Carlton Sports Club was founded in 1928 and took it’s name from the cinema where the inaugural meeting took place – The “Carlton” Cinema in Carlton Parade at the bottom of Orpington High Street. This was affectionately known in the neighborhood as “the bug hutch”.

It was a sports club and at it’s inception had men’s cricket, football and hockey as well as Ladies hockey and netball.

Unfortunately all that remains now is the cricket section. Hockey for men and Ladies did not re-emerge after the second world war and there are theories that these were taken over or superseded by Orpington Sports Club. Football ceased in the late 1980’s after many years of participating in the Eltham and District Sunday League culminating in an appearance in the cup final held at Sutcliffe Park in Kidbrooke Park Road where we were beaten by an up and coming team called Welling “Wings”!

Our first Cricket Club President was Mr A Spencer-May who coincidentally was the owner of the “Bug Hutch” and he was superseded by Geoff Mills, Harry Short – Landlord of the Cricketers pub until 1976 – Don Guy, Bert Brett and currently is Steve Bailey.

The role of Chairman has been filled by such people as Geoff Mills, Arthur Jempson, Don Guy, Fred Francis, Mark Addison, Dave Luxford, Steve Bailey and currently is David Luxford

It has been difficult to resource much information pre-war but since 1945 the club successfully ran three cricket sides one Saturday, one Sunday and one midweek.

Selection meetings were held on Monday evenings in the “Boundary Bar” at the Cricketers pub a small room which sadly does not exist any more. In the 1950’s and 60’s not every member had a landline telephone and the Match Secretary used to “card” members through the post advising them of their selection, where to meet etc..

Today all players and members are advised by mobile “texts” as well as the team list being posted on our website along with details and directions of how to reach the grounds.

Although the Club did not own their own ground the Club played on many Local Authorities’ pitches such as Goddington Park, Poverest Rec., St Mary’s Cray Rec., to mention but a few. During the 1990’s the London Borough of Bromley “privatized” sports grounds generally and due to the amount of work, time and the associated cost of capital equipment required this became a bridge too far for the Club to afford.

The quality of public pitches has sadly deteriorated due to the amount of time that should be spent to produce adequate standard wickets.

Given this factor along with an ever increasing interest and demand to develop cricket Leagues our Saturday side became severely stretched to field adequate strength sides and so it was decided about the turn of the century to concentrate on a single Sunday XI.

Consequently we are now mainly a “wandering” side only playing on Sunday with the majority of our games at away venues.

The club has partaken in many “Tours” whose venues have included Hastings, Westwood Hoe and Challaborough, Bigbury both in Devon, Canterbury, Isle of Wight, Monmouth, Wales, Somerset and Bingley in Yorkshire.

Initially the tours in the 1950’s and 1960’s were predominantly “Stag” affairs but since the mid 1970’s they have been for families and have often been the main holidays for several players – how times change!

There has not been a tour for sometime now and hopefully it will not be long before the next.

There has always been a strong family feel to the Club with several father and sons representing the Club. These have included Don Guy and Warren, Bert Brett and Andrew, Dave Luxford and David and Paul, Mick Smith and Gary and Adam, Barry Luxford and Danny, Bill Barton and Tony, Ted Martin and Neil and Kevin.

Currently we have Dave and Tom Moran, Keith and Jack Stone still carrying on that tradition.

Through the last 80 years plus people who have played their cricket with us, at whatever standard, there has always been and underlying emphasis that as many players as possible should have an opportunity and at all times we should all enjoy the game and play it in a sporting manner. Long may that exist!!