History of the South Croydon Cricket Club

A BRIEF HISTORY

At the end of the 1952 football season, Keith Cook, then Captain/Coach of the Croydon Football Club, invited the football team to a barbecue and a few beers. By the end of the night it was evident that many of the footballers were going on to play cricket, as did most in those days. The thought evolved to all play together - this was the beginning of Croydon Footballers Cricket Club, later to become South Croydon Cricket Club in 1972.

Cheong Park, a piece of land donated to the then Shire by the Cheong family, evolved as the site for the new club and hours of hard manual labour were required to clear enough of the park for a cricket ground. Ti -Trees and blackberries were removed and holes caused by the resident Croydon Pony Club were filled in and a grader used to finish the formation of the ground. The first concrete pitch was laid by volunteers who mixed the concrete by hand with the pitch being laid on a foundation of broken beer bottles. No doubt this exhausting manual labour had an effect on one's thirst and perhaps re-cycling was also founded at this time! The ground had a fair slope towards Bayswater Road and a large gum tree was located in the south east corner. The local rule was that you were out if caught off the tree. In these early years, conditions could be classed as basic, however it is evident a strong camaraderie existed. Afternoon teas were made on a gas stove in a tent and were served from the back of a ute; there was no pavilion or rooms in those days. Six o'clock hotel closing and no television meant that the members made their own entertainment, usually at the home of one of the players. Early committee meetings were held in a room in the back of a laundry in Windsor Road and the gear and matting were stored at Keith Cook's milk bar in Mount Dandenong Road. Water for the afternoon teas came from a house adjoining the ground and the toilets were the "drop hole" builders toilets of the time, and were located near the current toilet block on the east side of the ground. One day, after particularly heavy rain they flooded, with Bayswater Road the recipient of some unexpected material.

After the first few years, the club was fortunate in obtaining the old Croydon RSL Hall which was relocated to Cheong Park, in the north eastern corner of the ground on Bayswater Road. This was a two storey pavilion which served for many years until replaced by the current rooms on the western side of the ground in April 1980. At around the same time the club had grown sufficiently to field a second team and in 1958/59 the first premiership was won - "B" Grade and John Payne won the RDCA batting average with 50.7.

Premiership success in the 1950's and 60's was rare, however the club prospered and continued to expand. The pavilion was described as "the social centre of South Croydon - a region being quickly developed" (A History of Croydon - Muriel McGivern). Junior teams were established and the club became an important entity within the local community.

In 1969 the South Croydon Football Club was formed and shared the ground and facilities at Cheong Park. In the mid 1970's the ground was re-developed to minimise the slope that existed and the cricket club was forced to move to play at the Eastfield Trotting Track for the year it took to reconstruct the ground. In 1987-8 the ground was again reconstructed and the club played one season at Dorset Recreation Reserve. Junior premierships were enjoyed during the 1970's and the club continued its growth as the local area developed further with an influx of young families.


In 1980 the current pavilion was opened, with the old structure on the Bayswater Road side being demolished. The cricket club used the players change rooms as "home" and in 1990 an extension was added to the northern end of the building with the cost being shared by the cricket and football clubs and the local Council. The mid 1980's saw the Secretary of the club, Ross Kennedy, give great encouragement to the girlfriends and partners of the players in establishing a Ladies team - a first for the Club after over 30 years. The first year was full of fun and participation but the team was soundly beaten in every game. However due to the determination of the Ladies and the encouragement of their coach, Ian McCallum, success came quickly, with 2 premierships in the late 1980's. The team disbanded in the early 1990's as the players moved on to start families etc.

The 1980's was a decade of success - 9 premierships, including two for the First Eleven that earned promotion to Chandler Shield. The Junior teams thrived in a young and growing area with 6 junior teams playing each week. Some of those juniors still play with the club today. At Committee level, a long period of stability commenced with Neil Tull as President (1983 - 1997) and Ross Kennedy as Secretary (1981/2 - present day).

The early 1990's saw continued success at junior level and the establishment of a Veteran's (over 40) team. The First Eleven were runners up twice however lower grade premierships proved elusive even though finals appearances occurred. By 1996 the club face a somewhat uncertain future, as, for the first time in many years, there were no junior teams. A change in local demographics meant a shortage of potential players and only a concerted effort by the club and the introduction of junior "Have a Go" Clinics has resulted in today's position of 4 Junior teams and a strong junior development clinic. Late in the 1990's the club established the "Bulldog" logo and name just as the South Croydon Football Club is known. This was a continuation of a move towards forging closer links between the two clubs and making Cheong Park truly the "home of the bulldog".

The new millennium provided immediate success with the First Eleven winning the "Wilkins Cup" premiership in 2001 - 2 whilst the Second Eleven finished third, the One Day team were runners up and the Under 16 team were finalists in their first year. After an absence of one season the Veterans team was reformed due to the efforts of Russell Long.

Our club has had its fair share of controversy - John Payne being ruled ineligible after a grand final win, and the intervention of an RDCA representative in calling the grand final off when our Under 16 team had all but won the game in in 1986-7 are examples. On the other hand we have provided many Association Best & Fairest and Average winners and RDCA team representatives over many years, as well as RDCA Executive Members.

The future of the club is promising with increasing junior numbers being the key to longevity. Our facilities and amenities are very good and we have a robust and close knit membership. However it is up to all of us to ensure that the great South Croydon Cricket Club continue to prosper and to provide a valuable community service.

(Compiled with the assistance of :- Roger O'Brien, John Payne, Ken Scott and "Bunny" Baldwin)

South Croydon Premierships

RDCA Best and Fairest