The Johnson Park Cricket Club was founded in 1967, when a few local members at the time got
together and thought that the local area needed a sporting club in the summer months. The likes of
Eddie Mathews (our first president), Barry and Lyn Rattle, Michael Roodhouse (formed the first
committee of JPCC) and Barry Rattle (captained the team) put together twelve to fourteen players and
entered a team in the Ringwood District Cricket Association. The first home ground used was Benedick
Park in Knoxfield. The first game was played at home and resulted in a win against the Knoxfield Cricket
Club. This rivalry has continued throughout the years with both clubs
now playing against each other for the Paffet Shield in honour of the late Mark Paffet who was a past
champion and premiership player at both clubs.
The Club in 1970 moved to Fairpark Reserve in Ferntree Gully, where we still remain today. A local
member of the area Jim Johnson donated the land so that a sporting oval could be made for local
cricket and later football. In 1971 we formed our first junior team in the under 16's and in the same year
we won our first senior premiership playing in C Grade against Mooroolbark CC. A great fighting come
back by JPCC as we were 4/20 until Michael Roodhouse and Alan Jordan came to the wicket and put on
a 230+ run partnership, with Roodhouse (138) and Jordan (112) leading the team to victory. The senior
club went on to win four more premierships in the 70's and 80's. The club won its first junior
premiership in 1973/74 and went on to win two more in the
70s and 80s.
The club was bolstered by a number of talented juniors in these years with a number of players
representing the club in the state-wide Under 16 Dowling Shield competition. We also produced one
outstanding player Warren Whiteside, who went on to play District Cricket with the Richmond and St
Kilda Cricket Clubs, winning three Ryder Medals for the best player in District cricket. Warren also played
1st class cricket for Victoria which was in the prestigious Shefield Shield competition.
The committee in 1987 decided in the best interest of the club that it should move from the RDCA to the
Ferntree Gully District Cricket Association (FTGDCA). In our first year we started in Second Division
named the Neilson Shield Reserve playing off in the grand final but losing to the Knox Cricket Club. Mal
Francis was voted the best player in the competition that year winning the Ron Lomax Medal. In 1988/89
we won our first senior FTGDCA premiership on the first day of the final against Mt Gate bowling them
out for 109 and finishing the day at 1/158. Our second XI and third XI senior teams also won
premierships with the seconds winning over four days in a rain interrupted match by taking 3/0 in the
first few overs of day four. The next year we moved into the FTGDCA first Division grade named the
Neilson Shield where we played in finals for a number of years with no success. We won three more
lower grade premierships in the 90s and won our first Veterans Flag in 1996/97. Our junior ranks again
bolstered by a lot of talented players won premierships in 1997/98 in the under 16's and under 14's. The
club also produced many junior
FTGDCA zone nine and Dowling Shield representatives.
The club in 1998/99 was disappointing in its senior ranks, being relegated back to the FTGDCA Second
Division, which was now named the DeCoite Shield. In this year ex-junior Josh Dowling made the move
to District Cricket at the Dandenong Cricket Club where he later played in their first eleven side in
2002/03. In 1999/00 the senior side was young but very competitive and only missed out by three points
in playing in the finals. The under 14's won the premiership that year in a strong period that produced
three under 14 flags in four years. The club also played in seven consecutive under 16 (later changed to
under 17) grand finals in a row winning three flags.
In 1999/2000 the club recruited well from the District ranks with Bryn Gaunt as Captain Coach where he
helped set up a structure throughout the club, promoting our best juniors to the senior ranks, specialist
coaching for all members and selecting the right people in the right positions. The club also had a slight
name change, adding the Sharks moniker to become the Johnson Park Sharks CC and also
introducing a club theme song. Bryn went on to win the Lomax medal - best and fairest in Decoite Shield
- in his first year at the club.
In 2000/01 we had another inclusion from the district ranks in Hawthorn Waverley’s all rounder Paul
Barber. Paul played 106 district matches and won Hawthorns club champion in their premiership year.
Paul brought a lot of experience and professionalism into our club. Paul became our clubs highest run
maker in our senior eleven making 801 runs in his last year. Paul represented the FTGDCA in many
games and also played in the Victoria country team and in 2003 played for Australia Country against the
New Zealand team at the Bowral Oval in New South Wales.
We remained in DeCoite Shield for five years playing in finals every year losing in the semi final each
year, until winning the premiership in 2002/03 against the Lysterfield CC. A great performance by Craig
Wenham taking 5/45 off 25 overs and winning the Ken Utting medal for best player in the Grand Final.
Our junior section had again been very successful in competing in finals every year and winning four
premierships in four years. The club again had a number of talented
juniors representing the club in Dowling Shield, FTGDCA and Mitchell Shield (Under 12 carnival) with
numerous players moving to District Cricket.
In our first year back in the first division now called the Knox Tavern Cup were not looking too good, with
thirteen of our senior players either retiring, moving on or playing District cricket. The club was again
able to recruit well, bringing one of their own players back to the club from
District ranks. Josh Dowling was appointed captain/coach of the Sharks and his enthusiasm and
motivation enabled the club to stay in the highest grade. Josh became the sharks' second player to be
selected in the Victorian Country side that went on to win the Australian Country Championships.
Ex Johnson Park junior, Steve Seymour went onto to District cricket and represented Prahan in 7 of their
First X1 games for the 2004-2005 season.
To everyone's credit the club was competitive in every game throughout 2004/2005 and had a steady
year, the first eleven missing out on the finals but also only just missing out on relegation as well.
2004/2005 yet again saw the Johnson Park Cricket Club moving forward with the recruitment of a Sri
Lankan test cricketer. Dulip Samaraweera who joined the ranks as an assistant senior coach and junior
development coach along with the re-appointment of Josh Dowling as the senior Captain Coach. The
season yet again was a consistent year, with the first X1 just missing out on the finals by seven match
points. The inclusion of Dulip to our ranks was a successful move as Dulip was our first Feaver Medalist
for the best and fairest player in the FTGDCA highest grade, the Knox Tavern Cup. Dulip also won our
three highest awards within our senior ranks winning our batting, bowling and club champion awards.
The club also had our second eleven playing in the finals for the first time for a number of years, but it
wasn't their year. In the junior ranks we again had a number of junior teams in the finals, with only our
under 13's becoming premiers. The club again had a number of competition representative players and
in his second year at District level, Ben Stallworthy made his debut for the Hawthorn Monash Uni CC.
Steven Seymour had another great year by making the Victorian under 19 team.
In 2005/2006, Peter Dunlop (Fitzroy/Doncaster), Andrew Devenish and Mark Winton (both Hawthorn
Monash) made their 1st XI Premier Cricket debuts. The first XI struggled for consistency but managed to
beat some top sides after Christmas. The highlights of the season were Steve Bowen making the
Victorian Country U/19 side; Premierships in the 13 2's and the Veterans winning Division 2; Dulip
Samaraweera breaking the FTGDCA Highest Individual Score by making 235* versus Knoxfield at JPCC
and also winning the Competition Batting Average (ave 83.00); and Bryn Gaunt winning the Country
Week Player of the Series with Dulip and Bryn becoming part of the successful Country Week Team
which earned a promotion back to Provincial by winning Division 2 at Noble Park CC.
In 2006/2007 the first XI made the finals for the first time in the top grade since 1994/95 under Craig
Wenham (his first year as captain). The highlights were Dulip Samaraweera winning his second Feaver
Medal and Competition Batting Award (ave 112.00); Bryn Gaunt playing in the Victorian Country Side that
won the Australian Country Championship at Mildura; Steve Bowen and English import
wicketkeeper/batsman Elliot Hind playing in the Victorian Country U/19 side; and Mark Halse making
258 in the third XI (A club record).
In 2007/2008 the first XI made the finals again under Craig Wenham, but even with a heroic century for
Mal Francis they fell short in the Semi final. The Highlights for the season were Dulip Samawareera
winning another competition batting average (ave 85.60); John Simmonds winning his first competition
batting average in B.2 (ave 46.62); Premierships in the under 13 2's, 15 2's and B.2 divisions; Bryn
Gaunt playing in the Victorian Country Side held in Mackay, QLD; and Steve Bowen playing in the
Victorian Country U/21 side.
The 2008/09 season saw the return of Peter Dunlop as captain/coach from District Cricket and with a
number of other senior recruits, it looked like a promising season for the club. The 1st XI made the
finals for the third year in a row, but once again came up short in the semi-final. Our 4th XI side was the
only side to win a flag, doing it in style by winning on day one. A great effort by Brendan Duke taking 7/9
to bowl the opposition out for 38 and in reply JP was 1/42. Winning the FTGDCA 20/20 comp and being
only one game away from playing at the MCG for the state final was a huge accomplishment for the club.
Well done to all that played to achieve this result. Highlights for the year were Bryn Gaunt & Peter Dunlop
making the Vic Country team and Stephen Bowen making the Vic Country under 21s side for the 4th year
running, with David Carmen also playing for the first time. Well done to Chris Nied for winning the
FTGDCA Div 6 Batting award and to all the Sharks that made hundreds and took seven wicket hauls.
Special congratulations to newcomer Simon Reynolds for a great 200no.
No doubt the big news for the season was the retirement of one of our greatest cricketers - JPCC Club
Legend, Mal Francis. Mal has been JPCC's longest serving first XI player and member, our highest run
maker and the greatest century maker. Mal you have been a credit to yourself, your family and the
Sharks. Congratulations on your career at JPCC. Mal will still be around the club fine tuning the next
generation as coach of our under 12's. Mal has also decided to take up a career in umpiring. The
Sharks wish you well Chook !
This season the club is looking forward to a successful year in all grades with Peter Dunlop as Club
Captain and Coach,Tim Reid as Assitant Coach, Adam Burgess' addition to the club, along with a
number of other senior recruits.
Go the Sharks!!!
|
|
