Draft:Alleyn Cricket Club

Alleyn Cricket Club (Alleyn CC) is a cricket club based in Dulwich, South London, which competes in the Surrey County League, the Surrey Championship, and the Kent Cricket League..

The club currently has 4 Saturday league teams, 2 Sunday friendly teams, a midweek T20 team and an extensive range of juniors teams from U8 to U17.

Origins
The story of Alleyn Cricket Club starts with Edward Alleyn, the Shakespearean actor, who founded the charitable foundation College of God's Gift in Dulwich in 1619. One of the foundation's central creations was the school of the same name, which grew steadily in size and stature for two and a half centuries until, in 1882, it split into two schools: Dulwich College and Alleyn's School, both moving to new premises in Dulwich where they remain to this day.

Foundation
On 18 April 1884, Alleyn's school formed the Edward Alleyn Club, a social club for former pupils, from which was founded the Edward Alleyn Cricket Club. Then on 17 January 1906 this club name was changed to Alleyn Old Boys’ Cricket Club. Over at Dulwich College, they formed their own cricket club for former pupils in 1928, known as the Old Alleynian Cricket Club.

Both sides played friendly cricket around South London until they joined Division Two of the South Thames League in 1973. Alleyn Old Boys two teams were both runners-up in 1981, whilst Old Alleynians were runners-up in 1986. During the 1980s, the Surrey Championship grew rapidly and Old Alleynians switched to the larger league in 1988, followed by Alleyn Old Boys in 1995. Alleyn Old Boys enjoyed a successful period from 1995 to 1999, when the 1st and 2nd XIs ascended rapidly through the divisions, securing three champions’ pennants in 1995, 1996 and 1998 and being promoted as runners-up a further three times.

Though coming close in 1988, the Old Alleynian's spent 14 seasons in the second division without winning a league title.

The Merger
Alleyn Old Boys voted to change its name to Alleyn Cricket Club on 14 July 2003, but in December of that year, a rent review was undertaken by the Dulwich Estate, the body responsible for managing the lands of the College of Gods Gift bequeathed by Edward Alleyn in 1619. This review found Old Alleynian was in a precarious situation as a tenant, as was another local club, Honor Oak Cricket Club, which had joined the Surrey Championship in 1972, winning one league title in 1985. On 8 December 2003, Alleyn Old Boys merged with Honor Oak, and subsumed Old Alleynian on 27 September 2004 to form Alleyn and Honor Oak Cricket Club. The three clubs were now one, and under this new name, they secured a first league title in 2005, until the club changed its name one last time on 24 November 2014 to its current incarnation of Alleyn Cricket Club.

Famous alumni
The most famous Old Alleynian cricketer was Trevor Bailey, who captained Dulwich College in 1941 and 1942 before going on to make his England debut in 1949. He played 61 matches for England, scoring 2,290 runs at 29.74 and taking 132 wickets at 29.21.

Most notable among Alleyn Old Boys players was Mickey Stewart, who captained Alleyn's School in 1949 and 1950 before first taking the field for England in 1962. He played in eight games for England, scoring 385 runs at 35.00.

Cricket commentator Daniel Norcross, a regular of the BBC's Test Match Special radio cricket coverage, is an ex-player and current club President.

Grounds
Alleyn Cricket Club's home ground is at the Edward Alleyn Club, located on Burbage Road, adjacent to Dulwich Cricket Club and the nearby Herne Hill Velodrome. All 1st XI & 2nd XI home games are played here.

The Edward Alleyn Club has one cricket pitch, 3 outdoor nets, tennis courts, football pitches, and a large fully equipped clubhouse which is known for having the "best balcony in South London".

From 2023, Alleyn Cricket Club entered into a partnership with Old Alleynians RFC to use their ground as a permanent home for Alleyn's 3rd & 4th XI teams.

Coaching
Alleyn Cricket Club has an extensive coaching setup for juniors and adults ran by the clubs Head Coach, former Surrey and Somerset professional cricketer, Josh Lawrence.

With a team of qualified coaches, 3 external nets, winter indoor nets, bowling machines, and extensive fielding equipment, the club's coaching system has developed in recent years, resulting in three out of four league wins in 2023.

Social Media
The club has developed an ever growing presence on social media, utilising Instagram in particular with a mixture of lighthearted humour, results and club content.

In 2023, Alleyn Cricket Club began using Frogbox live streaming setups to broadcast their home games, which integrate directly with the ECB's play-cricket scoring platform used by most cricket leagues. The live broadcasts are streamed live to the club's Youtube channel.

2023 Teams
{| class="wikitable"

1st XI
In 2023, former Somerset and Surrey professional cricketer, Josh Lawrence, took over the captaincy and led the 1st XI to 10 wins and 3 draws from 15 games , winning the Surrey County League 1st XI Premier league and securing promotion back into the Surrey Championship. Additionally, they reached the semi-finals of the Surrey County League Cup. !

2nd XI
For the 2nd XI in 2023, they were led by new captain, Sahil Madan, who led the team to 7th in their league with 7 wins and 1 draw from 16 games.
 * Alleyn CC 2nd XI - 2022.jpg

3rd XI
New captain, Zahid Moneer, took charge of the 3rd XI in 2023, leading the team to 1st place in the Surrey Championship Division 5 East, with 14 wins and 1 draw from 16 games.
 * Alleyn CC 3rd XI - 2023.jpg

4th XI
2023 was a year of firsts for the club's 4th XI. Ed Cooney became the new captain, the team began playing league cricket, and in their first season, they won the Kent Cricket League Division 14 Underwood league with 9 wins from 16 games.


 * Alleyn CC 4th XI - 2023.jpg
 * Burbage BadgersThe club's midweek T20 side, captained again by Josh Lawrence, did not match their 2022 success in winning their league, instead coming 3rd in the Surrey Men's Cup 3.
 * Brixton BarbariansThe club's Sunday team, which plays friendly matches, continued to be captained by Jonathan Ace in 2023. They played 13 friendly games, winning 4.
 * Brixton Barbarians.jpg
 * Sunday Development XIThis was a new side for the club in 2023, aimed at providing opportunities for juniors and beginners to play senior cricket. New captain Oli Tipton led the side over 5 games, winning 2.
 * Junior TeamsDetail tbc.
 * }
 * Sunday Development XIThis was a new side for the club in 2023, aimed at providing opportunities for juniors and beginners to play senior cricket. New captain Oli Tipton led the side over 5 games, winning 2.
 * Junior TeamsDetail tbc.
 * }
 * Junior TeamsDetail tbc.
 * }
 * }
 * }

Achievements
2023

2022
 * The 1st XI won the Surrey County League 1st XI Premier league.
 * The 3rd XI won the Surrey Championship Division 5 East league.
 * The 4th XI won the Kent Cricket League Division 14 Underwood


 * The Burbage Badgers won the Surrey Men's Cup 9

2005


 * The 2nd XI won the Surrey Championship, Division 5 league.

1998


 * The 1st XI won the Surrey Championship Division 5 league.

1996


 * The 1st XI won the Surrey Championship Division 7 league.
 * The 1st XI won the Surrey Championship Cup.

1995


 * The 1st XI won the Surrey Championship Division 7 league.