Old Williamsonians Cricket Club return to Kent League action this weekend for the first time since 2018

Old Williamsonians return to competitive Kent League cricket this weekend - after a six-year absence.

Andy Stoute has led the club’s rebirth and they warmed up with a thrilling two-run friendly win over Kenley Sunday at their home ground, the Rochester Math School.

On Saturday, for the first time since 2018, league cricket returns when they host Medway rivals Sherwood 3rds in Division 13 Knott of the KCL.

They may be battling it out in the lower reaches this season but there will be plenty of smiles on Saturday as competitive cricket returns.

“It’s exciting times and I am buzzing for it,” said Mr Stoute.

“I have managed to get back a lot of players - a few stayed at the clubs they went to - but it’s going to be very interesting to see how these higher-level players get on playing in the bottom league!”

Old Wills stopped playing back in 2018 as they were unable to field two teams - which was then the demand of the Kent Cricket League.

“At the time a lot of the squad were either going off from University to different areas of the country or they were going travelling, it just happened that a whole cohort left at the same time,” Mr Stoute, the club manager explained.

“You needed to have a first and a second XI at the time and we just didn’t have the numbers so it was impossible for us to do it, sadly.”

Apart from the odd friendly match, Old Wills CC were no more, before Mr Stoute grew tired of watching other teams play and decided it was time to revive their own club.

Many months of hard work has culminated in a return for the 1st XI as well as an under-17 team that will be playing in the Medway Youth League. They’ve also got enough players for a team to play friendly matches on a Sunday.

There’s a women’s section too and