In 1885 the Parsons Green Working Men's Social Club was started by Miss
C.A. Sulivan, who lived in Broom House (now part of the Hurlingham Club),
and whose uncle was Lord Palmerston, the 19th century politician.

It was formed as an alternative attraction to the local public houses and was
held in a club room at the rear of the Ray of Hope Coffee House, opposite the
White Horse Hotel in Parsons Green. Miss Sulivan appointed Joe Winfield as
Manager. He became the first Club Secretary and afterwards acted as Steward,
finally retiring in the 1920s after about 40 years' service.

The original subscription was a penny a week and membership was restricted to
total abstainers. In 1887, after a stormy debate, the subscription was raised to
two pence a week.

In 1886, to keep the Members together during the summer months, a cricket club was formed. Matches were played on Ellbrook Common until 1887, when a field near Bells Alley, where the school named after her now stands, was provided by Miss Sulivan.

Numbers increased and the club house was extended to include a billiards' room (the two tables are still in use today). The members worked hard on the cricket field, clearing it of trees and outhouses. A cowshed was converted into a cricket pavilion. The cricket team, then known as Arundel, won the West London Cricket Competition in 1890 and 1891 when it changed its name to Parsons Green and became one of the best club sides in London.

In 1902 the Rt. Hon. A.J. Balfour made his first speech as Prime Minister to an open-air meeting which was attended by over 5,000 people on the cricket ground. He was a patron of the club for many years.

In 1903 the Tennis section was formed.

In 1906 six members were censured for rabbit coursing on the ground on a Sunday morning.

In 1907, the Bowling Club was officially formed and in 1909, the Croquet Section was added.

In 1911 Miss Sulivan died and her will led to a legal dispute. The then Club House was taken over by St. Dionis Church, but the club retained its contents, including the billiard tables, and more importantly the lease of the cricket ground.

In 1912 the Hurlingham Club required another full size Polo Ground and offered the club a lease of 6.5 acres of the area between Daisy Lane and what now is Sulivan Road, in exchange for the remaining lease of the old Cricket Ground. The change was fraught with many difficulties and the successful outcome was largely due to the effort of Messrs. C.G. Telford, H.C. Kingdom, S.F. Gill and A.C. Higgs.

The club was formed into a Limited Company and registered under the Company's Act on 13th March 1912 with a capital of 1,000, divided into 1 shares. Each member of the club had to take one share as a condition of membership. Later on negotiations to purchase the freehold were taken in hand by Messrs H. Talford, S.F.Gill and A.C. Higgs. In 1924 these negotiations were completed and the ground was bought for the sum of £4,600, a most astute and valuable transaction. The money was raised by the issue of debentures to members.

Cricket was of course a big attraction and the Club joined the Club Cricket Conference, of which powerful body, A.C. Higgs was one of the founder members and, in 1936, its President.

In 1925 the grass bowling green was converted to a full size Cumberland green and bowls became a vital section of the Club. Similarly the Tennis Section thrived with its six grass and two hard courts.

The Club produced many prominent club cricketers and undoubtedly Dr. J.S. Higgs and A.C. Higgs were the most widely known among London clubs.

Among the members who have played in County Cricket who should be mentioned are H.E. Kingston (Northampton), F.G. Driver (Bedford), F.W. James (London County). and F.D. Ahl (Worcester).