Surrey welcomed Members to The Kia Oval for the Club’s 2024 Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 30 April to hear about a successful year on and off the pitch as well some exciting developments for the upcoming year.
The AGM saw the formal confirmation of the Club’s elected representative body with Chair Oli Slipper elected onto the General Committee. Slipper was elected alongside former Surrey and England cricketer Zafar Ansari, Emma Lewendon and Warwick Jones. ACE Chair Ebony Rainford-Brent was formally elected as an Honorary Life Vice President of Surrey County Cricket Club. Simon Dyson and Graham Ekins were announced as Honorary Life Members of the Club.
In 2023, the Club secured a second successive men’s County Championship title as well as making Finals Day in the Vitality Blast. Surrey’s women’s county team continued developing quality talent whilst the South East Stars were one step away from Finals Day in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. The Oval Invincibles were successful once again, with the men’s team securing the title – making it three trophies in three years for the franchise based at The Kia Oval.
As a venue, The Kia Oval once again showcased some of the very best international cricket in the world with a men’s and women’s Ashes fixture, the latter a record attendance, a men’s ODI fixture against New Zealand as well as the showcase World Test Championship Final. The new Travelodge Hotel opposite the ground was completed and doors opened in March. Thanks to the success of the cricketing fixtures hosted at the ground as well as the growing Conference and Events business, the Club reported a robust financial performance.
The Club was successful in the recent allocation of Tier 1 women’s teams and from 2025 there will be a professional women’s team representing Surrey, who will call The Kia Oval their home. With this comes a need to expand the capacity of the Club’s facilities and Surrey are advancing plans to secure a second home that will host both teams for training and matchdays when required.
The Club has submitted a planning application to deliver new, energy efficient LED floodlights and in the winter of 2024 will refurbish the player’s changing rooms to deliver a state-of-the-art home for the men’s and women’s players.
Steve Elworthy, CEO at Surrey CCC, said “2023 was an incredibly busy year for everyone involved in the Club and the venue. As well as the outstanding success on the pitch for all the Club’s teams, we hosted two Ashes fixtures and two men’s Test Matches for the first time in over 100 years. It’s been a tremendous effort from the Club staff to deliver all of this so I’d like to place on record my thanks for all their hard work and dedication.
“Securing a women’s team is an important step for the Club and we look forward to welcoming them to their new home at The Kia Oval. 2024 is going to be another exciting year for the Club and the venue and we are all looking forward to delivering another fantastic year.”
Oli Slipper, Chair at Surrey CCC, said “I’m very fortunate to be taking over as Chair with such a period of sustained success behind me. Credit must be given to Martin Eadon and Richard Thompson as well as to Steve and the staff at the Club for delivering for the Club off the field and to Alec, the players and the cricket staff for the success on it.
“2024 is going to be a crucial year for cricket with some important decisions already made and some more key ones to come. I will always champion and protect the interests of Surrey in every one of those decisions and ensure that the Club continues to grow and prosper.
Finally, I’d like to thank Kunle Olafare, Dr Martin Searle, Phil Garrard and Bob Qureshi who have completed their terms on General Committee.”
Successful General Committee Applicants:
Zafar Ansari
Zafar joined the Surrey Talent Pathway as an eight-year-old and progressed all the way through the age group set up to join the professional playing staff, playing 175 times for the Club and receiving his Surrey County Cap in 2014. Zafar represented England in ODI and Test Match cricket before he retired from the game and became a lawyer. Zafar has been a Member at the Club since 2017.
Warwick Jones
Warwick Jones most recently stepped in as Interim Treasurer 2022-23 and has also served on the General Committee and the Audit and Risk Committee. A Member since 1993, Warwick attended his first game at the Oval in 1958.
Emma Lewendon
A Member since 2016, Emma has served a term on the General Committee in the past and has a long connection with the Club having been a member of staff for 12 years. Emma has worked for the Lord’s Taverners and is a Trustee of the Surrey Cricket Foundation.
Oli Slipper
Having been on the books as a professional at Surrey, Oli Slipper has been a Member since 1995. In 2023, Oli was appointed as Club Chair, having served on the General Committee and the Management Board in the past.
