Port Noarlunga Cricket Club was formed on 14^th March 1933. The first President was Mr Hugh R. Corpe with Avon Linn as his treasurer and secretary.  The first captain was voted on and a tie prevailed between Messrs Raynor and Beckman with the latter getting the nod after a toss of the coin (something that would decide a lot of issues as the club grew older).  All that was needed now was a ground and Mr H Jared generously donated the land to which we now play, on the condition that no harm would come to his livestock that grazed the land. Games where organised against Noarlunga and Morphett Vale with our first ever game on April 8^th 1933 a loss to the Shoes and a week later the same result against Morphies.  Things did improve however as we only fielded 1 side initially in the B Grade competition and taking out the premiership.  From 1934-47 AGM’s where held but no results are evident although there is evidence that games where played, as association records for us in that period aren’t 100%. As for the clubs colours of Black and Gold, Mr Corpe decided it would be the same as the re-formed Port Noarlunga lifesaving club and gave them the colours of chocolate and gold, the same  as the local primary school.  With the selection of colours for cricket hats not as wide ranging back then as they are now, the club settled for black instead of chocolate and so it is now. 

After the war, there was a barren spell of success at the club and had to wait until 1959/60 in the Under 15’s to record its 2^nd premiership.  That started a very competitive era at the club at under age level where it wasn’t until 1975/76 that the juniors finished lower than 4^th.  In 1973/74 the B Grade won a flag and the guys where to step up a level as we won the A Grade the next season . Under the guidance of Jim Curtis, great club people like Mick Fitzgerald, Mark Whyatt, Jim England, Norm Bergman and Peter and Phil McKay the club were finals regulars but couldn’t quite win the ultimate prize. Additions of Russell McMillan, Noel Hendy and Andy Owers strengthened the side but its fair to say the loss of Jim Curtis in 1975/76 was a huge loss.  The early to mid 80’s where rather disappointing with the odd lower grade success but it wasn’t until the appointment of Andy Owers as A Grade captain that things turned around and on 2 occasions in 87 and 88 the club was a whisker away from GF appearances.  The explosive batting of Greg Dowsett was a highlight in that period along with the rise of Heath England under Russell McMillan’s wing, spin king Mark Whyatt, hard nut Mick Fitzgerald and community stud Noel “woofa” Hendy.  A few of those senior guys must have thought the future was bright with juniors such as Spencer England, Ryan Mashford, Mick McKay, Paul Smith, Chris Smith and Igor Mustac all coming from the same junior intake, and unfortunately decided to hang up the boots.

As they say, you can’t beat experience and this set the clubs progress back many years.  With the impressive Paul Vaughan taking over as captain at age 21, and only 1 player over that age, we struggled big time and it wasn’t until the late 90’s that we were a competitive unit again in A Grade.  There was a sprinkling of lower grade successes, two in a row for the C’s and another B Grade win under the great leadership of Simon McKay.  At the moment season  the club has 6 sides with 4 of them regularly playing finals.  The future once again looks bright, the guys who where thrown to the lions 10 years ago are now nurturing the clubs youngsters and we look forward to a bright future.  With a great morale around the club and a hard working committee, hopefully these will all gel together and start a golden era for a club starved of it in the past.

Compiled by Chris Smith

Secretary, PNCC  

2002

Any complaints, see Patto, everyone else does…..

 

 

 

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