W H V ‘Hopper’ Levett and L E G Ames with a wreath at the Colin Blythe Memorial, then by the Old Dover Road entrance to the St Lawrence Ground

We have to go back to the late 1950s to see the beginnings of the Kent County Cricket Supporters Club. In the 1958 Kent Cricket Annual there is a contribution from Godfrey Evans which states that ‘Our Supporters Club in Kent was started last year to raise funds for Kent Cricket’. The article goes on to report the parlous state of the Kent County Cricket Club’s finances and urges members to join the KCCSC to raise funds to support Kent.

1960 saw the significant appointment of Les Ames as KCCSC’s first President, and fundraising activities were extended further.

A new constitution was agreed in 1977, and the committee pledged support to Kent in their fundraising activities for 1978. It was also agreed that a newsletter/magazine, initially of eight pages, be produced by co-opted member and retired journalist Bill Webb. The first edition was well received and it was agreed that it be produced quarterly in January, April, July and October – free to members. This continues today.

Also considered was a Christmas card, KCCSC tie and a marquee with a bar facility for Canterbury Week. By December 1977 the reported membership was 635 and an invitation to become a member of the Federation of County Cricket Supporters Clubs had been received and accepted. However, the Federation folded in 2003. In 1978 the Committee organised marquees at Folkestone, Maidstone and Canterbury for their Weeks and assistance was given for players’ Benefits.

In 1979 the Committee decided to present a Cup to the ‘Young Kent Cricketer of the Year’, which, ‘with Mr Ames’ permission’ would be known as the President’s Cup. The first winner of most promising uncapped player of the year was Graham Dilley. The Cup has been presented on this basis ever since, and KCCSC has continued to provide support both to its members and to Kent by, for instance, giving financial support to Academy tours and sponsoring players’ shirts.

When Les Ames died in 1990, Hopper Levett took over as President, until he died in 1995. He was followed by F C Bernardes, who had previously served as KCCSC Treasurer. He was succeeded in turn in 2006 by Canon Chris Byers, who had also served on the KCCSC Committee, until he stood down in 2011. Brian Rudd then took over; John Shepherd became our President in 2016.

In 2000 it was decided to raise money to support junior cricket in Kent, and so the 50/50 Club was established. As a result more than £32,500 has been so far made available to the Kent Cricket Youth Trust.

Derek Barnard and Howard Milton at the refurbished grave of Ivo Bligh

In 2011 the Supporters Club contributed to a fund organised by the Cricket Society to restore the grave of Ivo Bligh in the churchyard at Cobham in Kent. Ivo Bligh played first class cricket for Kent between 1877 and 1883. He was however best known for captaining the England and MCC team in the first ever Test series against Australia in 1882-83. After an English team led by Albert Hornby lost to the Australians at The Oval in 1882, the Sporting Times wrote a mock obituary to English cricket, noting that the body would be cremated and the ashes sent to Australia. The following winter’s tour to Australia was billed as an attempt to reclaim The Ashes. Bligh’s team was successful, winning the three-match series two-one. A small terracotta urn was presented to The Hon. Ivo Bligh, as England captain, by a group of Melbourne women after England’s victory in the Test series. Ivo Bligh succeeded his brother Edward as the Earl of Darnley in 1900.

The new display cabinets at Canterbury

In 2015 the Supporters Club made a donation to the Kent Cricket Heritage Trust to assist with the purchase of new glass display cabinets for the Chiesman Pavilion at Canterbury. The memorabilia that the cricket club has is of keen interest to supporters and visitors alike, and is now shown in a superb display.

We are happy to continue to support the Kent Beneficiary, when there is one. They are now not quite as frequent as they once were, but the last two, Darren Stevens in 2016 and James Tredwell in 2017, both attended events at which they were presented with cheques.

Lady Kingsdown and Suzanne Norfolk with the portrait of Frank Woolley, here in the Cornwallis Room in the Cowdrey Pavilion

A substantial contribution was also made towards the new portrait of Frank Woolley which proudly hangs in the foyer to the Chiesman Pavilion. The portrait by local artist Suzanne Norfolk was the brainchild of Rose, Lady Kingsdown, President of the Kent County Cricket Club in 2015. Lady Kingsdown realised that there was no portrait of the great Kent cricketer hanging in the pavilion. That oversight has now been corrected.

Club Venue plaque unveiling, with Suzanne Norfolk and John Shepherd

The Supporters Club also commissioned and financed a plaque showing all 15 grounds on which the County have played in the County Championship between its inception in 1890 and 2017. The plaque was also commissioned from Suzanne Norfolk. It forms a memorial to Alan Wright, a lifelong member of the Supporters Club, and can be seen proudly displayed near the main pedestrian entrance at Canterbury.

Wreaths at the Colin Blythe Memorial, now near the Nackington Road entrance

The club continues to organise the annual wreath laying ceremony at the St Lawrence Ground during Canterbury Cricket Week.

Today the Committee seeks to meet the KCCSC objectives of providing members with facilities on and off the field, raising funds for its members and cricket generally in Kent and strengthening ties, where possible, between players and grass-roots supporters.

Email secretary@kccsc.co.uk

Copyright (c) Kent County Cricket Supporters Club

This page was most recently updated on 24 May 2026.