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| 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 |
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