199 not out: Town Malling near a double-century

For followers of county cricket history and particularly Kent, the ground, in the centre of West Malling, was first used for cricket in 1827 and hosted 14 first-class matches between 1836 and 1890.

In particular it was noted for its associations with Fuller Pilch, one of the most significant names in the history of English cricket, who as well as being a top batsman, also became Town Malling's groundsman in 1935.

Indeed the ground hosted two Kent v England matches before closing its doors to first-class cricket when several Kent players complained about having to change in a nearby oast house.

These days, Town Malling have a modern, functional pavilion, opened in 1992 by Richard Ellison, which they hope to extend and renovate as part of their 200th anniversary celebrations next year.

They come into the Kent League down in Division 12 Knott where they will be starting against opposition that includes the fourth XIs of The Mote and Linton Park.But league representative and committee member Adam Nix, who has played for the club for 34 years, is unconcerned.

"Our toughest cricket will continue to be in the Kent Village League ..."

"Our toughest cricket will continue to be in the Kent Village League where we've done terrifically well to punch above our weight up in division one," he said."The main reason for us moving into the Kent League on a Saturday was about being able to offer our under-15s Saturday league cricket so that we can hopefully keep hold of these players moving forward. 

"Traditionally we have only ever played friendlies on a Saturday but youngsters prefer something a bit more competitive and the Kent League is the obvious step even though it will be a bit of a drop from the level we play at on a Sunday.

"It's always difficult for youngsters taking their first steps into adult cricket so hopefully Division 12 of the Kent League will be a level they can feel comfortable with in terms of their development.

"With seven colts and two women's sides in addition to the adult teams, Town Malling provide an attractive and busy cricketing hub in the centre of the town, despite being barely a lusty blow from the middle of the bat to the nearby Kings HIll CC, who in contrast are only 20 years old this year, but wield greater clout in terms of playing numbers and league status."

Nix added: "We know that Kings Hill are the better resourced club in the West Malling area but there's never been any animosity towards them; we have a great relationship with all the surrounding clubs and we have often fielded mixed colts teams with them in recent years."

Nix, in keeping with the tradition of Fuller Pilch, also serves as the Town Malling groundsman. However Nix's role is a purely voluntary one, unlike his illustrious predecessor who for the then princely sum of £100 per year was hired by a consortium of local businessmen to play, manage the ground and run a nearby pub, unsurprisingly called The Cricketers Arms.

In 1842, he moved to Canterbury as a player and groundsman while the St Lawrence Ground was being established as Kent's principal home and headquarters.

But at Town Malling the place in history of arguably the finest batsman in England until the emergence of WG Grace in the 1860s, is marked by a plaque on a stone monument erected on the ground by construction company Gallagher.

More importantly, though, it is through the men, women and colts of Town Malling CC, that Pilch's legacy in West Malling remains secure to this day, and hopefully for generations to come.