History of the Mulgrave Country Club Cricket Club         (formally known as Glen Waverley Park Cricket Club, Glen Waverley Cricket Club & Glen Waverley / Northvale Cricket Club)

Humble beginnings in Owens Avenue

Glen Waverley Park Cricket Club was officially formed on the 2nd August 1971.  It was during an annual street Christmas Party for the neighbours of Owens Avenue, Glen Waverley that the suggestion of forming their own club began.  The name "Glen Waverley Park" came from the new estate that the players lived in.  An advertisement was placed in a local paper looking for further players and soon thereafter a public meeting was held at Barry Cook's house.  The first members of the club at the meeting were Barry Cook, Bill Davidson, John Fletcher, Bill Graham, Reg Harrison, John Hinkins, John Hocking, Ray Hyland, Malcolm Johns, Kevin Reed and Des Westall.  It was discussed at the meeting availability of a ground, which competition to enter, finances and equipment.  The members also considered an offer from another club to join them but this was rejected.  The following committee was elected: John Hinkins - President, Reg Harrison - Secretary and Barry Cook - Treasurer.  Bill Davidson and Ray Hyland were elected as general committee.  A total of 16 players took the field for the club in 1971/72.  The team, captained by John Hinkins and with Kevin Reed as his vicecaptain, was entered in "D" Grade in the Oakleigh District Cricket Association (ODCA).  Originally it was thought that gaining a home ground would be difficult but the councils in the area offered three different gounds.  It was decided that the club would make there home ground Wellington Reserve, Mulgrave due to having the best facilities on offer.  On the 9th October 1971 the club played its first game against Clayton Footballers, it was a one day game due to a wash out the week before.  The team won the game by 22 runs.  Due to the high calibre of players, the team won 6 games on first innings and 4 games outright.  They finished top of the ladder, going on to win the semi-final before losing the Grand Final.

1970's

The club played home games at Freeway Reserve during the second season due to renovations to the ground at Wellington Reserve.  For the second season the club was promoted to "C" Grade in which they won the premiership.  In 1973/74 the club returned to Wellington Reserve and expanded by adding a second side in "E" Grade and also moving the 1st X1 to "B" Grade.  Kevin Reed was elected president for season 1974/75 and the 1st X1 won the "B" Grade premiership.  Lance Perryman was elected president in 1974/75 and the 1st X1 were promoted to "A" Grade for the first time, losing the semi final in that year.  In 1976/77 the club again expanded to include a junior side for the first time, Under 14's.  Due to the club losing some players to other clubs and the retirement of some founding members the club nearly folded after the 1976/77 season.  The club elected a new president, Kevin Smith for season 1977/78 and the new committee began to regroup the club.  The committee decided with the smaller number of players it would drop the 2nd X1 and the 1st X1 was entered in "B" Grade.  Extensions began on the clubrooms and a car park was constructed.  The Under 14 side of that year were runners up.  After 8 years as Glen Waverley Park Cricket Club it was decided to change names and in 1978/79 the club name was changed to Glen Waverley Cricket Club.  1978/79 also saw the re-introduction of a 2nd X1 in "F" Grade and an Under 16 team was also introduced.  The club was very successful with the 1st X1 runners up in "A" Reserve and the Under 14's winning the clubs first junior premiership.  Jim Ware continued the growth of the club when he became president in 1979/80.  After the success of season 78/79 the club again expanded to include a 3rd X1.  In need of a second ground the club obtained tenancy of the VFL Park car park.  Jim Ware organised arrangements with the VFL and the placing of a concrete pitch in the eastern section of the car park.  the 1st X1 ended the season 3rd on the ladder with the other teams finishing middle of the ladder.  The Under 14 team again won the Premiership.

1980's

The 1980/81 season was the 10th in the clubs history and proved to be the most successful on-field to date.  Original club member, Des Westall was elected president.  The season included improvements to the ground facilities with a sprinkler system installed and the inclusion of a second practice net.  All three senior teams won the premiership under captain/coach Mike Jennison.  With the return of Kevin Smith as president season 1981/82 saw the club grow again with the introduction of a 4th X1 and a second Under 14 team.  The clubs 1st X1 were elevated to "A1" Grade and ended the season 7th on the ladder, the 2nd X1 were runners up in "C" Grade, Under 14 (Oakleigh Zone) won the premiership and all other grades finished down on the ladder.  The club with presidents David Donnellan and later Mike Jennison only had moderate success on field throughout the remainder of the 1980's with several junior premierships but one one senior premiership being the 4th X1 in 1987/88.  Off field the club grew very strong with many big social functions filling the clubrooms, often until late on a Saturday night.  Although senior success eluded the club the juniors excelled winning 4 premierships and producing many players who would go on to become great players in future senior sides.  In 1984 the club introduced Life Membership, with founding members Keith Fox and Ray Hyland the first to receive Life Membership.  The following year another original member Des Westall and long time player and committee man Mike Jennison received Life Membership as did Bill Davidson and Geoff King in 1986/87, David Donnellan in 1987/88 and John Fisher in 1988/89.  Also in 1985/86, the clubs 15th season, the name was gain changed to Glen Waverley Northvale Cricket Club.

1990's

the start of the 1990's saw a few changes, the last of the original members Ray Hyland and Des Westall retired and the club was fielding team made up of younger players than in previous seasons.  With strong juniors coming through to the seniors there was great expectations for success.  This success started when Darren Smith returned to the club as Captain Coach in the late 80's.  He pushed the 1st X1 from near the bottom of the ladder to the finals for the first time since the club great success of 80/81.  In 1992/93 Jason Wall took over the Captain coach role and with the help of new players joining the club and the younger players coming through from junior level the club won its first Shield (1st Division) premiership.  In 1994 under new president John fisher and a new committee it was decided that with dwindling teams in both the senior and junior grades of the ODCA it was time to move to a stronger competition.  For the 1994/95 season the club entered four senior and three junior teams in the Box Hill Reporter District Cricket Association (BHRDCA).  After winning the Shield Premiership with club had moderate success during the 90's, winning four senior and three junior premierships.  Several Life Memberships were awarded during the 1990's, the first to Barrie Carson in 1990/91 then Steve Adams in 1991/92.  In 1995/96 Nancy McDonald was the first non-player awarded Life Membership.  In 1996/97 Geoff Prosser and Bruce McDonald were given Life Memberships followed by Ken Rogers in 1997/98, Mark Prosser in 1998/99 and Darren Fisher in 1999/2000.    The club also has another name change in the mid 90's.  In 1997/98 the club joining the Mulgrave Country Club thus changing its name to the Mulgrave Country Club Cricket Section.

New Millennium

After several years in the late 90's and early 2000's struglling around the bottom of the ladders in most grades the club has again regrouped.  Season 2003/04 was very successful with the 1st X1 making the A1 Grand Final for the first time in the BHRDCA competition.  The same year Jason Wall was awarded Life Membership after our 25 years service to the club.  The following season saw the 1st X1 just miss the finals and the 2nd X1 lose the semi final.  In 2004/05 both the 1st and 2nd X1's lost the semi final and in 2005/06 the 1st X1 again lost the semi final and the 2nd X1 finished runners up.  Our most recent Life Memberhip was awarded to Paul Kelly in 2005/06 after spending more than 10 seasons assisting with the Junior competition.