Phoenix Cricket Club facts for kids
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| Personnel | |
|---|---|
| Captain | Adam Chester |
| Coach | Tyrone Kane |
| Team information | |
| Colors | Black, Red and Green |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Home ground | Phoenix Park |
Phoenix Cricket Club is a sports club located in Dublin, Ireland. It's a very old club, started in 1830! They have many teams for all kinds of players. This includes six teams for men, two for women, and lots of youth teams for different age groups. They even have a special team for players over 40 years old.
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The Story of Phoenix Cricket Club
Phoenix Cricket Club is the oldest cricket club in all of Ireland. It was started in 1830 by a man named John Parnell. He was the father of Charles Stewart Parnell, who later became a very famous Irish leader. Charles Stewart Parnell himself was a member of the club for a short time. Phoenix was founded about five years before another well-known club, Dublin University Cricket Club.
The club has almost always been based in Dublin's famous Phoenix Park. There was a short time, from 1835 to 1838, when they played their games in fields near the Grand Canal. In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1970s, Phoenix was the top cricket club in the Leinster area.
How Phoenix Cricket Club Started
Before 1834, club members met and practiced cricket right in the Phoenix Park. But in 1835, the club moved out of the park. They played their matches in open fields south of the canal.
Two important early members were Lord Dunloe and Lord Clonbrock. They were also members of the MCC in England. Along with V.E. Alcock, they helped the club grow a lot in its first 20 years. Newspapers at the time even called it the "Premier Club of Ireland." All the people who helped start the club were later given "Life Membership" for their hard work.
In February 1838, the club moved back to the Phoenix Park. The club kept getting bigger, and more people joined each year. They played about 20 to 25 matches every year. However, in 1846, the road through Phoenix Park was made wider. This meant the club had to move again. A new spot nearby was suggested. The "Board of Works" paid for the move, which cost £73. Phoenix Cricket Club has been playing at its current ground since 1847.
Playing Cricket Against Other Countries
The first time an Irish cricket team toured North America was in 1879. They played thirteen games against the Philadelphia cricket club. Ireland won ten of these games, tied two, and lost only one.
South Africa visited Ireland for the second time in 1901. At this time, there was a disagreement about how to choose the Irish team. Because of this, two main clubs from Dublin and some clubs from the North refused to let their players be chosen. The Irish team that was finally picked had ten players from Phoenix and one from Leinster.
By 1902, the argument about team selection was over. A group of players was chosen to play a practice match at the Phoenix ground in May 1902. This was to pick a team for a short tour in England. The first match was against a team led by the famous player W. G. Grace. The Irish team won that game! They lost their third match at Oxford but won the last game against Cambridge.
Joining the Leinster Senior League
The Leinster Senior League was created in 1919. Even though Phoenix had fewer members because of the Troubles, their team was still very good. For a long time, captains were chosen for each match. But in 1932, W. R. Allen became the first captain to lead the team for a whole season.
Celebrating 100 Years
Phoenix Cricket Club celebrated its 100th birthday without too much fuss. They played a match against a team chosen by R. H. Lambert, but rain affected the game.
Recent Years and Triumphs
The years from 1950 to 1970 were not as successful for the club. This was partly because the team was getting older. They won two cups in the 1950s, but they didn't win any major trophies in the 1960s.
In the late 1960s, a very strong team started to form. After 22 years, Phoenix won the John Player Senior Cup in 1973. In 1974, the team won the first-ever Wiggins Teape League. The next year, 1975, was amazing! They won the "Grand Slam," which means they won all three of Leinster's top trophies. For ten years, the Phoenix first team used only about fifteen players. During this time, they won many awards:
- 1973: John Player Senior Cup
- 1974: Wiggins Teape Competition
- 1975: Leinster Senior League / John Player Senior Cup / Wiggins Teape Competition
- 1976: John Player Senior Cup
- 1977: John Player Senior Cup
- 1978: Leinster Senior League / John Player Senior Cup
- 1979: Leinster Senior League / John Player Senior Cup
By 1980, when Phoenix Cricket Club celebrated its 150th birthday, the club had four men's teams. They also had two schoolboy teams (under 13s and under 15s) and two women's teams.
In 1975, the first women's team was created. It was the first women's cricket team in all of Ireland! Later, in 1989, Barbara Schmidt became the first female president of an Irish cricket club.
In the early 2000s, Phoenix Cricket Club started focusing on teaching new players. They want to share the fun of cricket with a new generation. This helps continue the long history of Ireland's oldest cricket club. Fans of the club are sometimes called "The Flamers." They even have a club song, which is a changed version of "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles.
Club Achievements
Here are some of the major trophies Phoenix Cricket Club has won:
- Irish Senior Cup: 2 wins
- 1986, 2024
- Leinster Senior League: 15 wins
- 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1936, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1956, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987
- Leinster Senior Cup: 15 wins
- 1937, 1938, 1939, 1945, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982
Current Players
Phoenix Cricket Club has a team of talented players. Some of them have even played for their country! The team includes batters, all-rounders (who are good at both batting and bowling), wicket-keepers, and bowlers.
Coaching Programs
Every year, the club offers coaching for players of all skill levels. Coaching sessions happen every weekday. Younger players have their training in the afternoon. Adults train in the evening. Other club members and coaches from different teams also help with the training.
The Phoenix Cricket Ground
The Phoenix cricket ground has everything a club needs. It has a pavilion (a building for players and spectators), a cricket pitch, and full net facilities for practice. There's also a bar, changing rooms for players, and a car park.
