The Suttoners Sports and Social club is the genetic mutation of Suttoners Cricket Club and Civil Service Football and Cricket Club.

Both clubs have long histories and not by coincidence both clubs have been very successful in their respective sports, within the local league system.

When the Civil Service Club at Pelham’s closed, both the cricket section and the football section were looking for a new home.

The connection between Suttoners and Civil Service is long and complicated but to cut a long story short, Suttoners had a ground with both cricket and football pitches and a large number of people from both clubs knew each other. It therefore made sense to combine both clubs to form one larger association.

The clubhouse at Kinson Manor has, for at least 25 years, been used as Suttoners Cricket Clubs Headquarters. It started off as a dirty old changing facility, with Jurassic spiders and has been transformed gradually over the years in an attempt to upgrade the facilities. All of the upgrades have been done to a strict budget and despite the set backs suffered due to vandalism, we have always tried to keep the place looking tidy.

The arrival of Civil Service and their supporters highlighted the need for more room and improved facilities. The committee that accompanied them had some great ideas to take the clubs forward and these were talked through and thrashed out between officers of both clubs.

It was then decided that a committee was required to oversee the running, of what was now being called a Social Club. A committee was assembled, taking people from both Suttoners and Civil to form The Suttoners Sports and Social Club Management Committee. All of the people on this committee were hungry for the redevelopment of the clubroom. When I say hungry, I should say ravenous, because the enthusiasm generated by this small group of people was amazing.

As Chairman of the committee, I would like to thank each and every member for their commitment, vision and incredible hard work over the past few months. Not all the work has been physical, much has been letter writing, getting plans drawn up, scrounging materials, making tea for the workers, buying unnecessary pad stones (sorry Nick), picking up materials, borrowing materials, and then of course the physical work had to be done (easy part). The demolition started after the second meeting when certain people who cannot be named for legal reasons, pushed the shower wall down. For me, personally, that symbolic act was the start of The Suttoners Sports and Social Club. From that point forward a different atmosphere has filled Kinson Manor, everyone that has worked there has given 110% to the club and with the continued efforts of the extremely hard working committee, we will continue to grow and reap the rewards of all the hard work.

A.Fitzjohn.

Building work Sponsors                                 Restoration Photo's

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