‘Fiery’ Fred Trueman makes his mark
In 1952, an RAF side visited Sandilands to play Addiscombe. The RAF team boasted 8 county players including England’s new Yorkshire fast bowler, Fred Trueman. ‘Fiery Fred’ bowled from the pavilion end at a ‘terrifying pace’ and took the first 4 wickets very cheaply before being rested.

Addiscombe’s number 6, Ted Hayes, managed to get to 20 and was looking good, so Trueman was brought back on. Hayes played him comfortably for a few deliveries and then despatched a pitched-up delivery for a beautiful 4 through the covers. Trueman was wound up and next ball was a vicious bouncer which just missed Hayes’ head. This prompted Hayes to do something he would regret…

Incensed
In response to the bouncer, he turned to the score-box and mockingly signalled a ‘wide’. Trueman was incensed. He slowly and deliberately re-marked his run up. The crowd was an expectant hush as his next delivery was of lightening-speed. It was just short of a length and far too quick for Hayes. It hit him flush in the box. He collapsed, pole-axed and in agony.

Every fielder gathered round to see how he was - apart from Trueman, who took the opportunity for a rest on the boundary. Hayes was carried off, retired hurt. As the game resumed, Trueman received a chorus of boos from the Addiscombe faithful.

Brave
Hayes bravely decided to resume his innings at the fall of Addiscombe’s 9th wicket and re-entered the fray to a massive round of applause from everyone present. Trueman was forced by his captain to walk over and shake his hand.

Hayes ended a brave 39 not out and later in the bar, relationships improved. Trueman autographed the batsman’s battered box which was kept as a bit of Addiscombe folklore.

Bringing on the youth
Bringing colts into the game was a particular strength of Addiscombe and more and more players graduated from the colts sides into the seniors during the ‘50s and ‘60s. The emphasis on bringing youth through was ahead of its time and was the envy of many other clubs.

In 1958, The Croydon Advertiser wrote ‘Addiscombe are so flush with youngsters and good experienced men that they are not taking on anymore members unless they are well up to first-team standard…Addiscombe think so highly of their Colts XI they hope to increase the team’s fixtures to two games per week in the school holidays.’

Key players
Players like spinning all-rounder Mike Burrows were particularly successful. In 1958 he and Michael Woodhouse had a record opening partnership of 275 v Roehampton (pictured above).

In September 1960, a strong England XI visited Sandilands which included England captain, Ted Dexter as well as Raman Subba Row, Frank Tyson and Tony Lock. Burrows top scored with 75 and Don Oliver chipped in with 40 as ACC notched up a creditable 216 all out. Peter Richardson, Dexter and MJK Smith all scored fifties as England reached the runs with the loss of 3 wickets.

As well as those mentioned above, Clive Dring, Roy Swetman and Ron Houghton were consistent high scoring batsmen and in 1962, Croydon College student Peter Cornish scored a breathtaking 195 v Beckenham. Legendary bowler Alec Fletcher retired after taking an incredible 1283 wickets in 13 seasons for ACC.

Terry Kent arrived from the Essex County staff and added significantly to the club with his all-round skills, completing a remarkable ‘double’ of 100 wickets and a 1000 runs in 1963. Chris Whitehouse emerged as one of the quickest and most accurate of ACC’s bowlers and also got 100 wickets in that season. Mike Every was an enthusiastic and skilful wicket-keeper who took 6 catches and 2 stumpings in an innings v Walton Park in 1962.

Winning the Evening Standard Challenge
In the years before a formal Surrey Championship began the Evening Standard sponsored an unofficial League. Under the captaincy of Les Pullen, Addiscombe won the South London division and played the North London winners, Edmonton in a Challenge Match.

In the 'final', Terry Kent got 5-17 and Mahmood Quraishy 4-48 as Edmonton were all out for just 118. ACC got them for just 2 down with Burrows 58*. Addiscombe could rightly claim to be the best club side in London and it was a great finale to Pullen’s 14 years as 1st XI skipper.

‘The Hectic’ – ACC’s weekly newsletter
In 1962, ‘The Hectic’ was born. This unique institution was a weekly newsletter, produced by volunteers on a Monday evening contained match reports on the previous weekend’s matches as well as the selected teams for the coming weekend. It would then be photocopied and posted first class to all members.

Although it required an incredible amount of hard work by the team producing it, ‘The Hectic’ was hugely valued by club members. It was almost unique in club cricket circles and was one of the key factors which made ACC distinctive to other clubs. Some match reports were hilarious and frequently there was controversy over criticism of opposition, team mates or club decisions.

But the best thing was that helped everyone, whether you were in the Saturday 1st XI or the Sunday 3rd XI, feel part of the same club. And that’s priceless.

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Next instalment: The birth of the Surrey Championship 1968-1979

We have copies of the book 'Addiscombe Cricket Club: a history' available for a £5 donation to club funds. Please email AddiscombeCC@Outlook.com if you would like a copy.