When Malden Victoria Cricket Club was founded in 1879, New Malden was a frequently flooded village of less than 2,000 inhabitants. The 'toffs' lived on Coombe Hill, while the villagers were gathered in terraced cottages around the newly built railway station.
The Club's name was changed to Malden Wanderers in 1886 and the team had to use several fields around the village before settling on a permanent ground behind the old police station and next to the smoky Norbiton Pottery in Blagdon Road. The Club quickly became one of the centres of New Malden village life attracting large crowds to its matches and running a cricket week. The annual dinner attracted the great and good from the worlds of cricket, politics and entertainment.
Unfortunately, in 1920, a ruthless landlord evicted the Club with very little notice, forcing the Wanderers to move again, this time to its present location in Cambridge Avenue. This picturesque ground with a golf club on one side and a country lane on the other was ready for play in 1921. In 1928 the current pavilion was opened by former Surrey Captain HDG (Shrimp) Leverson Gower.
Sadly, in 1932, it was discovered that the Club Secretary had absconded with £1,000 forcing the Club to sell off part of the outfield for housing, spoiling what had been an almost perfect ground. In 2005 Malden Wanderers was chosen by Wisden Cricketer magazine as one of the 12 most beautiful grounds in England. In 2008 the Club had plans to replace the crumbling 1920's pavilion but the cost was too high and it was decided to renovate instead. With the aid of an ECB grant together with other funds, in 2009 4 new changing rooms were completed and a new kitchen and toilets installed.
Voted the second most handsome man in New Malden, the 6' 6" Archibald Rough was a founder member of the Club, its first Captain who played with great all round skill for the first 36 seasons of Wanderers cricket.
Jimmy Walker came out of the Great War determined to make Malden Wanderers one of the leading London club sides. He found the new ground in Cambridge Avenue, designed and supervised the building of the pavilion, and captained the 1st XI for 16 years, a team that in the 1930's was as good as any in the south of England.
Fast bowler Vic Ransom was capped by Hampshire after topping their averages in 1947. In 1950 he came back to Malden to play for his local club where in 1937, as an 18 year old, he had taken 103 wickets. He took over the running of the family butchers where he could be seen serving prime cuts in his MCC sweater. In 1954 and 1955 he captained Surrey to victory in the Minor County Championship.
John Cope was the outstanding Malden Wanderers cricketer in the second half of the 20th century. A fine all rounder who played for Devon, he was asked to be the West of Scotland professional after bowling them out on a Club tour. John was a leading light in the formation of the Surrey Championship and organised the Club's centenary celebrations in 1979. He was a pioneering cricket administrator setting up the first county cricket academy which he ran for twenty years at Trent Bridge producing many cricketers that went on to play for Nottinghamshire and England.
Giles Puckle, who has been driving the Club forward in the 21st century, was an outstanding Surrey Youth Cricketer and is now Captain of the Club. Giles is a mean left arm spinner in the Underwood tradition and in 2007 led from the front taking 5-48 in the final game of the 1st division of the Surrey Championship, beating their nearest rivals, Esher, to win the title and gain promotion to the premiership. In 2008 he led the team to 2nd place in the Premier League and runners up in the National Knockout Cup.
Several cricketers who started at Malden Wanderers went on to bigger and better things. John Edrich and Geoff Arnold were two of Surrey and England's finest post war cricketers. When Sir Len Hutton moved to New Malden his two sons played for Malden. Richard Hutton following his father into the Yorkshire and England teams.
In the 1970's a colts section was formed and three of its earliest members Neil Kendrick, Mark Feltham and Alec Stewart became first class cricketers. Alec who is England's most capped player, learnt about his first international call up whilst playing for Malden Wanderers.
In 1929 Malden Wanderers made 249 against a strong touring side, Seven Seas CC, Surrey Cricketer Eddie Watts scoring 61. In reply Seven Seas were bowled out for 34. Fast bowler Stan Oxley achieving the amazing and rare feat of two hat tricks in his first three overs. All his victims in his analysis of 8-13 were clean bowled.
Run Out in Tied Match Sensation
In 1964 Evening Standard reporter Michael Styles congratulated the tough approach of Scottish rugby international Bruce Davies who, when playing for Malden Wanderers, ran out the backing-up Finchley number 10 batsman, the match ending in a contentious tie.
The Late Declaration
In 1977 having won 8 of their previous games Malden needed just a draw to win their first Surrey Championship when they played their closest rivals Guildford. The Wanderers Captain, double Cambridge blue, Phil Carling, exploiting the league rules by batting for nearly four hours leaving Guildford just half an hour and 20 overs to score 252. The match was featured by journalist Steve Whiting in the Sun newspaper!
Late Night Final
At the Oval in 1995 the Wanderers fielded two future England players Ben Hollioake and Ian Ward, in the Evening Standard knockout cup but it was another Surrey and Somerset player Gregor Kennis, who won the game with a superb 108. The game ended in dramatic fashion. Off the last ball Malden needed two to win outright but one would ensure victory on faster run rate. Wingfield-Digby chipped the ball over cover and went for a suicidal second run but was sent back by in-control Neil Stewart. Even now Malden Wanderers are the only Surrey Club to have won the Evening Standard Knockout cup. It has now been discontinued.
And Finally:
On 1st January 1979 Malden Wanderers celebrated their 100th anniversary. ITN News turned up to film the game played in bright sunshine on a ground covered in six inches of snow. Malden won the match scoring 62-5 against Worcester Park's 55. A remarkably similar result to the Club's first ever game in 1879 when they beat Excelsior CC Clapham scoring 62 runs to their opponents 55.
