The Surrey Downs League
Open Age League Cricket since 1976
The present day Surrey Downs League started from very humble beginnings when just seven (7) clubs from the Surrey/Sussex border area met on Thursday 29 May 1975. in the Red Lion in Ockley.
The Surrey Downs League started in 1976 with just nine clubs as the Arun Valley League.
Having reported back to their respective clubs a further meeting was call for 12th June when five clubs were prepared to commit themselves to the formation of a League. The other two wanted to see what rules were proposed before making any decision. A draft Constitution and Rules were drawn up and presented at a further meeting a month later held in the pavilion of Ewhurst Cricket Club.
So in just ten weeks the League was formed under the name of Arun Valley.
The founder members being Barns Green, Blackheath, Ewhurst, Ockley, North Holmwood, Roffey, Rudgwick and Westcott.
Two of the Surrey Clubs are still members to-day.
– Ockley – Westcott –
The League started in 1976 with just nine clubs, Shere having applied to join. The initial winners of this first season were Westcott. A second division was introduced in 1978.
Billingshurst joined in 1978, Sunallon in 1979, Horsley in 1987, and Cranleigh St. Andrews four years later.
The end of 1995 brought about a major change when all the Sussex clubs resigned to join Leagues in the own County.
Replacement clubs were sought and admitted to the League, and 1996 started with twelve Surrey clubs.
To reflect the area in which the present League covers, approximately a 12 mile radius of Dorking, the name of the League was changed to Surrey Downs in 1997.
In 2006 a decision was made to split the League into 4 Divisions, each with 10 clubs playing on a home and away basis, with two up and two down at the end of each season.
Sponsorship was first obtained in 1978, and the present sponsors, Tiflex, in 2006.
The basis of the League is Surrey Villages playing mostly on village greens all within easy travelling distance.
this page was last reviewed and updated 4 January 2024