History of the GCA
THE GEELONG CRICKET ASSOCIATION - A BRIEF HISTORY
Cricket was first played in Geelong in 1841 but a turf wicket competition was non existent until 1896-97 when the Geelong Cricket Association was formed, the six clubs of Capulets, Clarendon, Geelong, Magpies, Non Descripts and Yarra Street Wesleyans sharing the 3 turf wicket ovals at Osborne House Ground, Kardinia Park West and Corio Oval and playing the first round of matches on 17th October 1896.
Although the new turf cricket association was initially greeted with great enthusiasm, over the coming seasons, increasing apathy built up to the point that with just two teams affiliating with the GCA in 1913-14, the Geelong Cricket Association was forced to disband, with two teams from the Geelong Cricket Club withdrawing from the local GCA competition and affiliating in the Melbourne Sub District Cricket Association competition. So ended their 17 seasons reign of the GCA, "with two Geelong teams stepping on Saturday, October 14th 1913, from the indifference of local cricket into the keen competition of the Metropolitan Sub District Association."
However, 15 years later, interest in local turf cricket was rekindled and on 22nd. September 1928, the GCA was reformed. The six clubs of Geelong City, Geelong Footballers, Geelong West, Newtown & Chilwell, North Geelong and South Geelong played the first round of matches on 20th October 1928. A charge of sixpence was made for admission, the Association announcing its official colours of red, black and gold.
In 1948-49, the GCA amalgamated with the Geelong Senior Matting Association and from that season, the GCA consisted or more than one section - its perennial showpiece, the turf section, joined by another seven melthoid sections.
Over the years, 42 clubs have affiliated at differing times with the GCA District First X1 competition. Today, the GCA comprises of two divisions, the 12 Division One clubs being, Bell Park, Bell Post Hill, East Belmont, Geelong City, Grovedale, Highton, Lara, Leopold, Newtown & Chilwell, North Geelong, St. Josephs and St. Peters, whilst Alexander Thomson, Corio, Geelong Cement, Geelong West, Guild-St. Marys, Marshall, Newcomb & District, North Shore, South Barwon, Thomson, Torquay and University form the 12 Division Two clubs.
All 24 clubs play their 1st XI matches on turf wickets, the GCA being thus one of the largest turf cricket associations in Australia. In addition to the 1st. Xl section in both Division One and Division Two, a further 5 sections of cricket are played in Division One and three sections in Division Two. All Division Two clubs strive for Division One admittance, movement between the two Divisions facilitated annually by a promotion/relegation system, based on Club Championship points.
The Newtown & Chilwell club has dominated 1st. X1 (Division One) cricket since first affiliating in GCA reformation season, 1928-29. The club has won the most 1st XI premierships (19) and is the reigning premier, winning the flag on average, every 3.8 seasons, the North Geelong club the next most successful in terms of 1st. Xl premierships with 9.
Jack Sing has been the GCA's most successful 1st XI (Division One) batsman in a dazzling career between 1941-1967, a record 10,251 runs at the commanding average of 50.5, a record 30 1st XI centuries, a record 5 1st XI centuries in a season (1948-1949) and a record 944 runs in a season @ 118.0, also in 1948-1949. With the ball, Newtown & Chilwell's Greg Wells, who played in a record nine 1st. Xl (Division One) premierships during his senior career between 1969-1991, holds the record for the most career 1st Xl wickets (Division One), his 574 wickets at a lean 14.8 apiece.
Greg's younger brother, explosive Newtown & Chilwell opening batsman, Stephen, hit the GCA's highest individual 1st XI (Division One) score to date of 237 against East Belmont in 1986-1987. One of only 3 bowlers to capture all 10 wickets in a 1st Xl innings (Division One), Jack Brady's 10/30 for Ford Motor Company against International Harvester Company in 1941-1942 remains the record best bowling performance in an innings. The most number of 1st XI (Division One) games in a career belongs to Harry Heard with 280 games between 1936-1971 for High School East, Newtown & Chilwell and Geelong City.
The Geelong Cricket Association celebrated its Centenary in 1996-1997, the "GCA Team of the Century" named as Jack Sing (C), Len Metherell, Bill Anderson, Harry Heard, Michael Bowtell, Stan Young, Gordon McKay, Bert Brown, Jim Roberts, Vic Taylor, Damian DeGrandi and Greg Wells (12th).
In season 2000-2001, its respected President, Barry McMahon, ably leads the GCA. Still playing the game he has loved for over 50 years and 500 hard wicket games. Barry McMahon this season celebrates his 13th season at the helm of the Geelong Cricket Association - an all time record, eclipsing the previous best of 12 Presidential seasons by GCA Patron, current Victorian Cricket Association President and Australian Cricket Board member, Bob Merriman. Other senior GCA office bearers in season 2000-2001 are Peter Fisher (Vice-President), Jan Nowicki (Secretary), John Leach (Assistant Secretary), Colin Dempsey (Treasurer), David Barnes (Statistician) and John Shore (Promotions).
KEVIN O'DOWD
HISTORIAN
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