The Life and Soul of Marlow for Sport

Appendix vii

The History of the Club

The origins of Marlow Sports Club go back over 150 years. It is the only comprehensive sports club in Marlow and as such is very important to the town. It provides high quality sports facilities in the heart of the town centre. It is an open club available to all who love sport.

Sir William Borlase School is an official partner in the Club. Hundreds of pupils are using the facilities and many are active members of the various sports such as Hockey, Cricket and Tennis.

It is vital this history and these facilities are preserved and maintained.

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Appendix viii

Marlow Cricket Club is the oldest section and it was formed in 1829. That was back in the days of underarm bowling and four balls per over. It is recorded that as early as 1854 there were club professionals who were responsible for most of the bowling and running the team so that the “paid up” members could have their turn to bat each match.Since 1940 the ground has been a regular Buckinghamshire County Ground and has regularly staged benefit and representative matches for 1st Class Counties, the Minor Counties and organisations like the Lords Taverners who only last year staged a major fund-raising match at Marlow.The Club plays in the Thames Valley League running three teams on a Saturday, one on a Sunday and occasionally fields a midweek side.There is a very strong Colts section with over 100 Colts playing in Bucks Leagues from under 9 to under 17. As a cricket ground many would say that the Club offers excellent facilities. It has always been one of the best minor county grounds in the South of England.

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Marlow Tennis Club is one of the oldest in Buckinghamshire. It originated in 1899 when six locals met in the ‘George and Dragon’ Hotel with the aim of forming a Tennis Club. Mr M. P. Wethered was the first Chairman and the club was set-up with two grass courts and a second-hand shed. Fifty five members joined, each paying an annual subscription of 10/6d. In 1911, the first town tournament was held on ten specially prepared grass courts which the wonderful, old photographs capture below. By 1964 the club had four permanent grass courts and surprisingly the Pavilion still used gas lighting. In 1969 the grass courts finally gave way to three hard courts which were opened by Commander Owen Wethered. Two courts became floodlit in 1992 and were opened by Olga Morozova (1974 Wimbledon Ladies Singles Runner Up). The third court also received floodlights and in 2004 the fourth floodlit court was built.Over the years, the club has produced notable players including a Bucks Junior Girl’s Captain, a junior who went on to Millfield, before playing for England Under 21 Men’s, a former Bucks Men’s Singles Champion and several County players.Funded entirely by the subscriptions of Marlow Tennis Club members, 2012 has seen major investment for the future with the replacement of the three original hard courts making it one of the best locations to play tennis in Buckinghamshire today.

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Marlow Hockey Club boasts a proud history and has been a major influence on local, county and international hockey. Founded in 1909 the Club originally played on the Pound Lane Sports Ground but for many years led a nomadic life. Leaving behind Pound Lane the Club went to Gossmore for some seasons, then on to Spinfield Park and Higginson Park before returning to Pound Lane in 1949 where the Club now has its excellent clubhouse. In that year the Marlow Sports Club was formed along with the then Cricket and Rugby sections. In 1972 hockey was started at Sir Wiliam Borlase’s School in Marlow and there began a long and successful relationship between the school and the Club. That relationship has produced and is continuing to produce many county, divisional and international players. 7 full internationals started their hockey in Marlow colours and over 20 have played at junior international level. Add to that a huge number who have played for county, divisional level and 4 Oxbridge Blues and the Club and school can be rightly proud of its legacy. The Ladies and Mens sections formally amalgamated in 1998 to form one Marlow Hockey Club and a junior coaching programme for the under 14 and under 11 was initiated in 2001 with an Award from the All Lottery Grant. The Club is building on the integration of Mens, Ladies and Junior programmes and now runs 7 senior sides with 100 members and junior teams at U15, U13 and U11 level with over 300 boys and girls being coached on a weekly basis in the programme.

The Life and Soul of Marlow for Sport

Appendix xi

Marlow Striders, the Sports Club’s running section, was established in 1989 as a social running club. Since then they have encouraged local people of all ages to get fit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Marlow by running, although they also have a walking section and a number of members who bike.Marlow Striders now has over 150 members, many of whom are local families. Marlow Sports Club has been The Striders’ base for over 10 years and they are going from strength to strength. They have worked hard to keep a strong social ethos within the Club to attract all types of runners from the serious to the beginner.Marlow Striders are also committed to raising money for local charities and have now given over £75,000, much of which is raised through the annual Marlow Half Marathon organised by the Club, every November. This has been voted as one of the top 100 races in the UK.

The Life and Soul of Marlow for Sport

Appendix xii

Marlow FC - Youth & Colts are a FA Charter Standard - Community Club.It is the section of Marlow FC responsible for providing football for all children (starting from years 4&5). We are affiliated to the FA as Marlow Youth FC and recognised by the FA as a Chartered Standard - Community Club, the highest award you can achieve in youth football.Based in central Marlow we are committed to providing football to all Boys and Girls on a non profit basis, relying solely on volunteers. This ensures we can continue to invest all the money we raise back into the grass roots of football across Marlow and to support our parent club Marlow FC.It was on November 22nd 1870 at the Compleat Angler Hotel on the banks of the Thames that Great Marlow Football Club was formed and so began the history of one of the oldest clubs in the country. In the last century the Club was a major force in the game and as one of the original entrants in the first F.A Cup competition in 1871/72 contributed a share of the £25 that bought the first trophy. Marlow have the unique distinction of being the only club to have applied for entry to every competition since its inception.

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The Club is constantly looking at ways to extend the usage by the community.

In April 2013 Marlow Riders, became an additional section. Already they have a membership of 75 and have plans to grown to at least 150.

The trustees are in discussions to start both Netball and Softball sections.

In addition, there is an active and growing Social Section, who make good use of the Bar and Lounge area!