Park Orchards Cricket Club – established 1966

In September 1983, a group of people decided to reform the Park Orchards Cricket Club after learning that the previous administration had disbanded at some time after the 1982-83 seasons. The club wanted to maintain the Park Orchards name and had to accept a $1,000 debt from the previous administration which was owed to suppliers and association fees. The new club applied to the Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association (BHRDCA) but was refused admission. Fourteen days before the start of the 1983-84 season, with no players, no equipment and $1,000 in debt, Park Orchards applied to and was accepted by the Ringwood District Cricket Association (RDCA).

The club fielded one senior “E Grade” team and one Under 14 junior team in 1983-84. The senior team consisted of nine Under 16 players from the previous season and went on to win the Grand Final outright, scoring 450 runs and bowling out the opposition twice for less than 300 runs.

The clubs juniors struggled in their first year, while playing Under 14′s with our youngest player being 7 years old. During the second game of the season, one of our young batsmen was hit in the head by a cricket ball, which immediately saw a rule that helmets must be worn in junior cricket. The Park Orchards Cricket Club was the first club in the RDCA to enforce this rule for juniors.

Our club had a progressive growth, fielding two senior and three junior teams in the 1986-87 season. The seniors, having a poor season in 1986-87 ended on the bottom of the B2 ladder. Instead of being relegated to a lower grade the RDCA, in their infinite wisdom, decided to promote the club to a higher grade for the next season. However, the Park Orchards committee believed that this decision was not for the benefit of the club and therefore applied to the BHRDCA. On this occasion we were accepted into their league.

Our club’s growth continued fielding three senior teams for the first time in 1987-88 and three junior teams (U12, U14 and U16). The Park Orchards third senior team won the D2 Premiership in 1988-89 and appeared in the finals again in 1990-91 and 1992-93. Our juniors were also competing well at this stage with the under 12B’s runners-up in seasons 1990-91 and 1991-92, and our under 14A’s winning the premiership in 1992-93.

The Park Orchards first XI have shown consistency topping the ladder in season 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93 culminating with a premiership in the B1 grade in 1993-94 season.

Through the mid to late 1990′s the club continued to grow. The 1998-99 season saw the clubs 3rd XI win the premiership under the leadership of Ian Goldie.

In the 2001/02 season the club won the A2 Premiership to cap off a fantastic year for the club with the top 3 teams being very competitive. They won the A1 premiership the following year and were promoted into Macintosh Shield. This was a fantastic achievement and the first time a team had won the A2 premiership and the A1 premiership in consecutive years.

The step up to Macintosh Shield was huge and unfortunately the club was relegated back to A1 the following year. The highlight of the season was beating Blackburn who went on to win the Grand Final.

The club is in as strong a position as it has ever been on and off the field and is sure to have a bright future.

Premierships

2007/08 1st XI A1 – B. Pearce (c)
2007/08 Under 12
2003/04 4th XI C2 (1-day comp) – T. Brindle (c)
2002/03 1st XI A1 – N. Brisbane (c)
2001/02 1st XI A2 – N. Brisbane (c)
1998/99 3rd XI C2 – I. Goldie (c)
1993/94 1st XI B1 – R. Fox (c)
1988/89 3rd XI D2 Premiers – D. Preusker (c)
1983/84 1st XI “E” Grade (RDCA) – S. Malone (c)
1980/81 3rd XI D2
1974/75 1st XI B1
1974/73 2nd XI D2