In 1981, ACC's Eric Hicks proposed the re-start of 'Cricket Week' which had not been held at Sandilands for 25 years. It proved to be a great success and a commitment was made to organise a tour and run a Cricket Week on alternate years.

‘The Hectic’ newsletter continued to be produced each week of the season by dedicated volunteers. This unique institution was a significant factor in the strength of the club and every week ACC put out 4 teams on Saturdays and 3 on Sundays. The Saturday 4th XI were known as 'The Adders' and the Sunday 3's 'The Strollers'.

Bringing through the youth
The colts continued to be a great strength of ACC and many juniors graduated into the adult teams. Our current President, David Moore and player such as Chris Booth, Ian Windsor, Colin Sattar and Keith Emmett all emerged from the colts to be regular 1st XI players. As well as his consistent scoring, Ian Windsor broke a championship record in 1983 by taking 21 catches as a fielder.

Martin Butcher, brother of Surrey’s Alan, returned to the club in 1983 after scoring 169 against ACC for the President’s XI in Cricket Week. He would became an important player in the 1st XI during the 80s and 90s and continues to be the groundsman at Sandilands today. John Vigar, whilst still at Trinity School, graduated into the 1st XI and scored heavily and would later become 1st XI captain.

Before playing for the 1st XI, Mike Rogers captained and scored many quick runs for the 2nd XI. Twins David and Barry Lineker joined the club and became key players. In 1988, Barry Lineker topped the batting and bowling averages for the 2nd XI.

Mess
Another former colt was Brian Messom who emerged as a particularly central figure at ACC and was a brilliantly consistent performer during the 70s and 80s. A superb wicket-keeper and masterful opening batsman, he became the first player in the Championship to score 10,000 runs and represented Surrey’s 2nd XI. In total in the Championship he scored 11,909 runs and also took 277 catches and over 100 stumpings.

Brian was also the consummate ‘Club-man’, holding a number of key positions including 1st XI Captain, Chairman and running the bar before his tragic, early death in 2003. The bar at Sandilands is named ‘The Cricketer’s Mess’ in his honour.

Bainy
Equally effective but with the ball, was Martyn Bain, a skilful and very competitive left-arm seamer who joined ACC in 1981 from Kenley CC. He also played for Surrey 2nd XI and took over 500 Championship wickets for ACC. As his pace receded, his control and ability to cut and spin the ball kept him performing at 1st XI standard for years.

In a Cup match v Hampstead, ACC required 57 off 3 overs when Bain came to the wicket to join John Vigar. Together they hit consecutive overs for 23 each and easily got the remaining 11 needed off the final over. Tragically, Martyn also died early in 2007 while playing a cricket match in France.

Colts success
ACC’s Colts continued to play a great role in the club. Roger George took over as Colts Manager after Peter Williams’ long service and oversaw great success in the 1980s.

The team repeatedly won the NEC League and success in the Surrey Cricket Association Cup meant that the ACC colts played at the Oval in both 1986 and 1987. In one NEC match v Old Grammarians, ACC bowled the opposition out for just 4 runs. Adrian Coleman had the memorable figures of 5 for 1.

Two performances by colts in adult cricket are particularly worth mentioning.

In 1988, opening bowler David Tickle achieved what appears to be the best bowling ever by an ACC player when he achieved 10- 68 in a match in a Sunday 2nd XI match v Bromley. On the same day, Martyn Bain had got his first ever 9-wicket haul for the club in the Sunday 1st XI but it meant his achievement was somewhat upstaged!

Also that year, Colts captain David Liddemore was selected aged 15 to open the batting for the 1st XI. He scored a match-winning 68* in a cup match v Maidenhead and then, just following his 16th birthday, became the youngest ever centurion in the Surrey Championship by scoring 100* in a 9 wicket win v Old Emanuel.

Summing up
Peter Williams' book on the history of the club ends in 1988. He writes on the final page:

'The founders of the original Addiscombe Cricket Club, beginning their love affair with the game over 120 years ago in the then rural surroundings of Canning Road, may permit themselves seraphic smiles of pride. And the once bright-eyed lads of St Mary's Magdalen Cricket Club, who set the current train in motion in the most humble circumstances in the years leading up the First World War, must be looking down delighted and utterly astounded.'

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The story continues….
We hope you have enjoyed this serialisation of Peter Williams’ book 'Addiscombe CC: a history'. It has been great getting messages from former ACC players and supporters as they have enjoyed recalling great days gone by.

The book was published in 1990 so this is the last instalment drawn from his work. However, we would like to do further instalments to bring the story of the club up to date. So if you have any stories, stats or material that you think should be included between the years from 1990 to today, please send it to Jon Kuhrt via AddiscombeCC@outlook.com.