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JPCC RULES & CONSTITUTION click here
Founded 1967
Premiers RDCA 1971/72, 1976/77, 1984/85
FTGDCA 1988/89, 2002/03
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.

This season the club is looking forward to a successful year in all
grades with the return of Peter Dunlop as Club Captain and Coach,
Dulip Samaraweera fit and ready to go, along with a number of other
senior recruits.

The club is looking forward to a successful year in all grades.

Go the Sharks!!!
HISTORY
HISTORY
To view the
JPCC RULES & CONSTITUTION
click here