For the first time in decades, Southwark Park will host competitive league cricket matches this year.
The Southwark Park Cricket Club (SPCC) will welcome the Surrey Cricket League to Bermondsey this summer.
Southwark Council’s Olympic Legacy fund has spent £25k to rehabilitate the outfield on the historic Southwark Park Oval, due to open in May 2025.
This includes over 160 tonnes of new earth added to make the surface flatter and safer and the area has been fenced off until the league season commences in May.
After decades of neglect, the outfield will be restored to bring Southwark Park Oval up to league standard. There will also be cricket nets in the new Surrey Quays Leisure Centre.
SPCC is a community club is in its 11th year. It provides coaching and friendly league cricket for men, women and children.
Every Saturday, the Southwark Park CC First XI or Second XI will play a Surrey Cricket League match in the park.
On Sundays, juniors (U10 and U11) will have a chance to play in the Surrey Junior Cricket Championship. ECB qualified coaches provide a weekly coaching for juniors on Thursday afternoons 5-6.30pm. The programme is sponsored by British Land so there is no cost and all kit is provided.
SPCC will also play take part in the Surrey Women’s Cricket League.
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Cricket has been played in Southwark Park since 1870 and was the home ground of Rotherhithe boy and England legend, Bobby Abel. Abel still holds the record for the highest innings by a Surrey batsman.
Chair of the club, Martin Kovats: “SPCC was formed in 2014 with the mission to bring cricket back to the Southwark Park Oval. The club has grown rapidly and has worked with the council to improve facilities. It is fantastic that we now can bring league cricket to Bermondsey and Rotherhithe and we hope people will turn up to enjoy high quality, competitive cricket and support their local teams.”
The club will also be running the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) popular All Stars and Dynamo programmes, which are now open for 2025 registration.
These are summer kids training programmes which run weekly every Saturday, from May 31st – July 26th. It costs £50 per child for nine weeks of training and merchandise.
All Stars Cricket is for children aimed 5-8 years old and is a game based programme suitable to all skill levels all whilst making friends in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Dynamos Cricket is for boys and girls age 8-11 years old. Each week there will be a focus on a different cricket skill to build confidence and ability.
If you or your child are interested in taking up the national summer sport, please contact [email protected].
