The First Tentative Steps at Tracing the History of the Belgrave Cricket Club

(with thanks to Bill McCormack, Don Claringbould, Steve Flemming and Albert Collie)
Written and compiled by Ross Andrews and Johnathon Levell.

In 1870, the first land was purchased in Belgrave by William Glover Benson (of Benson St fame). There wasn’t what you would call a housing boom in those early years, with only two houses established in the area by 1887.

By 1900, football had started in the nearby hills with Monbulk Football Club established in 1895. The first school was established in the Belgrave area in 1900 (now known as Tecoma PS). In these days, the narrow gauge train line (the Puffing Billy line) ran from Upper FTG through to Gembrook. The Belgrave station was known as Monbulk.

It would seem likely that cricket was also being played around this time but the first record of a game involving Belgrave is not until 1907. This was a significant year in the history of the Belgrave township. In 1907, the town was subdivided by FT Le Juge with lots purchased by JT Mahoney, a local saw miller, who later became well known as a Real Estate Agent. FW Preston (Barry Preston’s grandfather) moved into the area with his young family. Fred (Barry’s father) played cricket at Belgrave, as of course did Barry.

The First Signs of the Belgrave Cricket Club

On Saturday 19 October 1907, according to the Dandenong Advertiser, Belgrave Cricket Club journeyed to Ferntree Gully to play the Imperials. FTG CC had been established since 1885/86, initially known as the Glenfern Cricket Team they had been renamed the FTG Imperials CC in 1904/05 reflecting Boer War patriotism (many years before any of us had heard of Breaker Morant!). Belgrave got a bit of a touch up on this occasion as the Imperialists ravaged us for a meagre 59 and while plundering 7/155 themselves. A bloke called McMahon had a day out taking 8/23 and following up with 98. Among others in the FTG side was Fred Carrington, who went on to become a legend of the competition and captained Belgrave to a number of flags late in his career.

There was a return bout the following day where Belgrave, not to be out done, turned the tables making 94 and knocking the FTG Imperials over for 71. We get another mention in the Box Hill Reporter playing against Emerald on 20 December 1907 and then in the final of two of three matches against FTG on 10 January 1908. Belgrave (4/149) proved too strong for the FTG Imperials (53). The 1908/09 season saw Belgrave amalgamate with FTG to provide a social game of cricket for those in the area who were interested. By the following year, Belgrave had its own cricket side again. This appeared to be a recurring theme across the history of the Club. World War I intervened in 1914. The FTG club disbanded in the 1915/16 and did not recommence until 1921/22. On 3 June 1921, FL Byrne (the local Real Estate Agent) announced the reformation of the Belgrave Cricket Club. H Harper was President and Fred Carrington was Secretary. I have to check this with Bill McCormack, our oldest living life member, but I think Bill said Harry Harper used to own the land that is now Mater Christi College in Bayview Road and was known as “Harper’s Hill”. FL Byrne was credited with the formation of both the Mountain District Cricket and Football Associations.

The reformation of the Belgrave Cricket Club in the 1921 was the start of a golden era leading up to the Second World War. Fred Carrington captained the side for four years from 1921/22 to 1924/25. He clearly was an outstanding cricketer, making 222 not out in 1922/23. He captained our first premiership side in 1923/24, which had to be played to an outright result. Belgrave (who had finished as minor premiers) made 137 and 150 defeating Emerald, the defending champions, 60 and 164. Belgrave’s Alf Lennard was awarded the Best Player Medal. The Emerald lads must have had nightmares about Alf because he had taken 7/29 against them during the home and away season. Other teams in the competition that year were Monbulk, Gembrook, Cockatoo and Macclesfield. Mr Wookey presented his Shield to Belgrave at a function in the Belgrave Memorial Hall on 17 May 1924. The Shield still hangs on the Clubroom walls today, 81 years later.

The skipper, Fred Carrington, had a pretty fair season himself in our first premiership year, having earlier made 181 not out against Monbulk, taking 9/23 and 4/27 against Gembrook (match figures of 13/49) and then 9/16 including a hat-trick against Cockatoo. Other fine performances in that year included a Mountain District Cricket Association record team score of 311 against Emerald (Alf Lennard got his 7/29 the next week). Belgrave’s 311 included a 4th wicket partnership of 102 between Charlie Ryan and Alf Miller (vice captain) and then a 5th wicket stand of 130 between Charlie Ryan and A Elvery. Charlie Ryan made 130 in what was regarded as the best innings seen in the MDCA (obviously Fred Carrington’s 222 no the previous year had been a bit scratchy!) Charlie showed his class by scoring another ton (126) against Cockatoo.

Seven acres of land in Best Street had been purchased in 1924 at £100 per acre for a new Belgrave oval. Apparently the Belgrave cricketers were jubilant about making use of the new ground for the upcoming season. Bill McCormack tells me the old ground was on the site where the swimming pool now sits. It continued to be used as the second ground for many years. The pitch had a sand base that needed to be raked before coir matting was pegged over the top – an uneven surface and the odd stone here and there meant it used to do a bit. The new ground had a sizeable slope from the top level of the current car park down to the goals at the other end. Bill says it was the best drained ground in the comp until some bright spark decided to level it!

Belgrave gets a New Home Ground and Goes “Back to Back” in 1924/25

Fred Carrington led Belgrave to back to back flags in the 1924/25 season taking 5/32 in dismissing Monbulk for 44 and making 121 not out in Belgrave’s total of 1/175 (Alf Lennard backed up again taking 5/8 if you don’t mind). Although the game was supposed to be played to an outright result it was called off at this point because the football season was about to start. Other teams in the competition that year were Emerald, Gembrook, Cockatoo, Macclesfield and Ferny Creek. Notable performances over the season included Alf Lennard, who won the competition bowling average that year taking an amazing 80 wickets for 524 runs at an average of 6.55. Alf Lennard continued his torment of Emerald making 124 no against them early in the 1924/25 season. Belgrave’s Fred Carrington, Alf Lennard, Sutton Lennard and Charlie Ryan all played Country Week in March 1925 for the MDCA. Games were played at Malvern, Coburg, and South Melbourne against Daylesford, Wangaratta and Castlemaine (the latter captained by Bill Ponsford, Australian Test Cricketer from 1924 – 1934). The MDCA team defeated Daylesford and Wangaratta with Alf Lennard having scores of 101 no, 75 no, and 6 and producing returns of 3/18, 2/2 and 1/57. Fred Carrington made 39, 79 and 27, backing that up with the fine bowling figures of 1/9, 6/27, 5/25 and 3/53.

The Belgrave Recreation Reserve was officially opened on 6 June 1925, prior to the football match between Belgrave and Scoresby.

1925/26 – The Lennard’s, Doc Jorgy and Fred

In a feat that will probably never be repeated, Belgrave plundered 6/489 in 180 minutes against Emerald on 7 November 1925. Brothers Alf and Sutton Lennard put on 298 for the 4th wicket (yes, that’s right 298!) after Alf and Fred Carrington had put on 90 for the 3rd wicket. Top scorers were Alf Lennard 200, Sutton Lennard 119, Fred Carrington 84, and, in his first game, Dr Elef Jorgensen 62. The next week Emerald was routed for 71 and 6/120 with Doc Jorgensen taking 9/38. A few weeks later the good doctor returned 7/31 against Silvan.

Belgrave made it three in a row under Fred Carrington winning the 1925/26 premiership but unfortunately this was to be Fred’s last. He died on 23 September 1926. A minutes silence was held at the MDCA meeting later that day as a mark of respect for the Belgrave stalwart and ex FTG CC star player. Perhaps fittingly, Fred’s last season at Belgrave corresponded with the first season of another Belgrave legend, Doc Jorgy.

Dr Elef Jorgensen was the local Doctor and built the bluestone house that is now Jorgie’s Restaurant in the main street of Belgrave (opposite the Cameo). He had a practice in Emerald and would often arrive late in the day after doing his rounds. Bill McCormack tells a story of the side hanging on by skin of their teeth waiting for Doc Jorgy to arrive in a game against Silvan in the 1930s. The Doc finally turned up and saved the day in a last wicket partnership with Bill of 100+, in which Bill made about 2 or 3.

1928/29 – Back to Back to Back to Back and off to RDCA

Belgrave made it four in a row, winning the MDCA premiership in 1928/29. We held our own in the RDCA, competing against Ringwood Centrals, Wonga Park, Boronia, Ringwood East, Croydon, Kilsyth, Ringwood and Bayswater. Belgrave’s J Mitchell won the RDCA “A” grade batting average while Dr Jorgensen blasted 151 in 70 minutes against Ringwood Centrals. Alf Miller had returned to Belgrave this season after spending the last three years at FTG CC.

1930/31 – Upper Gully gets Timed Out in a Final Against Belgrave

In a C grade final against Belgrave, Upper Gully needed just 10 runs to win with three wickets in hand at the end of the 2nd days play. With play scheduled to start at 2.15pm the Belgrave Captain asked the Umpires to call a forfeit at 2.19pm, which they duly did. Despite a protest to the tribunal, the game and the premiership were awarded to Belgrave. Must be something in the water!

The following season, 1931/32, was Belgrave’s last in the RDCA. We fielded two sides, an “A” and a “B” grade with Dr Jorgensen wining the RDCA “B” grade batting average. 

1933/34 and the Great Flood

Belgrave, captained by Doc Jorgensen, and Ferntree Gully, captained by George Meredith, were set to play off for the premiership at Emerald but the game fizzled to a lame draw after rain intervened on three consecutive Saturdays. The MDCA awarded the pennant to both clubs, the Gully still have theirs. While we don’t have the pennant, we do have the Shield and it may surprise you to learn that it only has one name against that year – you guessed it, Belgrave!

The Late 30s, Unrest in Europe but Halcyon Days at Belgrave

Belgrave and the Gully played off for the flag again in 1936/37. Belgrave squeezes an outright victory chasing 37 to win in the 2nd innings and managing to lose 5 wickets along the way in a very tight contest. Rev Boquest, the local minister, was the star for the winners carrying his bat through the first innings for 110 no. Wally Tew was the star performer with the ball for the Gully.

L. Horsborugh won the bowling average for Belgrave with an average of 5, his trophy sits on the shelf in the Clubrooms noting that he took 5/21 including a hat-trick. We don’t know how many premierships he played in but it was a golden era for the club with three consecutive flags from 1936/37 to 1938/39 and then again in 1945/46.

Recollections of The Don: Memories of the Post War Years

This section is based on the recollections of Don Claringbould. A great servant of the club, Don was not only a fine cricketer but also a major contributor off the field (see my reference to Don in his list of great players from the 60s and 70s).

Post-war cricket at Belgrave was one of mixed yearly involvement, some years it was cricket, often football and even fire brigade administered.

Some of the early names: Dr Elef Jorgensen, Jim McCart, Les Hayes, Ted Fitton, Bill McCormack, Fred Preston and Bob Meyers were regular players, even before 1946.

Cricket in the 60s took a turn for the better with the appointment of a new football coach, Noel Carroll. Something of a minor celebrity in the town because of his football career at Fitzroy and Brunswick.

Noel and a couple of young players, Bill Connell and Alan Douglas, set about the task of building a true cricket club. By the mid 60s a solid group of players were recruited. Don Claringbould joined the club in 1966, captaining the side to the “A” grade flag defeating Emerald in the final at Gembrook. Undoubtedly the highlight being an opening stand by Noel Carroll and Gary Thompson of 198 runs, still unbeaten today, with neither scoring a ton.

The competition, MDCA, disbanded and Belgrave moved to the neighbouring FTG association and we were fortunate to recruit both Phil Hastings and Doug Arney, from Clematis and Gembrook respectively.

Belgrave had to become serious in the new competition of long established clubs and our white knight arrived in the name of Graham Dickey. Graham had played sub-district at Box Hill and as a junior was well known in cricketing circles but it was his local business and home in Belgrave that paved the way for thirteen years of superb batting. Eight centuries in “A” grade has only been equalled once in the past 20 years – Lance Symons with nine.

In 1973, the club recruited Kevin Sonogan as coach, with senior experience at St.Kilda, and enticed both Kevin Duane and Vic Jessop to join giving Belgrave the best bowling attack in the competition. Our efforts to improve continued and in 1976 Lance Symons joined as coach, recruiting John Crofts and Andy Forbes to bolster the team. The 70s were heady days, four and later five teams, a clubroom that was packed every Saturday night and tremendous rivalry between the respective grades.

A brief word to give the picture of the clubrooms during these twenty years. In the 60s we had a football pavilion of two rooms which was enlarged with the building of a social room, nothing like the club of today. Bare floorboards, eventually covered with traditional black and white tiles, an oil heater which really didn’t warm the room. An initial order of fifty green chairs and some makeshift tables paid for by “pleasant Sunday mornings”, highly illegal but necessary to provide the funds to function. During this era the club grew in reputation. A very competitive club that treated visiting teams to outstanding hospitality and enjoyed success with great function. The cricket club was economically very sound, it made solid contributions to the ground and pavilion improvements. It was a great platform for the next twenty years.

Great players of the late 60s and 70s, across all grades, were:

Jim Mackie, Alan Douglas, and Bill Connell were great stalwarts of the club through the 60s and 70s, who did an exceptional amount of work for the club in addition to contributing on the field. Young fellas like Barry Preston, Len O’Donnell and David Wright emerged in the 60s and were great contributors over many years. Others such as John Jackson, Chris Watts, Phil Ireland and Geoff Bausch all performed well as bowlers in the later period.

The 1980’s – A Decade of Change

Since the beginning of the 1980's the Belgrave Cricket Club has experienced many highs and lows, which have helped forge it's culture and has made it a stronger and more durable unit.
 
It is a very family oriented club where all involved mingle freely and with no pre-conceptions of where they sit in the 'pecking order' on the playing field, and many partners of the players are actively involved and play a strong role in the off field activities.
 
When you come to play cricket at Belgrave you quickly learn of it's culture and integrity.
 
The early 1980's saw the emergence of a group of young men who graduated from the club's junior ranks. These included the Toms boys (Neville and Lynton), Stuart Harvey, Damien Argoon and Ross Andrews who have represented, and in some cases continue to represent Belgrave on the playing arena. They have played a substantial role both on and off the field in and laid the foundation for the club's present position of stability.
 
This period also saw the arrival of the 'Parkfield' boys who followed David Collie who was appointed coach of Belgrave for the 1983/1984 season. These players as well David played many games in the firsts for the two seasons in which David coached. There was also another arrive of tremendous significance and this was none other than Glen Cook who was a fiery, quick left arm bowler, who during the few seasons at the club dominated the bowling scene in the association. This was capped with the accolade of association best and fairest (Feaver Medal) in 1985/86 season.
 
During David Collie's tenure the firsts played in a heated Semi-Final against Bluebirds which unfortunately resulted in a narrow loss. The game was quite spiteful as Bluebirds were not known for being very sportsmanlike and had a win at all costs mentality. However for longevity alone a great success from the influx of players from Parkfield would be none other than Hall of Fame member, Albert Collie, who still plays senior cricket. His 24 seasons at the club have netted a remarkable 9 bowling trophies in the 2nd and 3rd XI.  
 
The latter years of the 1980's saw the return of club great Lance Symons for a brief period as coach, and whilst they were very competitive the ultimate victory was not to be achieved. Other coaches also plied their trade without the ultimate success.

The 1990’s – Success Again but Troubled Times Lingered

In the early 1990's the club signed a former Sri-Lankan test squad member Sunny Siramana as coach, which created a great deal of excitement and great expectations. Whilst Sunny illustrated a magnificent batting technique and great prowess as a quick bowler on the training track, this did not transfer across to the playing field on a Saturday. This coupled with his lack of presence from a leadership aspect, did not result in the success that was anticipated.
 
Following this disappointing interlude the club did recruit a player as coach and leader who delivered the goods both on the training track and the playing field. Les Pimm was highly regarded in the Mornington Peninsula league prior to his arrival at Belgrave as a left arm fast bowler and hard hitting lower order batsmen. Les led the club to a memorable victory against Bluebirds in the 1995/96 final which broke the drought of 18 years without a first grade premiership, the longest in the clubs history.
 
However, during these early periods of the 1990's the club, whilst it had a core regulars, saw many players wander away. This led to difficulties in fielding even three sides and financially the situation became of great concern. At this point in time there was talk of mergers with other clubs and this resulted in discussions with the committee of the Upwey Cricket Club who were more interested in a takeover and had their sights firmly fixed on the Toms brothers. Fortunately due to the great efforts of Ross Andrews and various other dedicated Belgrave members the union with Upwey did not eventuate and the Belgrave Cricket Club decided to go it alone. 

Nearing our Centenary – An Onfield Transformation

The very late 1990's again saw an influx of a group of players from the Templeton Cricket Club who swelled the clubs playing ranks and formed the foundations for future successes. From this point to the present day those who remain (Ben Carnell & Martin Wood), with the addition of Nick Bole-Brown, Scott Vozzo, Neville and Lynton Toms, David Ayre, David Booth, Johnathon Levell, Simon Hill and Leigh Newey have resulted in the club snaring three 1st XI flags, two in Knox Tavern Cup and one in Decoite Shield.

The premiership success in 2003/2004 was the pick of the bunch with Belgrave sitting in fifth (and outside the final four) heading into the last round found some form. An excellent win over St Johns Tecoma in the final round ensured a berth in the finals. The Semi-Final will be remembered for years as the boys from the end of Reserve Road headed to rivals Upwey and staged a remarkable fight back to book a place in the final. Batting first, Belgrave scratched out a score of 155 only to find them in trouble with Upwey cruising at 3/105 in reply. Inspired spells by David Goodger (5/32 off 17 overs) and Nick Bole-Brown (3/37 of 20 overs) saw Belgrave victorious by 10 runs. This game marked the end of a long period of dominance by the Upwey Cricket Club who had won 5 of the previous 6 premierships. And if the Semi-Final wasn’t close enough, the Final versus Upper Ferntree Gully did well to trump the match from a week earlier. Again batting first Belgrave posted a moderate total of 9/165 with no batsman making it past 30. Not to dissimilar from the week before, Belgrave were on the back foot with UFTG in control heading into Tea with the score at 3/79. However it was to be Belgrave’s day as Nick Bole-Brown (4/52 off 31 overs) and club legend Lynton Toms (2/66 off 33 overs) restricted UFTG to 9/160 at the end of their allotted overs.
 
All sporting clubs have their characters and personalities, and Belgrave is no exception to the norm in this regard. Some of the colourful personalities that the club has seen in recent years have been Craig McPherson, John Wade, Damien Argoon, Brad Wiseman and the late Rory Drennan. Each have provided the club with long standing support over the years and more importantly some light hearted humour over the journey. In addition to this, the club has been fortunate to have had the service of a prominent personality not only around Belgrave but also around the association. Bryan Mitchell played in six veterans premiership winning teams, been President and scored for the 1st XI for well over decade since his arrival to the club.

Moving Forward

November 2007 marked the centenary celebrations which saw the club recognise their past heroes and celebrate the successes in the previous 100 years. The club of today finds itself in a very strong position on all fronts with a large junior base has the ingredients for hopefully a bright and successful future.  It has taken a lot of hard work by many people to ensure club is run professionally both on and off the field. Recent efforts, since the ill-fated merger, by Ross Andrews, Ian and Gael Levell, Paul Chaproniere, Stuart Harvey, Noel Dodds, David Hoppner and Brett Hull and more recently Dana Smith has resurrected the club as one of the most respected in the association. With the assistance of generous long term sponsor Airepair (Brad Wiseman) and recent sponsors; Rapid Fencing (Ben Carnell), MiCut (John Griffin), Mayerling Cellars and Wizard/Aussie Home Loans (Doug Andrews), Belgrave is soundly moving in the right direction.

On field success, built on past legacies, continues to shine through. From multiple generations of the Preston family playing at the club, to the shift in professionalism of the 60’s and the 70’s and the players of today; It is important to remember the deeds done by great men (and women), in the past, so that we can forge our own dynasty as we head into the future.