NatWest sports ground Norbury

Image: © Richard Hoare Taken: Unknown

Opened in 1900 as the London and Westminster Bank sports club. The bank vacated the ground in 1998 and the 28 acres it occupied recently appears to be in bad condition when viewed from Google Earth. Shame, as read on. I had the pleasure of captaining one of the seven regular Saturday sides for a number of years in the 70's, all whom could be accommodated on the same ground at the same time. Halcyon days - we were the only side to have marmite (by request) on our tea table. Players fought to gain a place in our side for the last match of the year as despite the excellent catering during and after matches we had the pleasure of hosting our own curry club courtesy of a couple of our Indian players. Most reckoned given the strength of the curry Hasu (Mistry) and Sid (Siddiquie) had commenced cooking it at the start of the season. At one time it was Surrey's 2nd XI ground. The square immediately in front of the pavilion was probably one of the flattest tracks anywhere in the country, courtesy of the Second World War. The reason being it was laid on a former gun emplacement which was six foot down and drained very quickly.

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