Since 1885
Our History
Foundation
The Club was formed in the summer of 1885 under the Chairmanship of Abbot Fowler. The Hon Secretary was AJ Pursell.
First Match
The first game (and win) was played against St Edmund's Ware in early 1886, followed in July by a two-day game and win by 34 runs over the School.
Irish Tour
A tour to Ireland in which all 4 games were won — one of the few recorded activities before the First World War.
Refoundation
The Club was refounded at a meeting in 1920 with Dom Bruno Hicks as President and RRA Walker as Secretary. Future longstanding games were established against the Old Wykehamists and the South Wales Hunts.
Post-War Revival
The club was again revived under President Robert Walker. Several Irish tours followed, and posters exist depicting the Wanderers as a strong English side.
Wanderers Week
The highlight of subsequent years was Wanderers Week at Downside — three two-day games against the Wykehamists, SW Hunts and Hampshire Hogs, plus one-day games against Clifton Club and Nomads. A squad of 16 would assemble at Downside for a legendary test of stamina.
Cricketer Cup Begins
The Cricketer Cup competition was started with 16 schools, increasing to 32 a few years later. The Wanderers entered this prestigious knock-out tournament for old boys' cricket clubs.
First Cricketer Cup Win
The Wanderers were the last club to win a round, beating the Old Brightonians at Brighton. Performances steadily improved over the following years.
Cricketer Cup Final
The Wanderers reached the Final against Malvern at Vincent Square, scoring 200. The Malvernians got the runs reasonably comfortably, though a Tolchard was dropped on 4 early on.
Pavilion Fund-Raiser
A fund-raising dinner at the New Connaught Rooms for the refurbishment of the Pavilion raised £110,000 — a phenomenal result.
90th Anniversary
A 90th anniversary dinner was held at Armourers & Brasiers Hall, very well attended, celebrating the club's enduring spirit.
Corfu Tour
The Wanderers embarked on an overseas tour — the first for eight years — demonstrating the club's continued vitality and love of touring.
Corfu Tour & Records
A memorable tour to Corfu with 65 active members representing the club. James Hobbs hit the fastest century in Wanderers history — a 32-ball ton against Hartley Wintney.
New Chapter
The Wanderers enter the Cricketer Trophy, continuing to thrive with an energetic membership and a full fixture card.
Our Home
Our Connection to Downside School
Downside School is a Benedictine independent school at Stratton-on-the-Fosse, near Bath in Somerset. Founded by English Benedictine monks who established a school for English boys at Douai in France, the community relocated to Somerset following the French Revolution, with the school formally established at its current site in the early 19th century.
Cricket has been a major feature at Downside for over 150 years. The first boys' cricket match was played at the School in 1867, and the first recorded match on the school's cricket ground was in 1898. In 1936, the Australian cricket team played a warm-up game at Downside before the Ashes series — a remarkable honour for a school ground.
The iconic 1930s Sheldon Pavilion sits centrally between three main cricket squares, with its balcony offering glorious views over the School, Downside Abbey, and the Mendip Hills beyond. The Wanderers' annual fixture against the School 1st XI remains one of the highlights of our season — a bridge between generations of Downside cricketers.
Former pupils of Downside are known as Old Gregorians (OGs), after St Gregory the Great, the patron saint of the school. Any Old Gregorian is eligible for membership of the Downside Wanderers Cricket Club.
Recent Seasons
2025 Season
Played 9, Won 3, Lost 6, Cancelled 4
Highlights included a closely fought victory over the School in the final over, with Archie Smellie's superb bowling, and a commanding win over the Old Amplefordians where Luke Marjason scored 69 and took three wickets with only 9 players. The season also saw the sad passing of Brad Bing, who inspired so many Wanderers through his passion for cricket.
2024 Season
Played 11, Won 5, Lost 6, Cancelled 3
An excellent season featuring the first overseas tour for eight years (to Corfu), 65 active members representing the club, and the fastest century in Wanderers history — James Hobbs' extraordinary 32-ball ton against Hartley Wintney. The touring party spanned 61 years in age, all bound by the Gregorian spirit.
The Cricketer Cup Legacy
The Wanderers competed in the Cricketer Cup — the prestigious knock-out competition for old boys' cricket clubs — from 1968 until 2025. Our finest hour came in 1986 when we reached the Final at Vincent Square against Malvern. In 2026, the club enters a new chapter with the Cricketer Trophy, a new competition of equally high standard.
Want to be part of the next chapter?
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