Cricket club to celebrate 150 years

AFTER months of organisation, the Inverleigh Cricket Club will mark their one-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary this weekend.

Vice-president David Peel said this Saturday evening, 26 November will be a special one at the clubrooms as they celebrate their 150th season.

“The club was established in in 1872, with the first known match played on February 6, 1874. The game was held between Inverleigh and Mount Moriac,” he said.

“Many greats of the Inverleigh Cricket Club will be honoured on Saturday night at the clubs 150th Anniversary Dinner and sitting prominently among them will be Alan Peel, who produced some amazing performances across the 34 years of his career.

“As well as a highest score of 205, Alan also took an astonishing 705 career wickets with 9/21 in the 1955-56 grand final which is a highlight.”

Mr Peel said the club has had strong teams throughout their century-and-a-half but had “astounding” success immediately after the Second World War.

“The club won the Lumb Shield on 12 occasions during a 17-year burst of dominance, with Alan and Stuart Peel and the Wishart brothers Doug and Rob at the height of their powers,” he said.

Earlier in the year, members were seeking any people who had been involved with the club, and those with memorabilia, cricket hats, scorebooks, or stories, so they could be shared on the night.

“The event will allow past and present players and their families to get together to reminisce on old memories, celebrate premierships and tell stories,” Mr Peel said.

“The evening will also see the first ever legends of the Inverleigh Cricket Club named, celebrating past players for their extraordinary contribution on and off the field.”