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The earliest known record of our club is dated May 11TH 1845 when the following notice appeared in 'Bells Life' a sporting paper of that period (which later became the Sporting Life)
'Turnham Green Albion Club. Two eleven`s of this club play an opening game tomorrow, Monday, and they will be happy to make a match with any village eleven - not too strong.'
It appears, however that although players got together occasionally to play under the title `Turnham Green Albion Club` there was no official existence of a club as such until 1853, when rules were formulated and a committee appointed. This took place at `The Old Packhorse` Turnham Green, where the club established its headquarters.
The first President was the 8th Duke of Devonshire; whose name the club bore, becoming the Turnham Green Devonshire Cricket Club.
The earliest recorded scores of the club, played on the `Home Pitch` as Turnham Green Common was then known, are those of Caught`s X1 versus Barratt`s X1. In this match played J.Stevens, proprietor of a farm which existed in those days on land lying between Caught`s, the butcher, and Tyser Greenwood, estate agent; also playing was C. Young, after whom Youngs Corner was named. The match was played on May 6th 1856. Below is an example of a match report of the period written by the club secrerary Mr. D. Fitzgerald.
Return Match between Turnham Green Devonshire & Middlesex Eton Clubs
Played at Turnham Green Sept 10th 1857
Highly favoured by the weather. Middlesex Eton arrived at ½ past 10 having all the appearance of a first rate team, among whom might be seen the professionals Payne, Copus, Sanders and Sheffield. At ¼ past 11 H Newbon Esq. And Barratt faced the bowling of Saunders & Copus. Barratt scored 3 and was caught at the point. Davis obtained 2, T Newbon Esq. 5, H Newbon Esq. 9, Fitzgerald 5, knight 2, Stevens 2, seven wickets for 30 runs. The game seemed off on the run, when Mewes Higgins and Moore came to the rescue scoring 40 between them. Thompson contributed his mite 4, all helping to make a good healthy innings of 76. Against which Middlesex Eton sent in Gillard and Sheffield to the bowling of Knight and Barratt, they scored 20 in fine style, when Sheffield put his leg where the Bat ought to be and was given out by the umpire; 1st wicket 20 runs. The betting rather in favour of Middlesex Eton at this point. Knight succeeded in getting his bowling on the right spot, which had the desired effect; some sparking catches were also made by T Newbon Esq. Thompson and Barratt, at the fall of the last wicket 55 only appeared on the telegraph, being 21 behind; and the evenings about the 10th of Sept being on the early closing system, little hope remained of the Middlesex Eton redeeming this fallen position, determined however to let no opportunity slip, they were soon in the field and the Devonshire scorning all shifty tricks to maintain an advantage, with equal promptitude sent in Mewes and Davies who scored 4 each, Barratt 5, Higgins 1, in fact the wickets were falling fastwhen H Newbon went in an changed the state of the poll making a long stand for 20 runs, Thompson got 5, Moore 9, Fitzgerald 15, T Newbon Esq.(not out) 9. Total 77, with 21 of the first making 98 for Middlesex to get in about half an hour. This difficult task they tackled like men and cricketers, but such was the fatal precision of Barratts bowling that five were out for 13 runs when Thoms drew the stumps at 6 o`clock. Thus ended this fine match. The evening was spent in a very agreeable manner.
D.F.
In 1867 the club amalgamated with another Chiswick club and became known as `The Chiswick and Turnham Green Cricket Club.` Captain of the club was the Rev. E.W. Weld, curate, brother of Mrs Tuke, whose husband Charles Tuke played for Middlesex; other players were the Rev. Webber who subsequently became Bishop of Brisbane, George Spillman who later played for Middlesex and Billy Williams, later one of the M.C.C. captains.
In 1882, some of the members formed a new club, Chiswick Park C.C. and the remainder continued as Turnham Green Colts C.C. In 1884, the term `Colts` was dropped and the title `Turnham Green Cricket Club` has remained until today.
The President of the club under the new title was Mr. G. H. Jupp, a famed Middlesex County amateur player.
Inevitably, there are gaps in our history and it has not been possible to piece together the whole story. We have, however, collected from various sources many interesting facts which might be more easily read if put in diary form.
With thanks to I Axworthy J.Bradley & D.Humphreys
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