Mitcham CC plead to save world’s oldest continuously used venue

HUW TURBERVILL: Mitcham are seriously concerned about their future after struggling to communicate with a company called Phoenix Grp Investments Ltd, who own the freehold of the 115-year old pavilion that was purpose built for the club

^{Mitcham Cricket Club fear their clubhouse is to be turned into a hotel}

Cricket at the world’s oldest continuously used ground is under threat, according to the South London club who play there.

Mitcham Cricket Club fear their clubhouse and the adjoining building, which was the Burn Bullock pub, is to be turned into a hotel, and are urging people to support the club at a consultation meeting on Monday where the developer is expected to reveal more of their plans.

Alec Stewart has been tweeting about the club’s plight, saying: “Please RT and show your support for a fine cricket club with a proud history and we hope a bright future too.”

The MP for Mitcham and Morden, Labour’s Siobhain McDonagh, also tweeted: “No way that there will be any development of #BurnBullock site without the guarantee of a secure future for the pavilion & @MitchamCC.”

According to the book Remarkable Cricket Grounds, by Brian Levison, “cricket has been played at Mitcham Green since before 1685.” WG Grace played there; a women’s match between Surrey and the Australians in the 20th century attracted a crowd of 10,000; and Sir Ian Botham carried the Queen’s Jubilee Baton to the ground.

Mitcham CC are seriously concerned about their future, however, after struggling to communicate with a company called Phoenix Grp Investments Ltd, who own the freehold of the 115-year old pavilion that was purpose built for the club. Cricketers have to cross the A239 to reach it.

^{The club have struggled to communicate with the clubhouse's freehold owner}

Since Phoenix bought the freehold 10 years ago, a spokesperson for Mitcham CC said “they have refused to recognise the club’s long-standing lease or accept rent from us.” They added: “Without a lease they are unable to access funding or develop the facilities which would safeguard the future of cricket on the world’s oldest cricket green.”

The Cricketer has tried and failed to speak to the company, who are registered at 57 High Street, Leatherhead, Surrey on the Companies House website. Mitcham CC say they have not answered recent letters.

“Given Phoenix’s lack of contact, their unwillingness to accept our rights to stay in our historic pavilion and their total mismanagement of the site (the Grade 2-listed Burn Bullock is on English Heritage’s at-risk register), any new planning permission must include the transfer of ownership of the pavilion to allow year-round community use,” says the Mitcham CC spokesperson. “We want to save our club and continue 333 years of cricket on the green.”

A consultation is taking place on Monday (June 25) from 6–8pm at Vestry Hall, Cricket Green, 336-338 London Road, Mitcham. The club are urging: “Please turn up to the public consultation into the plans, wear your cricket colours and help us to keep cricket alive in Mitcham.”

The Cricketer has written about the disappearance of the pubs around the green.

“Anyone who has driven past the green at the weekend in the summer will see an enchanting and fascinating scene,” we wrote.

“A lovely cricket pitch boxed in by busy roads and rows of houses. The club’s pavilion is from the ground. Outgoing and incoming batsmen have to use the traffic lights if it is busy. Walking on tarmac in studs is never easy. The timing-out Law (31, allowing the next batsman three minutes to reach the crease) has – wisely – been suspended there.”

Mitcham CC play in the first division of the Fuller’s Brewery Surrey County League and have 2nd and 3rd XIs, and a thriving colts section. This season they have also started a ladies’ section.

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