There are historical records of a Bank of England Cricket Club going all the way back to 1867, with the first recorded AGM in 1886. However, it appears that fixtures were often infrequent and the club was disbanded in 1893, with no further interest until 1908. This was the year of the foundation of the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton, South West London, and with it led to the re-formation of the cricket club for what we consider the official beginning of the modern club.
The Bank of England Sports Club pavilion in 1909
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The Bank of England Sports Club pavilion in the present day
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By 1909 the club already had three teams, and went from strength to strength featuring players such as Herbert "Stairs" Bannister, capped several times by Leicestershire when he could get time off from working at the Bank. After World War 1 normal life eventually resumed and the club entered a golden age, running four teams from 1921, increasing to five from 1935. The fine Bank tradition of touring began with the 1st XI to Sussex in 1921, with the 2nd XI following suit to Kent in 1923. Both of these annual trips were to continue up until the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939. Another annual tradition, that of a club versus a Bank of England Governors XI, also began in 1928 and would continue for the better part of a century afterwards.
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Throughout this period the club were one of the premier sides in London, with the superb facilities attracting fine opposition from both near and far. In 1923 the top three sides in the club lost only seven games out of 68 played, but in 1931 Humphrey Gilbert's 1st XI topped the lot by remaining unbeaten in 33 games played. The 1st XI would continue to dominate in the 1930s until pausing for World War 2, although a Bank XI continued to play some games during this time. Indeed, B.A Smith was to take a club record 145 wickets during the 1942 season, a record that is unlikely to ever be broken.
After the war the club picked up where it left off, with the 1st XI continuing to excel and the annual tours to Sussex and Kent resuming. Several other club records that still stand to this day were set in this time - Peter Feldwick's 10-46 against Old Elthamians in 1946, Ralph Smith's 193 not out against Oxford University Authentics in 1947, as well as John Hopwood's 2055 runs in the 1948 season.
The club remained a force on the London cricket scene, and in 1963 the 1st XI under Chris Parry (capped by Buckinghamshire) were to lose just five out of 54 matches played. During this period another record was set as Colin Parham scored 1000+ runs in a season 11 years in a row. Friendly cricket remained the dominant type of cricket played until 1971, when the club joined the Surrey Cricketers League for it's inaugural season. The 2nd XI also joined the league in 1972, with friendly cricket continuing to flourish in the 3rd XI, 4th XI and Sunday XI. There were some successes in league cricket although the club found it tougher going than previously, usually finishing towards the lower end of the table.
After the war the club picked up where it left off, with the 1st XI continuing to excel and the annual tours to Sussex and Kent resuming. Several other club records that still stand to this day were set in this time - Peter Feldwick's 10-46 against Old Elthamians in 1946, Ralph Smith's 193 not out against Oxford University Authentics in 1947, as well as John Hopwood's 2055 runs in the 1948 season.
The club remained a force on the London cricket scene, and in 1963 the 1st XI under Chris Parry (capped by Buckinghamshire) were to lose just five out of 54 matches played. During this period another record was set as Colin Parham scored 1000+ runs in a season 11 years in a row. Friendly cricket remained the dominant type of cricket played until 1971, when the club joined the Surrey Cricketers League for it's inaugural season. The 2nd XI also joined the league in 1972, with friendly cricket continuing to flourish in the 3rd XI, 4th XI and Sunday XI. There were some successes in league cricket although the club found it tougher going than previously, usually finishing towards the lower end of the table.
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In the 1970s another club record was set when Norman Ashley took 100+ wickets in a season eight years in a row. Off the field the Bank of England began to see a gradual decline in the number of staff employed, with the inevitable consequence of a few "outsiders" helping to make up the teams. The 1st XI annual tour to Sussex ended in 1979 having been a feature of the cricket season since 1921 (although the annual tour to Kent continued), but better news was soon to be around the corner in the 1980s. This would begin in 1982 with an overseas tour to Barbados to celebrate the club's 75th anniversary, as well as the setting up of the 4th XI annual tour to Buckinghamshire in 1986.
In 1986 the 1st XI under John Hodges were runners up in the United London Banks Cup and from 1987 the club regularly began to put out five teams for the first time since the 1930s. Of course, not wanting to be called the 5th XI they were christened the 3.5s (sitting in between the 3rd XI and 4th XI), and were soon regularly winning the Fuller Cup (the internal club award for the Bank XI with the most wins).
In 1987 the Surrey Cricketers League merged with the Surrey Championship and from 1989 the club began to enter three sides into the league. 1988 featured a month long tour to Australia which kick started a second golden age for the club, including an occasional 6th XI. Of course, they were immediately rebranded as the 3.75s (sitting in between the 3.5s and the 4th XI). The new found strength within the club helped Simon Tremlin's 1st XI become runners up in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 2 in 1989, promoted to the top tier of league cricket within Surrey for the first time. The club's first silverware followed in 1990, as the 1st XI again under Tremlin won the United London Banks Cup, and the 3rd XI under David Buffham won Surrey Championship (Old) Division 2. A bi-annual club tour to Holland was also started around this time.
In 1986 the 1st XI under John Hodges were runners up in the United London Banks Cup and from 1987 the club regularly began to put out five teams for the first time since the 1930s. Of course, not wanting to be called the 5th XI they were christened the 3.5s (sitting in between the 3rd XI and 4th XI), and were soon regularly winning the Fuller Cup (the internal club award for the Bank XI with the most wins).
In 1987 the Surrey Cricketers League merged with the Surrey Championship and from 1989 the club began to enter three sides into the league. 1988 featured a month long tour to Australia which kick started a second golden age for the club, including an occasional 6th XI. Of course, they were immediately rebranded as the 3.75s (sitting in between the 3.5s and the 4th XI). The new found strength within the club helped Simon Tremlin's 1st XI become runners up in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 2 in 1989, promoted to the top tier of league cricket within Surrey for the first time. The club's first silverware followed in 1990, as the 1st XI again under Tremlin won the United London Banks Cup, and the 3rd XI under David Buffham won Surrey Championship (Old) Division 2. A bi-annual club tour to Holland was also started around this time.
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1993 was to be one of the most momentous years in the club's history, with another overseas tour, this time to New Zealand, being capped by a double promotion for Simon Halliday's 1st XI and Paul Jones' 2nd XI from Surrey Championship (Old) Division 2. Particularly impressive was the 1st XI, who became the first Bank side to remain unbeaten in over 60 years. The most important thing however, was the hard work of Barry Brown in setting up the colts section, which is still thriving in the present day.
In 1994 the 1st XI under Nick O'Hara won the United London Banks Cup for a second time and Paul Jones' 2nd XI achieved their highest ever finish of 7th in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 1. Although the higher sides remained competitive in the top leagues the rest of the club entered some lean years as availability proved an issue. 1996 saw the 3rd XI relegated and decide to return to friendly cricket, whilst the 3.5s folded, leaving the club with two league teams and two friendly teams.
In 1998 the 1st XI under Ian Stuart achieved the club's highest ever finish of 4th in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 1, resulting in qualification for the newly formed 10 team Premier League in 1999. This proved tricky as the only club not to pay any of their players, with relegation swiftly following. In 2001 the 1st XI under Tim Cox bounced back by finishing as runners up in Surrey Championship Division 1, but again this was to be a brief one year stay. 2002 saw Mark Flack's 2nd XI join the party by winning Surrey Championship Division 1, which also enabled a crack at the Premier League.
2003 contained another excellent overseas tour (this time to South Africa), although this was to prove the last major club overseas trip to date. The good times also came to an end on the pitch, as a high turnover of players meant the 1st XI suffered successive relegations in 2005 and 2006 to drop down to Surrey Championship Division 3. The same problems hit the 2nd XI, who also suffered successive relegations in 2004 and 2005 down to Surrey Championship Division 2, which was no great surprise as sides were regularly filled out by players from the 3rd and 4th XIs.
The bi-annual tour to Holland also ceased in 2007, although brief respite was provided by the 1st XI under Matt Bird gaining promotion back to Surrey Championship Division 2, albeit it for just a one year spell. The influence of the colts section helped to stabilise the club hereafter, as numerous graduates of the system filtered up the club both on and off the pitch. The club celebrated it's centenary in 2008 with our first (and thus far only) cricket week, culminating with the Players (led by Matt Adey) defeating the Gentlemen (led by Barry Hoffmann).
In 1994 the 1st XI under Nick O'Hara won the United London Banks Cup for a second time and Paul Jones' 2nd XI achieved their highest ever finish of 7th in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 1. Although the higher sides remained competitive in the top leagues the rest of the club entered some lean years as availability proved an issue. 1996 saw the 3rd XI relegated and decide to return to friendly cricket, whilst the 3.5s folded, leaving the club with two league teams and two friendly teams.
In 1998 the 1st XI under Ian Stuart achieved the club's highest ever finish of 4th in Surrey Championship (Old) Division 1, resulting in qualification for the newly formed 10 team Premier League in 1999. This proved tricky as the only club not to pay any of their players, with relegation swiftly following. In 2001 the 1st XI under Tim Cox bounced back by finishing as runners up in Surrey Championship Division 1, but again this was to be a brief one year stay. 2002 saw Mark Flack's 2nd XI join the party by winning Surrey Championship Division 1, which also enabled a crack at the Premier League.
2003 contained another excellent overseas tour (this time to South Africa), although this was to prove the last major club overseas trip to date. The good times also came to an end on the pitch, as a high turnover of players meant the 1st XI suffered successive relegations in 2005 and 2006 to drop down to Surrey Championship Division 3. The same problems hit the 2nd XI, who also suffered successive relegations in 2004 and 2005 down to Surrey Championship Division 2, which was no great surprise as sides were regularly filled out by players from the 3rd and 4th XIs.
The bi-annual tour to Holland also ceased in 2007, although brief respite was provided by the 1st XI under Matt Bird gaining promotion back to Surrey Championship Division 2, albeit it for just a one year spell. The influence of the colts section helped to stabilise the club hereafter, as numerous graduates of the system filtered up the club both on and off the pitch. The club celebrated it's centenary in 2008 with our first (and thus far only) cricket week, culminating with the Players (led by Matt Adey) defeating the Gentlemen (led by Barry Hoffmann).
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A highlight of the 2010 season was Richard Kendall's unbeaten 4th XI, a first for a Bank side since 1993. Sadly 2013 was the last of the annual club versus Bank of England Governor's XI matches, who since 1928 had included in their sides numerous cricketing legends such as Joel Garner, Mark Nicholas, Devon Malcolm and Andrew Strauss. More bad news also saw a sudden drop in numbers in the colts section and almost financial oblivion, with the loss of all colts sides from u12 and above. Fortunately the section rebounded and numbers are now higher than they have ever been.
In 2014 the 2nd XI under Aaron Walder gained promotion to Surrey Championship Division 1 for the first time in a decade, although this was again a brief one year stay. In 2015 the 1st XI under James Woodroof finally ended seven seasons in Surrey Championship Division 3 by gaining promotion back to Surrey Championship Division 2.
Recent years have seen both the 1st and 2nd XI become fixtures in Surrey Championship Division 2, with the other sides prospering with increased availability. The annual tours to Kent (since 1923) and Buckinghamshire (since 1986) are ongoing and continue to provide fun both on and (especially) off the field. The midweek fixture list also continues to grow, with Sunday cricket offering opportunites to visit picturesque far flung corners of Surrey.
In 2014 the 2nd XI under Aaron Walder gained promotion to Surrey Championship Division 1 for the first time in a decade, although this was again a brief one year stay. In 2015 the 1st XI under James Woodroof finally ended seven seasons in Surrey Championship Division 3 by gaining promotion back to Surrey Championship Division 2.
Recent years have seen both the 1st and 2nd XI become fixtures in Surrey Championship Division 2, with the other sides prospering with increased availability. The annual tours to Kent (since 1923) and Buckinghamshire (since 1986) are ongoing and continue to provide fun both on and (especially) off the field. The midweek fixture list also continues to grow, with Sunday cricket offering opportunites to visit picturesque far flung corners of Surrey.
The 2015 1st XI promotion winning team
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The 2018 Bucks touring squad
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A curve ball was thrown at the end of the 2019 season, as the Bank of England committed to leasing out the Roehampton Sports Club that has been our home since 1908. A final decision on what happens to the ground has not yet been made, and during 2020 we shall be playing at Oberon Playing Fields in West Wimbledon.
This did however lead to several changes in rules that traditionally governed the club, and at the 2020 AGM the historic decision was made to allow a fully open membership, rather than being limited to Bank of England affiliates and a limited number of "guests". This reflects the fact that in the modern day the club now represents both the Bank of England as well as being a local community club. This should enable the club to thrive well into the future.
This did however lead to several changes in rules that traditionally governed the club, and at the 2020 AGM the historic decision was made to allow a fully open membership, rather than being limited to Bank of England affiliates and a limited number of "guests". This reflects the fact that in the modern day the club now represents both the Bank of England as well as being a local community club. This should enable the club to thrive well into the future.
