THE HISTORY

In 1954 the Rosanna Presbyterian church was founded in Arden Crescent, Rosanna. Four years later (58/59) a group of parents got together with the Minister, Mr. Simpson, to form the Rosanna Presbyterian Junior C.C. from among the children who attended the Sunday School. The parents included Bruce Park, Jim Greenwood and Graham Pritchard. The members of that first team are unknown except for an eleven year old David Johnston.

Two seasons later it was decided to form a senior team. The team was formed with possibly Tom Johnston as Captain and they were entered in third grade of the H.D.C.A. about 1960/61, then the lowest grade in the competition. The Club toiled hard for a number of years without success before finally winning the C Grade premiership in 1968/69 against Rosanna at Ford Park. Prior to this the Club had entered a second team in D Grade.

During the 1970's the Club expanded to a third senior team, under 14 and under 16 teams. In 1974 the Club changed its' name to the Banyule Cricket Club. Don Richmond took over as Secretary in 1972, a position he has held unbroken to the 1996/97 season. When he became Secretary he was handed a sheet of paper with the minutes of the last meeting. That was the sum of the Club's official records.

In 1976/77 Banyule won its' first B Grade flag and for the first time competed in the elite A grade competition. The Club found the transition hard and slipped back to B Grade. In 1979/80 the Club appointed Robert Lloyd as its first coach. He led the team into the infamous grand final against Heidelberg Soccer where Banyule eventually triumphed and was once again promoted to A Grade. The Club now had a sounder off field structure and a core of youth with real talent. The Club not only stayed in A Grade but went on to win seven premierships in eleven seasons from 1983/84.

In the late 70's a fourth senior team was added. In 1982/83 the second XI was runner-up to Watsonia Briar-Hill and the Club now had teams in A and B Grades. Prior to 87/88 when fifth grade won the premiership, the D Grade team had been promoted to C Grade so the Club, for the first time, now had teams in A, B, C and D grades.

In 1987 the Banyule Amateur Football Club, the Banyule Junior Football Club and the cricket club built a modern social room and extended the change rooms.

In 1989 Garry Chapman took the Club into international renown. In a 4th Grade game at Winsor Park he struck the ball deep into the outfield and called his batting partner for what he hoped would be 2 runs. The Macleod fielders could not find the ball in the long grass so the batsman kept running Seventeen runs later the ball was found, the batsmen were stuffed, the umpire called to the scorers that he didn't have a signal for 17 and Banyule was in the Guiness Book of Records. The team won the game by one run.

In 1993/94 the Club for the first time in its' history failed to fill a junior team. A combination of the many local teams in a small area and an ageing population had meant that a junior team couldn't be fielded. In 1994/95 the Club worked hard to remedy this situation and has fielded an Under 12 side.

The Club proved its depth of talent in 1993/94 when the A and B Grade teams narrowly missed the finals and C Grade went on to win the premiership. This was again shown in 1994/95 with the Club winning the A and B Grade premierships - only the second Club in the history of the competition to do so.

In 1994 the Club computerised the data from all the score books that have remained in the Club. Unfortunately, many books from the early years have been lost. However, most from the "modern" era from when the Club had three teams have been kept so Club records have been compiled as well as statistics for individuals.

The Club has come a long way since the meeting of the Sunday School parents. There are many people to be thanked. The continued future of the Club is now up to the next generation of Banyule stalwarts. Keep the flag flying.

If anyone has any additional information that can be added to this documented Club history, please feel free to contact us via the Feedback form on the Home Page.

- Wayne Gibson