John Watkins
Chair
Our Story
A Village Club, Fighting For Its Future Since 1885
Charlton Kings Cricket Club is an ECB ClubMark accredited club and an ECB Focus Club: a hub for community cricket development, especially for children and young people. Our 1st XI compete in the West of England Premier League Gloucestershire, having won Division 1.
Founded
1885
Over 140 years of cricket at Ryeworth Fields, Greenway Lane, Charlton Kings.
Accreditation
ECB ClubMark & Focus Club
Recognised for our facilities, safeguarding and commitment to junior cricket development.
On The Pitch
WEPL Gloucestershire
Our 1st XI won Division 1 and now compete in the West of England Premier League.
Our Story
140 Years in the Making
From a modest village ground in 1885, through a decade-long legal battle that nearly ended us, through a pandemic that silenced the game we love, and out the other side with a brand-new clubhouse, a winning first team, and a community stronger than ever. This is our story.
1885
The Club is Founded
Charlton Kings Cricket Club is established at Ryeworth Fields, Greenway Lane, putting down roots in one of Cheltenham's most cherished residential villages. From the very first ball bowled, the club set out to be more than a cricket team: a gathering place for the whole community.
Generations
A Village Institution
Over the following century the club grew steadily, welcoming new families and becoming a fixture of village life. Children who learned the game here grew up to coach the next generation. Ryeworth Fields became a place where memories were made and passed down.
2011
The Fight to Survive
A devastating legal dispute over our playing area threatened the very existence of the club. For two years, the club faced a nearly £500,000 legal bill that could have ended over a century of heritage. When asked why we didn't simply relocate, the answer was clear: you cannot move a hundred years of memories. You cannot move the soul of a village.
2013
Saved by Our People
A small group of dedicated local benefactors stepped forward and put their own personal finances on the line to keep the club alive. Without their quiet, selfless generosity the gates would have closed for good. We grew from 225 members during the crisis and began to rebuild.
2017
Plans for a New Home
With survival secured, ambition returned. The club began working with Architects Dyer to design a brand-new timber pavilion. Grant applications were submitted to Sport England and the ECB, a lengthy but vital process to make the vision a reality.
2019–2020
COVID-19 Stops Play
The global pandemic silenced cricket grounds across the country. Charlton Kings fell quiet: no matches, no training, no Kingsfest. Yet behind the scenes, construction of the new pavilion continued. The club refused to stand still.
2020–2021
A New Pavilion Rises
The old venue was demolished and a stunning new timber-kit clubhouse took its place, delivered by Architects Dyer and Garden Retreat. Fully accessible changing areas, a generous social space, a stocked bar and a modern kitchen, all built within a modest budget. A facility the whole club is proud of.
4 Aug 2021
Cricket Returns
The first post-COVID game at Ryeworth Fields, a friendly interclub fixture. In a wonderful quirk of history, it was played at 90 degrees to the usual pitch orientation, specifically to protect the brand-new clubhouse from a stray six. The club was back, and the future was bright.
2021
1st XI Win the League
The 1st XI capped a brilliant return season by winning Gloucestershire Division 1, earning promotion to the West of England Premier League. A statement of intent from a club that had come through crisis, pandemic, and rebuilding, stronger than ever.
2022–2025
A Club Transformed
Membership surged to over 375. Twelve youth teams from U9 to U17. A Ladies Softball team and a new Ladies Hardball side launching in 2027. Kingsfest drew 350+ visitors. The club that nearly died had become one of the most vibrant community clubs in Gloucestershire.
2026
Village Knockout Cup Debut
For the first time in the club's history, Charlton Kings CC became eligible for the Village Knockout Cup and made an immediate impression, reaching the quarter finals in their very first season. The next chapter is just beginning.
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Use the arrows or swipe to move through our story, or click any point on the timeline above to jump straight to that chapter.
Our Benefactors
The People Who Saved Our Club
In our darkest moments, when the gates nearly closed for good, a small group of local benefactors stepped forward and put their own personal finances on the line. Faced with a legal bill approaching half a million pounds, these individuals didn’t just give their time. They gave everything they had to protect a century of heritage.
They protected the soil so that today’s children could still have a place to play. They kept the lights on, the boundary ropes up, and the dream alive. We grew from 225 members during the crisis to over 375 today, a testament to what this community can do when it pulls together. To every benefactor, every volunteer, and every family that stood by Charlton Kings CC when it mattered most: thank you.
Membership Growth
225
Members During the Crisis
→
375+
Members Today
Our Facilities
Our timber pavilion sits at the heart of Ryeworth Fields, with a large patio and garden, a fully stocked bar, a modern kitchen and comfortable indoor seating: a facility we are proud to maintain and continue to invest in for every generation of player and visitor.
Life at the club
Around Ryeworth Fields
Who runs the club
Our committee
The volunteers who keep Charlton Kings CC going, on and off the pitch.
Vik Singh
Club Secretary
Ross Elvin
Commercial and Membership Secretary
Whether you are a lifelong member or have never stepped foot on the grass, we would love to see you this summer. If the weather holds, you will find a game or a training session in full swing almost every Saturday afternoon and midweek evening in the summer. Our gates are always open to everyone, so please do wander up. Bring the dog, the kids, and even the neighbour. Come and see for yourself the vibrant community you are helping to protect.
Get Involved
Join, Hire or Sponsor
Three simple ways to become part of Charlton Kings Cricket Club.