Club History
The medieval origins of the sport are lost in the mists of time but there is little doubt that our corner of the world is the ‘cradle of cricket’. Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire all make early claims and there is a strong case that stoolball, first documented in the 15th century, is the ancestor of all bat and ball games. There are newspaper reports of cricket games played by Fernhurst in 1879 but the first known club documents are dated 1890, showing accounts for the previous year. We played Lynchmere, Wispers and The Marshes and we are still playing Lynchmere now. Those early ‘friendly’ fixtures were the staple of village cricket for several decades.
Between 1919 and 1928 an annual challenge took place for the Ashurst Cup against staff at the nearby Ashurst Estate. This challenge was re-introduced after the Second World War against Verdley CC, made up of ICI employees working at Verdley House. In 1975, Fernhurst set up an evening league to contest the Ashurst Cup. Larger clubs like Haslemere and Liphook entered their second XIs.
The I’Anson league is reputed to be the oldest, continuous village league in the world and focuses on clubs on the borders of Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey. Fernhurst finally joined it in 1997 and enjoyed successive promotions all the way to the top division. On Sundays, the friendlies continued, and this team has been most valuable in introducing youngsters to senior cricket. Along with the Lynchmere fixture there are other villages we have been playing for decades. Nomadic teams like the Ancient Mariners and the Heartaches have also been visiting the club for many years.
Fernhurst CC has been in the vanguard of Women & Girls cricket locally, winning back-to-back titles in the I'Anson league.
For a copy of our full colour, hardback book ‘130 Not Out’ contact us through our general enquiry form .
Honours
- It was purchased in 1909 by Mr & Mrs Daniel King, owners of Ashurst Estate in Fernhurst to be presented to the winners of an annual cricket match between their staff and the village.
- By 1930 the cup had been donated to Fernhurst Cricket Club.
- After WWII Plant Protection Ltd moved into Verdley House and become a major employer, part of the village and village life.
- In 1950 the first of what was to become an annual cricket match between Plant Protection Ltd (Verdley CC) and Fernhurst CC took place. This match was often played on at the Verdley ground on the annual Plant Protection Ltd Open Day where they invited the public to visit the estate and office to hear and understand what they did.
- By 1971 Plant Protection Ltd had become a major part of ICI an international company and the estate was less important to them, such that the Open Day was no longer held and the match for the Ashurst Cup stopped.
- In 1975 a small evening league competition was founded by Fernhurst and 3 other local teams. Eventually the 3 grew to 8 divided into 2 Divisions (North and South) whereby the winners of each competed in a final for the Ashurst Cup.
- Later the Ashurst Shield was introduced, whereby the 8 teams were involved in a knock-out competition.
- In 1997 Fernhurst decided to enter the I'Anson League and left the Ashurst Cup and Shield with the Ashurst competition committee.
- But in 2001 Fernhurst started to hold an annual Six-a-Side Competition on the Spring Bank Holiday for the Ashurst Cup.
Ashurst Challenge Cup winners
1910, ’23, ’24, ’26, ’28 –v- Ashurst Estate
1950, ’51, ’60, ’62, ’64, ’66, ’67, ’70 –v- Verdley/ICI
1975, ’76, ’81, ’84, ’86, ’87 Evening league
Ashurst Knockout Shield winners
1982, ’85, ‘88
Arundel Castle Villages Festival
2021 champions
I’Anson League
1997 Division 4 champions – Birchitt Shield
1998 Div 3 runners-up
1999 Div 2 champions – Herald Shield
2000 2nd XI Div 5 champions – Disney Shield
2001 2nd XI Div 4 champions – Birchitt Shield
2001 Pope Cup runners-up
2010 Div 3 runners-up
2015 Div 3 runners-up
2017 2nd XI Div 6 champions
2018 Div 2 runners-up
2023 Div 3 champions - Miller Cup
Fernhurst Flames
2021 & '22 I'Anson W&G champions
Hire Facilities
The pavilion can be hired through the booking page for 'The Fern' cafe.
