Club History
Burwood Cricket Club (BCC) was founded in 1873 and flourished as the suburb for which it was named developed. From its very early days, it was, and has remained, a community club. Its foundation members served their community at the same time as they served the Club and later their country in two world wars.
BCC's first recorded success occurred in 1879 when its members won a box of cricket tools for their success in a competition between other local clubs. In 1891 BCC won the coveted Gilmour Trophy for a match played over six weekends against rivals, Box Hill. The trophy was provided by Club President Andrew Gilmour, a successful accountant who occupied one of the district's most impressive mansions, a building once called Hetherse' and now within the grounds of PLC.
The ornate Gilmour Trophy (right) was lost for many years and recently returned to the Club. It is a rare example of a cricket trophy and takes pride of place in BCC archives.
In the early 1900s Burwood’s ground, Burwood Reserve, had a concrete pitch installed and the Club played in the Boroondara Electorate Competition. During this time, BCC’s longest serving President, Joshua Jordan was elected and remained in the role for the next two decades. Like many at BCC, he worked hard for his community and served the Mulgrave Shire Council for an unmatched 33 years. The suburb, of Jordanville, was named after him. It was during Jordan’s era that the first BCC clubrooms were erected on the Burwood Reserve and the Club has gone on to have a presence on the Reserve for the ensuing 115 years. Pioneer players from this period include members of the Hurrey, Pepperell, Mills, Vear, and Jordan families.
Burwood Reserve, showing the pavilion, c 1938.
In 1922, BCC joined the Burwood & District Cricket Association (BDCA) and won both its A and B Grade competitions in the 1925-26 season and again in the 1926-27 season. Starring players were Charlie Nokes, Gordon Whitfield, and the two Reverends, Ivory, and Neilson.
By this time, local chemist Ted Turner was President and was the first man in the Club to be awarded Life Membership. Both A and B grades were Premiers again in the 1930-31 season and Burwood B Grade were Premiers in the 1937-38 season.
B Grade Premiers 1937-1938, two of the most generous supporters of the Club are with the players wearing suits, Joshua Jordan on the left and Maurice Hutton on the right.
The years 1946-1964 are considered the Club’s “glory years” as BCC won a series of premierships in this period which saw BCC evolve into an almost unbeatable team. In season 1945-46, BCC A and B grade were both Premiers. In the late 1940s two men who would play vital roles with BCC started in the juniors – Lindsay Kline and Max Warner, Kline would go on to play Test cricket for Australia. BCC A grade was again Premiers in season 1956-57 and then between the years 1959-1963 BCC A Grade were the undefeated Premiers and because of the number of wins retained the VA Rider Shield which is preserved in the Club’s archive. BCC B grade also won the 1958-59 premiership, and the Club was a mighty force in the late 1950s through to the mid-1960s. The 1960s were BCCs most successful decade to date with not only premierships won but incredible individual performances, including that of Bob Sykes who took each of the ten wickets in a game against Burwood South in which he recorded 10 for 81! Other stars from this era were Peter Sunderland, Hugh Luff, Max Packer, Jim Anderson, and Max Warner.
Some of the many trophies BCC won in its “glory days” between the years 1946-1964.
In 1964 a turf wicket was laid at Burwood Reserve, which was also the year that saw the first paid coaches and players and the entry of BCC into the Eastern Suburbs Cricket Association (ESCA). The Club worked hard in a tougher competition and its efforts were rewarded when the Club's 1st XI won the Premiership in the 1968-69 season, and with it the Dunstan Shield.
BCC 1st XI, ECA 1968-69 premiers
The 2nd XI also won the Premiership (C Grade Turf) that season and Burwood was back to its best. Three juniors in this era would go on to become Club Legends for their service to the Club – Ron Luff, John Edgar, and Mal Fielden. In the 1973-74 season BCC Under 12’s coached by Lindsay Kline were Premiers and in the 1975-76 season BCC Third XI B Grade were the ESCA matting Premiers.
The Club would have to wait until the 1989-1990 season to finally win the A Turf Premiership and regain a place in the ESCA Senior Turf competition. The side was coached by irrepressible David Power and the grand final game featured a remarkable opening partnership of 252 runs by Michael Grace and Mal Fielden, as yet unmatched in Club history. This was the first 1st XI premiership since season 1968-69 and the Club celebrated well into the early hours.
BCC 1989-90 ECA A Turf Premiers
Building on this, BCC were Senior Turf Premiers and winners of the Dunstan Shield in season 1991-92. In season 1992-1993, BCC Third XI won the ESCA matting Premiership, and the President’s XI won the ESCA “E matting” Premiership the following season. BCC 1st XI was once more Senior Turf Premiers in season 1994-95 beating archrivals Ashburton in a thrilling game under the leadership of Captain Coach Shaun Stewart. The following season saw the 2nd XI winning the 1996-97 D Grade Turf Premiership, breaking a 30-year drought for the 2nd XI.
The new century saw the Club fundraising for new clubrooms which opened in 2013. There were no more 1st and 2nd XI premierships until 2013 when the 2nd XI won the ESCA B Grade Turf Premiership. In the early 2000s, a range of new club formats was trialed, and the juniors were rightly recognised as the future of the Club which from that time embraced the new BCC motto, “One Club.” The newly introduced Veterans teams won premierships and were delighted to still be playing great cricket, overcoming the inevitable injuries from years spent at the crease.
The 1st XI were finally Premiers again in season 2016-17. The Club had a strong executive and a leadership plan in place and went on to celebrate the success of the inaugural women’s, girls’, and all-abilities teams. BCC women won the Women’s Community Cricket Association Senior Women’s One Day Premiership in season 2019-20 coached by Rick Cullinan.
BCC senior women’s Premiers 2020.
BCC survived COVID and won numerous awards for its work as a community and inclusive Club every year from 2019. The Club celebrated its 150th year in 2023 and won the Community Sporting Club of the Year in 2023 at the prestigious Victorian Sports Awards as well as the Victorian Club of the Year award at the 2023 Good Sports Victorian Club of the Year and was named runner-up for the national Club of the Year. Burwood Cricket Club has come a long way since its foundation in 1873 and continues to look to its future with passion and enthusiasm.
The BCC at Burwood Reserve celebraXng InternaXonal Women’s Day, 2023 #Embrace Equity.
You can learn more about the Club’s fascinating story by reading its official history, Community at the Crease, contact the Club to secure your copy.