HISTORY

The main ground at St Cross has been in use since 1872, first by the Rifle Brigade and since 1885 by the Green Jackets Club. On 1st, 2nd July 1875, St Cross hosted its only first class match when Hampshire were defeated by Sussex by an innings and 27 runs.

The current club was formed in January 1992, an amalgamation between St Cross C.C and Old Symondian Battery Ramblers. St Cross C.C, one of the oldest clubs in Winchester was founded circa 1873 although current records are somewhat obscure as to the exact year. The club has always had strong links with the Church of St Cross which is the landowner of the two grounds within the parish. Apart from breaks caused by the 1st and 2nd World Wars and a temporary move during the period 1906-1910, the club has always had its base at the picturesque grounds on the outskirts of Winchester.

Old Symondians C.C. was formed in 1952, merging with Stanmore Ramblers in the late 1960’s. In 1989 a further amalgamation took place with another local side, Olivers Battery, a club started in the late 1940’s.

St Cross Symondians is one of the largest cricket clubs in the county, fielding 5 senior Men’s sides on Saturdays as well as fulfilling numerous other weekend and midweek fixtures. In addition the club runs one of the largest and most successful junior sections in the region and in 2002 and 2005 our U13’s were Hampshire and Southern Regional Champions. In 2006 the club launched a Women’s cricket section to play in the inaugural Women’s Hampshire Cricket League. In 2009 a Girls Under 11 team was formed and continues to do well. 2016 saw the introduction of a 2nd Women’s cricket team. In 2016 the U15 girls won the Lady Taverners National Cup. In 2017, the Women’s added a second team into the Hampshire Cricket League.

In 2018, Tom Foyle captained the First XI to their first Southern Premier League title.

Since 1992 the club has produced six players who have gone on to play First Class Cricket, James Adams and Joe Weatherley (Hampshire), Felix Organ (Hampshire), Harry Came (Hampshire), John Francis (Somerset) and Simon Francis (Notts and England A) all products of the clubs youth system.

St Cross Symondians is an ECB accredited Focus Club for Central Hampshire and one of the first clubs in Hampshire to be awarded the prestigious ECB Clubmark award in July 2005 and this was successfully renewed in 2014 for a further three years. Since 2008 the Club has been participating in the ECB “Chance to Shine” initiative, helping to reintroduce cricket into local schools.