History

1978-79

West Coburg Cricket Club approaches the City of Yarra council about relocating its home base to the Alfred Crescent Oval, which has a pavilion but no pitch, and changing its name to suit the area. The committee puts forward a number of different names to its members with Edinburgh Cricket Club being the triumphant name. The council lays a pitch in time for the start of the 1979-80 season.

1979-80

Formation of the Edinburgh Cricket Club (2 senior teams and one U16 junior team) participating in the Northern and Combined Churches Cricket Association. Our home ground is Alfred Crescent oval. The club mandate is simply 'Help get the kids off the street'

1980-81

ECC again fields two senior teams and a U14 team who finish the season undefeated and go on to win Edinburgh's first premiership flag by 4 runs. John Blackman becomes the club's patron.

1981-82

Ron Kelly becomes ECC's first president after the controlling committee is declared null and void due to new laws stating that sporting clubs must become Proprietary Limited entities with an elected board or committee. ECC adopts the motto 'The force of the future' and starts work on implementing a constitution. U16's finish runners-up. Wayne Warner becomes ECC's first life member for his tireless work to enable the formation of the Edinburgh Cricket Club.

1982-83

ECC fields 3 senior & 2 junior sides, entering an U12 team for the first time. The fledgling U12's team records what is probably the clubs lowest score (all out for 4) and one U12 lad is banned from ECC after regularly being caught with his hand in the canteen till. All Senior XIs & U16s make the finals with the 3rd XI winning the clubs first senior premiership flag by 68 runs and the U16s unlucky in the grand final going down by 7 runs. Kevin Field wins the NCCCA batting and bowling awards.

1983-84

2nd XI wins the last game of the season to qualify for the finals and goes all the way too win the B grade flag. The club faced some difficult off field moments and after much debating two players depart the club prior to the season commencing. Ron Kelly stands down as president/secretary after a number of personality issues throughout the season, but reconsiders and stands again the following season.

1984-85

Neil Price is appointed the clubs first coach. The all-conquering 2nd XI wins consecutive premiership in B grade. After 4 seasons Ron Kelly retires as club president.

1985-86

ECC inherit Brunswick Street oval as a home ground after the merger of Fitzroy & Doncaster VCA sides. Unfortunately the move coincides with one of the clubs most disappointing years to date. Trouble is experienced with playing numbers, training attendances, last minute withdrawals and late arrivals to games. The flow on affect causes the 3rd XI to fold after just two matches and the 2nd XI to lose the last game of the year, just missing out on the finals. The club is at the cross-roads.

1986-87

Due to the previous seasons problems ECC no longer has a team in A grade and fields only one senior team for the first time in its history. However junior numbers remain consistent with the club fielding U16, U14 & U12 teams. A revamped Executive, headed by Rob Greenaway implements a number of objectives to inject confidence back in to the club. U12s & U14s respond by making the finals.

1987-88

The re-building of Edinburgh is on track with the club again fielding two senior teams and both XIs play in the finals, but unfortunately both lose the grand final - the 1st XI going down by only 1 run. U14s finish the season undefeated, but also lose the grand final. After years of dedicated work, Rob Greenaway is awarded a life membership.

1988-89

After the recent troubles, ECC has a much-improved year on and off the field. The U14s again narrowly lose the grand final, however the efforts ECC have put in to coaching the juniors is rewarded with a number of players selected in the Victoria U17 & U15 development squads, VCA U16 Dowling Shield & U14 Hatch teams. Peter Shadbolt is recognised for many years of service when he is awarded life membership.

1989-90

The club records one of its best years with 100 players representing the club in 6 club & 2 social teams and along with the juniors, the club now has a platform to build upon. U16s, U14s & U12s all make the finals, with the U14s winning the premiership after making the finals for 4 years in a row. The club fields four U12 sides, which includes two development teams, with the Gold team losing the grand final.

1990-91

The club field's senior teams in the HDCA for the first time after the dissolution of the NCCCA. The 1st XI play-off in the finals and U12 Golds win the premiership flag. Another strong year for the club with membership growing for the third year in a row.

1991-92

Membership continues to grow and the club fields a total of seven teams. In an all Edinburgh U12 grand final Maroons defeat Gold to take the flag.

1992-93

Some of the worst weather ever recorded for a summer sees a large number of games abandoned at all levels. Unfortunately this proves costly for the 1st XI and U16s who narrowly miss out on the finals. Again our U12s are too strong with the Lions this time taking out the premiership.

1993-94

Again the juniors show up the seniors with the U16s finishing the season in fourth place. In another all Edinburgh final, this time in the U14s, the Lions defeat Gold to take out the flag, with the Maroons finishing 3rd. The U12 Golds win another flag, making it four in a row. Bill Lawry becomes the club's patron.

1994-95

On field success has finally rubbed off on the seniors with both sides making the finals. However it is our juniors who once again dominate the season. U12 Kookas win the flag, with Gold finishing 3rd. U14 Gold this time brings home the premiership flag and the U16s lose the grand final. Craig Cook retires after 7 years as president.

1995-96

ECC fields 3 senior and 7 junior teams with a total of 175 players representing the club in one of our most successful seasons ever with 5 premiership flags finding a home at ECC. The seniors win their first HDCA flag with both the 1st XI (3rd grade) & 2nd XI (5th grade) winning grand finals. U16 Gold, U14 Gold & U12 Gold also win their respective grand finals 'its gold, gold, gold for Edinburgh!!'

1996-97

Senior teams are promoted due to last season's grand final wins in to B & C grades. The 2nd XI, U16s & U14s all make the finals. However, making it seven flags in succession the U12s once again win the grand final, this time through the Maroons team. Craig Cook is awarded life membership after serving the club for years and is still the clubs longest reigning president.

1997-98

For the first season in 8 years the club does not win a flag. Practice facilities at Brunswick Street Oval are upgraded and the City of Yarra flags its intentions to redevelop the Brunswick Street Pavilion.

1998-99

Edinburgh's 1st XI wins the Grand final and is promoted to A grade. Our U14s also win the premiership and our U12s win every game of the season except the grand final. ECC is temporary unable to play matches at Brunswick street oval with the City of Yarra up grading the playing surface. Angus Lester is appointed senior coach.

1999-00

Our 21st season as a club again sees us as cricketing gypsies with Brunswick Street Oval surface upgrade continuing. The Fitzroy Sporting Alliance is formed with other local sporting clubs to strengthen our community collaboration and further our mutually benefiting long-term interests. For the first time ECC fields four senior teams and along with our junior teams, has over 200 players. A large number of juniors continue 'their rite of passage' into the senior ranks. Our two U14 teams both win flags in different divisions. Rob Simpson is awarded life membership for many years of outstanding achievements.

2000-01

ECC fields a womens team in the VWCA for the first time, bring a new and positive dimension to the club. The club returns to the Brunswick Street Oval after the surface upgrade was completed. The 3rd XI, U16s, U15s, U14s & U13s all compete in the finals, however none win the major prize.

2001-02

Everyone at the club is happy to see the women's XI continue in the VWCA. Second XI finishes runners-up in 3rd grade with Nick Shuttleworth winning the competitions bowling award. The Third XI makes the semi-finals and managed to smash one of the clubs highest team scores of 9/536 against the top side. The under 13s, 14s, 15s and 17s all make the finals with the under 14s & 17s unlucky not to win their grand finals. Angus Lester steps down as senior coach and Dave Edwards stands down as president.

2002-03

2003-04

Kristian McCausland appointed senior coach. The ECC 1st & 2nd XI revert back to Alfred Crescent Oval as a home ground due to the dangerous nature of the Brunswick Street Oval pitch. 3rd & 4th XI play on Brunswick Street Oval but bowl from one end only. City of Yarra begins re-surfacing work on Brunswick Street Oval prior to Christmas and the 3rd & 4th XI move their home games to Cox Oval. The First XI makes finals for the first time in the HDCA. Four out of five senior teams & two junior teams participate in the finals, with the U13s making it two premierships in a row & the Third XI finishing runners-up. Brad Shadbolt wins the HDCA batting award with an average of 63.63

2004-05

The ECC 1st XI play in their first HDCA grand final in the one day competition, but narrowly lost in the last over of the game. In the two day competition, the First XI was unbeaten prior to Christmas, but just makes the finals for the second season in a row. The one day team quilifies for thier first ever grand final, but in the end are worthy runners up. Also the womens team has a great season and make the finals for the first time. More encouraging is the number women joining the club this season. However it is the juniors once again, this season the U14s winning the grand final, taking the clubs premiership telly to 25

2005-06

A season of 'what if's' for the seniors with three of the four sides finishing fifth. The One-Day team made their grand final series before going down. The U/16 Greens and U/14 Blue's also make grand finals, but they too are defeated. The Ladies team continues to thrive.

2006-07

This was a great season for the club. 2 senior premierships were won, which includes our ladies winning their first ever preimership. The ladies lost one match for the entire season and won their semi with only 10 players! The ladies best player Julie Allan became the first ever ECC player to score a 1000 runs in a season. The other premiership was won by our Third XI, who finshed fourth at the end of the home away season, but came home strong - they easily beat 2nd on the ladder in last match of the year, then knocked off the ladder leaders in the semi by 1 run, and in the grand final cruised to an easy win over Banyule who had finished 3rd. Our Fourth XI won the one day flag and were unlucky in losing the 2-day grand final. Our U14s also had a great year, but unfortunately they went down in the grand final. Off the field, the club was working hard behind the scenes and were able to secure a number of facility upgrades to be completed by the Yarra Council over the next few years.

A poor year on the field for the Club, with only the Ladies XI and the One-Day team making grand finals. Despite winning 14 in a row, the ladies went down in their best of three grand final series, as did the One-Dayers. Season 2007-08 will be remembered for the fostering of youth, including the introduction of a winter coaching program and a host of juniors making their way into senior cricket. Assimilation of the seniors and ladies continued to go from strength-to-strength with the introduction of a combined Team of the Year. The first of the City of Yarra's major infrastructure projects for the Edinburgh Gardens was completed with new trainings nets in place.

Celebrating it's 30th Year Anniversary, the Club moved it's home from the old Alfred Crescent Pavillion back to the Brunswick Street Oval after the completion of renovations to the grandstand.  The Club began to honour its history more formerly, awarding numbered caps to senior men and ladies who have played in the First XI's, and also invested in some much-needed honour boards. The onfield highlight was the beginning on a second Ladies XI, however neither ladies teams made finals. Chris Branigan began as coach of the Senior Men with the Fourth XI losing their Grand Final and the Fifth XI making semi-finals.  Juniors continued to progress, however just the two sides made semi-finals.