Stuart Surridge

Walter Stuart Surridge (3 September 1917 – 13 April 1992) was an English first-class cricketer who captained Surrey County Cricket Club. Neither a remarkable batsman nor bowler, Surridge was one of the most successful team captains in the history of the County Championship who, when not playing cricket, helped develop his family sports equipment business, Stuart Surridge & Co. Surridge was selected to play for MCC 1954–56 and was elected president of Surrey CCC in 1981 (his widow, Betty, becoming president in 1997). In retirement after 1956, he served Surrey CCC on various committees as well as expanding his bat-making business, and was visiting the Surridge factory when he collapsed and died, aged 74. His son, also called Stuart, played once for Surrey in 1978.

Stuart Surridge & Co

In 1867, Percy Stuart Surridge, Stuart Surridge's grandfather started a company repairing cricket bats. The business expanded, making a host of equipment including the Rapid Driver cricket bat that had a reinforced toe (patent no. 19386/28) which was used by W. G. Grace, K. S. Ranjitsinhji, C. B. Fry and Sir Don Bradman amongst others. In 1923 the company received a patent for their design in reinforcing tennis rackets to stop strings fraying, and produced a variety of equipment for sports, including hockey. The business was originally based at 175 Borough High Street, London, and a willow farm in Aldermaston, Berkshire.

During the 1950s Stuart Surridge worked with his brother Percy at the business, introducing the SS logo during the 1960s. The company introduced the Cobbler football during this time, which was used in the Bundesliga and the 1976 Football League Cup final. During the 1970s Surridge entered the big hitter cricket bat market with its Jumbo, which was used by Viv Richards and Clive Rice. In 1979, Surridge manufactured the official ball of the English Football League, along with Mitre, with their version being called the UFO and was recognisable by its red stripe. The ball was famously involved in Justin Fashanu's goal for Norwich City in the 1980 league match against Liverpool when he scored that year's BBC Goal of the Season.

In the 1980s, John Surridge, Stuart's nephew and Percy's son designed the Turbo cricket bat. It was revolutionary as it was made from several pieces of timber glued together, with the glue flexing to give the batsman more power. The bat was most famously used by Graham Gooch in 1990 to score his record 333 against India at Lord's.

During the 1980s the company provided Jimmy White with snooker cues, launching an eponymous range of cues for sale. In 1991 the company sponsored Paul Gascoigne. In the early 1990s the company successfully went to court in India over the SS branding, which was also used by Sareen Sports Industries.

In 1993, after his death, the Surridge family sold the business to Dunlop Slazenger. based at Burnley in Lancashire.