The club has a well recorded history dating back to 1753,where further details can be found in the book ‘The History of Sandwich Town Cricket Club’ by John Websper available through the Club.

It was recorded in the Kentish Post on July 4th 1753 that a match took place on Sandwich Salts between the Gentlemen of Sandwich and the Gentlemen of Gunstone (Goodnestone) and Staple. The announcement was published as part of the occasion of a summer fayre. It is interesting to note that Sandwich Town CC returned to the Salts over 20 years ago to play most of the third and fourth team matches.

In the second half of the 18th century games were recorded against opponents familiar today including Sibertswold (1784) Eastry and Nonington (1785) and Deal (1791) The matches against what turned out to be are closest rivals, Broadstairs, in 1793 are well documented.

It was not possible to confirm that a properly constituted club was formed at this stage, and a further 75 years later in 1828 Sandwich Town Cricket Club was formed. One of the earliest patrons at this time was Sir Horace Mann who served as MP for Sandwich for 33 years from 1774 being re-elected some 5 times.

In July 1800 two matches were played against Wingham the second of which resulted in a win for the visitors by eight notches and eight wickets!!

In 1808 an interesting game was played at Sandwich for 100 guineas a side between the gentlemen of Deal and the gentlemen of Ramsgate

The first edition of the Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury in June 1865 had detailed cricket match reports for the first time, the railway had reached Sandwich, from Deal, in 1847 but it was still rare for teams to travel any distances to play.

In 1860 Alfred Gillow became the first Sandwich cricketer to play for Kent turning out for 2 of the five games the county played that season. Seven members of his family also turned out to play for Sandwich, including 5 brothers, between 1870 and 1900. They were a farming family from Woodnesborough who also were involved in the brewing industry.

The club struggled in the opening period of the 20th century and the revival commented upon in 1893 fizzled out altogether until 1906 with newspaper records showing only 3 matches played between 1907 and 1919.

From 1921 to 1939 it saw one of the most important periods in the club history with two particular individuals contributing immeasurably. AW(Tommy) Atkins joined in 1925 and nine years later LD(Les) Nower. Their combined influence on the club was to last 45 years and laid the base for the club to progress from a small town club to a progressive organisation. Les was appointed club secretary at 17 and held the post for the next 34 years, except for his spell in the RAF. At the end of this period the Butts was laid out and the first matches were played there during the 1938-39 seasons. It appears that then, as now, the social spirit of the club was high with Whist Drives, Dinners and Fund raising concerts occurring in and around the town.

The members for the first time looked forward to Saturday and Thursday fixtures throughout the summer against an expanding list of clubs.

At a committee meeting in March, 1940 a discussion took place concerning amalgamating with other local clubs, those present felt strongly that enough members would remain during the war years to continue under the clubs own name. Although thinly spread over this period, the club did manage to play some matches each year. The first newspaper reports for some years appeared in June and July 1945 where the club played first the Royal Engineers and then various Army units.

With no ground to play on following the War fund raising was essential and close to 40 members attended the AGM in 1946, and the club fought a ferocious campaign under the guidance of Les Nower the secretary, against the less than enthusiastic Town Council to re-establish themselves at the Recreation Ground (The Butts)

The period 1961 to 1975 was a golden age for the club and it became possible to produce second eleven teams on Saturday and Sunday and several of today's well known names came to the fore. John Jones, Ivan Castle (captain for 10 years from 1963) and Andrew Smith featured regularly in the annual club averages.

League Cricket had the greatest impact on the club from 1976 along with indoor cricket and the opportunity to develop a second ground at Gazen Salts. This led directly to the formation of 3rd and 4th eleven teams. Sandwich were instrumental in helping the formation of the East Kent League with 10 founder clubs and finished the inaugural season in a creditable 3rd place. The league expanded year on year until in 1984 there were 16 clubs, following the introduction of an 'A' league for 2nd eleven clubs in 1978.
Over the years the First team played consistently well winning the championship in 1983 and rarely finishing outside the top five.

The club, along with several East Kent league sides, became part of the full Kent League on its amalgamation and expansion to a league system. The club progressed through the system to hold a very creditable position in Kent cricket, the first team in Division 1 narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premiership in 2002 and the 2nd team enter their 3rd season in the Premier Division of the 2nd XI Leagues. The club remains strong at all levels and the third and now fourth team play regular league cricket encouraging youngsters to develop into potential Kent League players.

The Annual cricket week, usually commencing on August Bank Holiday Monday, now has a traditionally strong list of fixtures including a Presidents XI and 'The Arabs' a team formed by ex-president E.W.Swanton along with fixtures for all age ranges on both grounds. The entertainment of both cricket and in the bar is something to behold and develops the strong belonging to the club even more.

As cricket continues to flourish in this corner of Kent youngsters and experienced cricketers show their skills on the picturesque Butts and Gazens Salts week in week out and return to the Club House to socialize and reminisce in the same way members did over 200 years ago.

Long live "The TOWN"

Junior Coach: Kevin Beaumont

Secretary: Julie Beaumont

Website Producers: Dave Scoggins / Matthew van Poppel

Kent League Website: http://www.kcl.uk.net