Wolseley Park - Home of Gunnedah Cricket

The Gunnedah District Cricket Union was founded in 1922. The name was changed in 1953 to the Gunnedah District Cricket Association.

Prior to its formation cricket in the Gunnedah district was largely of a "challenge' nature between teams from the town of Gunnedah and sides drawn from the large holdings across the district. Teams from properties such as Albion, Burburgate and Bando were prominent in the later part of the 19th century.

Over the years Gunnedah cricket has produced its champions. Tim Grosser was the first Gunnedah born cricketer to play first class cricket, being selected for two Sheffield Shield matches in the 1960's. The tall figure of Peter Cantrell was a prominent member of the Queensland Sheffield Shield side in the 1980's. Cantrell is the only Gunnedah cricketer to have participated in a Test Match. Cantrell was a substitute fieldsman for Australia against England in the First Test of the 1990-91 Ashes series at Wooloongabba, Brisbane. His outstanding fielding skills came to the fore in the England second innings as he took two brilliant catches in the gully to dismiss AJ Stewart (6) and ARC Fraser (0) both from the bowling of Terry Alderman.

The 1930's and the 1950's are considered halcyon periods of Gunnedah cricket. In the thirties under less favourable conditions Gunnedah maintained a strong local competition with some 26 teams competing. Players such as NSW representative Gordon Horsfield, Country Firsts opening batsman Fletcher Hargrave, sporting allrounder Jack Lennan and batsman Keith Grosser (father of Tim) were prominent. Horsfield scored 220 in the Gunnedah final of 1939-40.

A major advance in this era, at the instigation of Ald J. McDonnell and Ald P.J. Stanley, was the installation of the town's first turf wicket in Wolseley Park in 1936. The original wicket block is still in play today, with the 'home of Gunnedah cricket' regarded as one of the outstanding locations to play the game in inland NSW.

Despite the quality of player in the thirties, it is the 1950's that is fondly remembered as Gunnedah's peak period. Under the captaincy of Roger Wotton, Gunnedah boasted the best district team in Northern NSW. The team contained many players of quality who not only made their mark in cricket but also in other spheres. Amoung these were leg spinner Frank O'Keefe who later became a state and federal parlaimentarian, batsman Keith Froome an Australian Rugby League representative and Wotton himself who had a long career in the NSW parliament. Fast bowler Alan Ross and batsmen Flectcher Hargrave were top shelf cricketers who with more opportunity may well have gone on to greater things in the game.

In 1980 the Association moved to a club cricket structure resulting in four clubs competing in four grades. The original clubs were Court House C.C., Albion C.C., Servicemens C.C. and RSL C.C. Since then the club structure has been maintained, albeit that some of the clubs have undergone name changes and fourth grade is now conducted by the Gunnedah Junior Cricket Association as an under age youth competition. Servicemens C.C. became Mornington C.C. in 1992 whilst RSL C.C. after a couple of sponsorship changes became Kookaburras C.C. in 1998.

The 1980's and early 1990's saw a new breed of Gunnedah cricket talent evolve. Michael Brady and Robert Anderson gained selection in the NSW Country side and were followed shortly after by wicketkeeper David Marshall in a 'Bush Blues' cap. Fast bowler John Peterson secured a NSW Under 17 cap and Paul Hinchey was selected in the NSW Country Colts side. During this period Gunnedah dominated regional cricket being the top side in northern NSW for several seasons.

The grade structure remains sound with the Association working towards improving its junior talent. Another halcyon period may not be far away.