It was 90 years ago on 29 April 1927 at a meeting initiated by club legend, Charles Duncan, that the Myrtle Park Cricket Club was formed. The first annual meeting was held on 9 August 1927 at which a constitution was passed. Fees were set for the first season at 10 shillings and six pence, part of which was used towards the construction of a concrete wicket in Myrtle Park and purchase of materials.
The first ever premiership was achieved in season 1929-30 when the 1st XI won the B matting final. In 1937-38 the Club was renamed the North Balwyn Cricket Club and nicknamed the “Red Robins” after the famous maroon cap! The Club and its maroon cap have survived to this day, but the nickname has changed to the North Balwyn Bulls, coined in more recent years after the main turf wicket located on the DS Bull oval at Macleay Park, North Balwyn.
From these beginnings the Club has experienced its ups and downs. For instance during WW2, 37 members enlisted in the armed forces, thus reducing the number of teams. The original clubrooms were built at Macleay Park in 1962 and these were replaced with great fanfare by a new state of the art pavilion, officially opened on 25 November 2007.
Success, in terms of premierships won, has been mixed. A highlight season was in 2008-09 when the 1st, 2nd and 4th XI teams all won premierships, as did the U16 Gold, U12 Gold, U10 Gold and E Grade Veteran teams, making this the most successful on field season in the Club’s history. Some may also argue that new heights were achieved in season 2011/12 when 12 of a possible 16 teams able to play finals, competed in the semi finals (5 out of 6 senior teams, 1 out of 3 veteran teams and 6 out of 7 junior teams). This occasion was celebrated in style on “Super Semi Final Sunday” in March 2012. Premierships were subsequently won by the 1st XI, U16 Gold and U14 Black teams. 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 have been a good period for the Club with three, four or five Senior teams playing semi-finals each year. During 2016/17 the 1st XI won the Dunstan Shield for the first time in 51 years. It was wonderful to see so many of the Club's Life Members (including players from the previous Dunstan Shield team) in attendance.
Today the Club has a very strong player and membership base, both in the senior and junior sections. It has a committed and active committee that has a vision for the Club to continue to be competitive at the highest possible level. The nets/training facilities were replaced in 2012/13, and the synthetic wicket and surrounds on Macleay 2 in 2016.
It is with great excitement that the Club is now planning a major celebratory event at MAIA for the achievement of 90 years of community cricket, on Saturday 24 February, 2018.
Go Bulls ........
