About the Title

Christians

…is a reference to the strain of sporting faith that has been a constant over the 150 years. Originally it was ‘muscular’ Christianity embodying the Victorian sporting age; there are plentiful links between the original members and the local churches, indeed Spencer and its local Church St. Mary Magdalene were ‘born’ just 18 months apart. In the modern era, that sporting faith is witnessed more in our Muslim members, whose obligations to both the Islamic religion and Spencer Cricket can collide with the strict observance of Ramadan (fasting both food & drink) whilst playing. The Christian founders, who themselves would never have countenanced play on Sundays, would undoubtedly respect their successors’ religious commitment.

Criminals

…is a mocking, tongue-in-cheek reference to the occasional negative view of Spencer held by the more staid Surrey clubs, from the late 1960’s on, even specifically noting our proximity to Wandsworth prison. Our players faced not just stiff on field competition but sometimes off the pitch, racism and bigotry. That part of this period was also the most successful in our history, under a Franco-Indian Chairman and a West Indian Captain is the perfect, riposte to intolerant attitudes.

City Bankers

…refers to another constant theme, sometimes in abeyance, more often not. Of late, with the club membership being predominantly those who are privately educated, it’s sometimes felt, sotto voice, that we’ve lost our community roots. In fact it was the wealthy connections of the 1872 founders that enabled Spencer to originally gain its own grounds and prosper. Forty years after, our first ever Surrey player worked for a City Bank and played in a Spencer team captained by a stockbroker.