an open mouth which could be filled with beer, could spit at an unexpecting tour member. Hence with the adopting of various rubber (and wooden) snakes the 'Spitter' became the adopted mascot of the Club - especially the King 'spitting' Cobra. The Cobra image was then incorporated with the Crown as the club badge, linking two items that are linked to the club name of Kings, and the offical mascot of the Club
Kings Cricket Club was found in October 1993. The club was formed by like minded cricketers from the former Stanwell CC (now defunct), mainly from the 2nd XI. These members wanted to play cricket in a highly competitive, but freindly and good hearted way, without the burden of the politics that came from a multi XI club. The key was being able to play with a high spirit of fairness and team spirit, which would see everyone getting the chance to participate each week, with the high level of focus of enjoyment of the game, but also focusing a superb team spirit and morale.
After much deliberatiuon as to what the Club should be called the name KINGS was chosen. To ensure it was not confused with other clubs with similar names or based in nearby towns (Kingstonians, Kingston etc) the Club Cricket Conference requested that the name (Ashford) was added to the club title. (The club was founded in Ashford Middlesex). As such the club's formal name is Kings (Ashford) CC - this often gets amended by many opponents to the likes of 'Ashford Kings' or Kings of Ashford, but to all within the Club it is known just as Kings.
The first game was played in April of 1994, away at Reigate Heath CC. The side that day included most of the founding members along with a couple of closed season recruits. Of the 11 that took the field in 1994, 6 were still playing for the club at the end of the 2010 season. Many of the players have been with the club for many years and there are currently seven members of the '200 club' who have played in excess of 200 games. These are skipper Rob Young (300+), Richard Sones (250+) Paul Bygrave (200+) Dave Perry (200+) Owen Mears (200) Nick Tighe (200+) and Simon Pipe (200+).
The early days saw the club suffer mixed fortunes, victories were matched by an equal amount of losses. Home matches were played at two veneus, the main home ground being located at Egham Sports Centre, whilst the facilities of Old Cranleighians in Thames Ditton were also utilized. The first season was a resounding success, not so much from results, but that a full fixture list was obtained, and that throughout Kings had been able to fullfil these fixtures, whilst meeting all the objectives it had set out to attain. The season also saw additional players come into the fold, and members activlely recruited friends to play, who having experienced the superb atmosphere the games were played in became hooked.
The early heros of the team were the likes of all rounder Steve Brown, bowler Scott Hart along with batsmen Dave Miller and Dave Miah (the latter two still playing in 2009). In 1995 the likes of Martin Foster, Phil Murphy, Nick Tighe and Dave Perry joined the ranks - all of these would make significant impact over the years (Miller, Perry and Tighe are still doing so)
As the years have gone on the core of the team has stayed very much the same with new players joining the ranks. Younger off spring are also now making their mark in the team. President Dave Miah's two sons Joel and Ellis have both played for the club, as has he daughter Shannon. Joel, a former Middlesex colt, played for the club for several years before seeking fame in league cricket. The next generation of is on the way as well with both Nick Tighe's sons Samuel and Joshua now starting to make appearances and in no time hopefully the off spring of some of the other players will take the club into the next generation.
The club is based on a small squad of dedicated players, it is runs by a committee all of whom play, and as much as possible the money is poured back into the club to ensure it is the players that benefit. The key to Kings is its team spirit and willingness to play in the right spirit. If you dont adopt this ethos then you dont last in the team. We play friednly 40 overs games on a sunday afternoon with a wide range of ages (3 over 50), ability, talent and demeanour. But above all else the side play to enjoy rather than set out at all costs to win. We tried the winning everything game, all we did was alienate opponents and team mates alike. We play for the enjoyment of playing, yes, we like to win and hate losing, so we give it our best shot but above all else we have to enjoy it. We like to play fairly, by the rules and laws of the game and above everything else in good spirit - what happens on the field is gone and forgotten by the time we reach the bar - we trust our opponents to play the same way
The club has always been a tennant of other clubs. For many years it had a very close agreement with Sunbury Village CC, but when this club merged with Richmond Town CC we moved grounds to rent with Spelthorne CC. This agreement lasted two years before we moved to Kempton CC where we have now been since 2005. The club tries to play a fixture every sunday throughout the season, with around a dozen of these games being played at home.