Newcastle No 1 Sportsground

The Newcastle Cricket Zone was established prior to the 2007-08 season with the affiliation of Newcastle Disrict Cricket Association, Newcastle City & Suburban Cricket Association and the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association under the umbrella of the Newcastle Cricket Council.

Structured cricket in Newcastle commenced in 1889 when fifteen clubs affiliated to form the Newcastle (or Northern) District Cricket Association.

At a meeting at the Centennial Hotel on August 30, Mr. J. Freeman moved “that an association consisting of the cricket clubs playing in Newcastle be formed.” Mr Tom Raysmith offered to donate a 20-guinea cup for competition.

At a further meeting on September 12 foundation officials were elected. They were: Patron: C. H. Hanell; President: Alexander Ross; Vice Presidents: Stewart Keightley, T. H. Raysmith, J. O. Thomas; Secretary: J. D. Beeston; Treasurer: Robert Bond; Committee: G. Bewick, jun., W. Campbell, J. Sharp, J. Willis and T. H. Raysmith.

Affiliated clubs were Newcastle, Ironclads, Wickham Albions, Wallsend, East Newcastle, Lambton, Hamilton, Burwood, Tighes Hill, Plattsburg Albions, New Lambton Rosebuds, Stockton, Ireland’s Warehouse, Carriington, Half-Holiday.

In the first competition Tighes Hill won the Raysmith Cup by beating Plattsburg Albions in the final at Summer Hill Football Ground. Until 1916-17 there was no defined premiership.

The Association played two representative matches in its first season against sides from the Central Cumberland Cricket Association. The Northerners won the first match at Newcastle Cricket Ground on December 7 by 73 runs and lost the return game at Parramatta on March 8 by 54. Association officials were delighted that all players selected made the trip to Parramatta even though they paid their own expenses.

Today the Newcastle District Cricket Association conducts district grade competitions invoving twelve clubs. A one day first grade competion (Tom Lockyer Cup), Under 21 competition and Twenty20 competition are also played.

In 1921 the Newcastle City & Suburban Cricket Association was formed. The inaugural President was W.M. Scott who held the position for five seasons. The Secretary at the formation of the Association was N. Wynne-Opie whilst C.E. Yarwood was the first Treasurer. H.P. Cornish was the first Patron.

The Newcastle City & Suburban Cricket Association had 20 clubs with 438 players in its intial season of 1921-22. Despite a decline in the 1923-24 season when the playing strength fell to 269, the Association grew steadily up until World War II. However after the war the Association expanded rapidly, doubling its teams from 51 in 1943-44 to 109 in 1946-47.

Throughout the late forties and through the fifties the playing numbers were maintained at about 2000 cricketers. Another significant milestone occurred in the 1980-81 season when player registrations exceeded 3000 for the first time. Since then the Newcastle City & Suburban Association has provided cricket in a one day format for over 3500 cricketers each season.

Junior cricket competition began in Newcastle in 1956-57 under the auspices of the Newcastle City & Suburban Cricket Association. On 22 July 1988, the Newcastle City & Suburban Cricet Association was incorporated and the Newcastle City & Suburban Junior Cricket Association also formed. Subsequenly in 1990-91 the junior body changed its name to the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association. The Junior Association today supports a wide range of under age programs from Milo Have-a-go to girls cricket to grade competition and representative cricket.

Newcastle has a great history of players that have represented both NSW and Australia. Some of these players are Grahame Corling, Jim De Courcy, Charles Macartney, Greg Mathews, Rayford Robinson, John Watkins, Gary Gilmore, Robert Holland, Anthony Stuart, Micheal Hill and that's just to name a few.

Newcastle's No 1 Sportsground is one of the outstanding cricket venues in Australia having host domestic first class and one day fixtures as well as matches involving international touring teams. The quality of the wicket, outfield and facilities is second to none and ensures Newcastle maintains its position as one of the top cricket centres in NSW.

The official websites are:

Newcastle District Cricket Association
http://www.ndca.asn.au/

Newcastle City & Suburban Cricket Association
http://www.cricketnewcastle.com.au/

Newcastle Junior Cricket Association
http://www.newcric.org.au/home.aspx