Club History

Albany Creek Cricket Club – History

Our Beginnings

Back in the late 1970’s Ken Lister wanted his son Greg to play cricket. The closest club was Pine Rivers Cricket Club at Dakabin and it was difficult to get his son to practice. He decided to recruit local boys and make up teams from Albany Creek. At the time there were 3 teams at Pine Rivers made up entirely of Albany Creek boys. Ken Lister, Geoff Sweet and Bruce Patching started the new Albany Creek Junior Cricket Club and signed up 4 teams and joined the Redcliffe & Districts Junior Cricket Association (Zone 6).

Although training was in Albany Creek, they still had to travel far and wide to play their matches, as there was no quality home ground. Clubs
in the District were located at Redcliffe, Deception Bay, Margate, Bribie Island, Caboolture, Burpengary and Kilcoy. Each player was charged a match fee. This enabled Albany Creek to provide gear for the players and it wasn’t long before we had a reputation as the Club with the best equipment for its players – no clubhouse or headquarters, but each team had a well-stocked kit. This “policy” has been continued until the present. Luckily, we now have a number of good pitches as well as our own clubhouse – the “Hawks Nest” at Brendale.

Peter Daff was one of our first selectors at Zone level and for 3-4 years helped in the selection and development of Under 12 players trailing for the Zone 6 Teams. Up until Brisbane North combined Zones 1 & 2, there were two Brisbane competitions played over a number of Sundays – Presidents Cup (Zone A teams) & Presidents Plate (Zone B teams). Players were then selected from Zones 1 (Sandgate/Toombul), 2 (Valleys/Norths) and 6 (Redcliffe Districts) to form the Brisbane North Championship & Development teams.

ANNUAL REPORTS & NEWSLETTERS – 1988 / 89 to 1999 / 2000 (Excerpts)

1988 / 1989

  • Fifty boys sign on and 4 teams were fielded.
  • Registration Costs $20-00 or $25-00 per family. Playing Fees of $2-00 pw.
  • Paul Graham (Brisbane Colts A Grade Cricketer appointed Club Coach).

1989 / 1990

  • A 50% increase in players. Teams increased from 4 to 6.
  • A new concrete pitch with artificial turf installed at Albany Hills State School at a cost of $1700 with a further $1000 spent on
    equipment.
  • Artificial turf at Albany Creek State High School. Cost 50/50 with school.
  • In a game against Caboolture at Wamuran on 11/11/89, the U12 team were all out for 9 with a top score of 3. Six batsmen scored ducks.
  • The Under 11 team won the first ever Premiership for the Club playing in the Redcliffe & Districts Junior Cricket Association
    (Brisbane Zone 6).

1990 / 1991

  • The committee decided that this year all fees are to be paid before the start of the season. Cost $25-00 registration + $25-00
    playing fees. (Total $50-00).
  • AGM to be held at the home of Peter Daff. All players/parents welcome.
  • Albany Creek Junior Cricket Club incorporated 24th October 1990 by the hard work of Peter Daff, Ian Wade, Laurie Hutton, Fred Spakman & Greg Batten.
  • Six (6) teams fielded. U10 x 2, U11, U12, U13, U14.
  • All players were encouraged to wear the Club Badge. Cost $4-00.
  • Four pitches now in use – ACSHS, AHSS, ACSS and All Saints.
  • New Club policy is to have ALL players getting a fair go.
  • After a game against Margate a coach wrote in the Newsletter “Cricket will be better served when rival coaches learn to put
    development ahead of ego”.
  • Approximately 100 players and parents attended a Family Day at Samford Country Club playing Tennis, Golf and Swimming.

1991 / 1992

  • Six (6) teams fielded – U10 x 2, U11, U12, U14, & U15.
  • All players/Coaches/Managers insured for the first time. Moves to encourage Qld Cricket to organise a state wide insurance scheme.
  • Alan Free appointed as Club Coach.
  • A Fund raising venture was organised to tour the Milton Road Brewery.

1992 / 1993

  • Two AGM’s were called and on each occasion only 5 people attended.
  • Six teams fielded – 3 U10, U11, U12, & U13. Registration Fees $60-00.
  • Daniel Pratt from the Under 10 Red named as Cricketer of the Year.
  • Peter Daff is made our 1st Life Member.
  • Helmets are supplied to all teams and players are encouraged to wear them.

1993 / 1994

  • Albany Creek enters a team in the new Under 9 competition.
  • Registration costs $65-00.
  • Chocolate drive to raise funds.

1994 / 1995

  • Albany Creek has 7 teams.

1995 / 1996

  • President Hugh Gibson
    successfully changes our affiliation from Zone 6 (Sand/Redcliffe) to Zone 2 (Valleys Norths) cutting down travelling time.
  • Bulk earthworks commence at South Pine Sporting Complex.
  • Cricket is allocated two ovals to be ready in 1997.
  • Seven teams fielded.
  • Peter Daff appointed as Statistician after a number of complaints regarding how the Team
    Cricketer of the Year was selected.

1996 / 1997

  • Albany Creek wins the very last Zone 2 Club Championship before Zone 1 & Zone 2 combine to form the new Brisbane North Zone.
  • Peter Daff donates a Clubman trophy awarded to the player / parent / official who
    contributes most to the club during the year – 1st winner Brad Harris.
  • Team “Cricketer of the Year” is replaced by “Champion Team” – a perpetual trophy for the best team & Coach in Modified (U9-U10)
    & Junior (U11-U16). First winners – U9 Hawks (Rob Grummitt) and U16 Hawks (Paul Crooks).

1997 / 1998

  • President Steve Buckley calls for an identity for ACJCC. Lorix Bertling suggests “Hawks” as hawks roam the whole of our vast area. This name is unanimously carried.
  • LJ Hooker is approached to be our major sponsor and an association is formed which still exists today. Minor sponsors are also approached.
  • The first “Hawks” newsletter is designed by Paul Crooks and paid for by Sponsors.
  • 15 players represent the club at Zone level or higher.
  • 12 teams entered in Brisbane North competitions.
  • “Success in our Club is NOT measured by winning or losing, it is measured by enjoyment, development
    and teamwork”     – Steve Buckley, September 1998.

1998 / 1999

  • A new oval and 2 new training nets at South Pine Sports Complex.
  • A “Hawks” medallion in pewter is presented to every player with ACJCC.
  • A new pitch is laid at Eatons Hill SS.
  • 15 teams registered with BN – 180 players.
  • ACJCC – First junior club in Queensland to have a web site – Webmaster Bruce Boland.
  • 1999 saw us enter a team (C2N) in the Winter Warehouse competition for the first time.

1999 / 2000

  • “Hawk Talk” is the new Newsletter name suggested by the Grummitt family.
  • Two ovals in use at South Pine Sports Complex and four U9 grass pitches.
  • A clubhouse is ready for use by ACJCC and Hockey (Oval 2).
  • This year we had 201 registrations with 17 teams entered with BN.
  • Our second life member, Lorix Bertling was appointed on 2/4/2000.
  • May, 2000 – our name changed to the “Albany Creek Cricket Club Inc“
  • Again, we enter one team (C2N) in the 2000 Winter Warehouse competition this season.
  • This history was compiled by Lorix J. Bertling for the 10 Year Anniversary of incorporation (24th October 2000) by contacting and interviewing many past members. To celebrate our first 10 years, a dinner was held at the Wantima Golf Club and attended by around 100 past and present members.
  • We are always interested about hearing the history of our club. If you can supply additional information, or have reason to dispute any of the information listed, please contact the us on mailto:[email protected].

HISTORY – 2000 ONWARDS
2000 / 2001

  • 203 registered players this season, of which only 8 were half-season players.
  • 17 teams were entered in the Brisbane North competition.
  • 10 Albany Creek players represented Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals across the Christmas holidays.
  • Life Membership awarded to Hugh Gibson in March 2001.
  • We entered a team (C1N) in the Summer Warehouse competition for the first time.
  • Two teams entered in the 2001 Winter Warehouse competition this time:  C1N and the U16s captained by Luke Swinbourne (our first under-age team in the competition).

2001 / 2002

  • We had a large increase in players this season – 253 registered players with 13 of those being half-season players.
  • A suitable increase also in the number of team entered in the Brisbane North competition, with 21 teams for this season.
  • Again, we had 10 Albany Creek players representing Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals across the Christmas holidays.
  • We also had our first player selected at a state level. Stephen Grummitt played in the U13
    Qld State Primary School Championships. A name to watch out for in the future!
  • Life Membership awarded to Graeme Swinbourne in March 2002.
  • One team (C3N) in the Summer Warehouse competition and three teams in the 2002 Winter
    competition: C2N, U17 and A1S (our first A-grade team).

2002 / 2003

  • Another increase in players saw us with 301 registered players, including 39 half-season players.
  • 23 teams entered in Brisbane North competitions.
  • There were nine Albany Creek players included in the Brisbane North teams playing in the Championship and Development carnivals.
  • Two life memberships were awarded this season – Bruce Boland and Ian McJannett received their awards in April 2003.
  • A group of Albany Creek U16s went to England in 2002, winning the inaugural Endeavour Cup against Plymouth Cricket Club, and visiting Lords and the Long Room.
  • The U14 Sea Hawks took out the Brisbane North Premiership this season.
    • Coach: Shane O Neill
    • Manager: Kevin Weeks
  • One team (C2N) in the Summer Warehouse and two teams in the 2003 Winter competition: B2N and C2N.

2003 / 2004

  • 322 registered players (including 48 half-season players) played in 26 teams in the Brisbane North competitions.
  • We had a record 14 Albany Creek players represent Brisbane North at the carnivals this season.
  • The U13 Eagle Hawks took out the Brisbane North Premiership this season.
    • Coach: Steve Casey
    • Manager: Stephen Engstrom
  • One team (B2N) in the Summer Warehouse and four teams in the 2004 Winter comp: B1N, B3N, C2N and U16.

2004 / 2005

  • A drop in player numbers across the region saw our numbers drop to 284 registered players (including 33 half-season players).
  • We managed to field 24 teams in the Brisbane North competition.
  • We fielded our first half-season team this year in the U13 division and recognised the growing number of half-season players by
    awarding the Season Cricketer of the Year trophy for the first time. The trophy was awarded to Brandon
    Herring     of the U13 Sea Hawks.
  • 11 Albany Creek players represented Brisbane North in the carnivals this season.
  • Life Membership was awarded to “Mr Canteen” John Moushall in April 2005.
  • One team (B2N) in the Summer again and four teams in the 2005 Winter competition: B1N, B3N, C2N and U16.
  • Luke Swinbourne captained his C2N team to take our the
    2005 Winter competition premiership for their grade – our first Warehouse premiership!

2005/2006

  • The well publicised Ashes tour in England has been recognised as creating a renewed interest by young players in cricket. Our numbers
    rose to a record 345 registered players of which 84 were half-season players.
  • We fielded 26 teams (one of which was a half-season again) in the Brisbane North competition. This equals our record number of teams (26 also in 2003/2004).
  • We had 14 Albany Creek players representing Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals across the Christmas holidays.
    This equals our record number of representative players (14 also in 2003/2004).
  • This season we saw another player selected at a state level – Tynan Burgess
    played in the U13 Qld State Primary School Championships. He is only the second Albany Creek player to be selected at this level. Another
    name to watch out for in the future!
  • Life membership was awarded posthumously to Tim Kaddatz
    whose tragic death rocked the core of the club. Tim was a coach at Albany Creek for seven years and worked with a number of teams in all grades from Under 8 to Under 15, many of which three of his four boys played in.
  • Life memberships were also awarded to Steve and Kathy Casey in June 2006. The first female life member so let’s hope we get more females getting involved in the running of the club in the future.
  • Still just one team in the Summer Warehouse comp (B2N) but five in the 2006 Winter
    comp: B1N, B2N, C1N, C2N and U16.
  • We took out two premierships in the 2006 Winter Comp: C2N captained by Darren Green and U16s captained by Michael Strange.

2006 / 2007

  • We had 348 registered players this season, including 51 half-season players.
  • We fielded 28 teams in the Brisbane North competition – two of which were half-season teams.
  • A record 21 Albany Creek players represented Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals.
  • Tim Gregory became the first Albany Creek player to represent the state after being selected
    in the U15 State High Schools Championship team.
  • Another group of our young Albany Creek players (between the ages of 13 and 16) went to England in July of 2007 and had a great trip. The rivalry between Plymouth and Albany Creek is still strong!
  • Two Premiership teams this season:
    • U16 Eagle Hawks won the full season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Steve Casey
    • and the U14 Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Fred Pretorius
      • Manager:  Mark Thompson
  • Warehouse is growing across both Summer and Winter. We put two teams in the Summer Warehouse competition this season: B3N and C2N and six teams in the Winter comp: B1N, B3N, C1, C1N, C2N, U16.
  • The C2Ns captained by Gary Hodgson took out the Summer
    premiership for their grade and we had two Winter premiers, B1N captained by Darryl Rohl.

2007 / 2008

  • 319 registered players of which 41 were half-season.
  • We fielded 27 teams this season, with three of them half-season.
  • We had eight Albany Creek players representing Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals.
  • This season we had two players selected at state level. Both Nicholas Sale and Matthew Renshaw played in the U13 Qld State Primary School
    Championships.
  • Life Memberships were awarded to Garry “Warehouse” Walker and Michael Skinner in June 2008.
  • We made an offer to buy the old club house from the dog group PADS and had it moved across the road to Field 1.  The Warehouse
    boys took on the task of turning the “Dog House” into a home-away-from-home and through a lot of hard work have succeeded.  It’s a great addition to our sporting complex.
  • The U13 Eagle Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
    • Coach:  Randy Kay
    • Manager:  David Keir
  • Growth continues on the Warehouse side of cricket. Four teams this season in the summer competition, B1N, B3N, C2N and C2N-S (our first Sunday team). Eight teams in the 2008 Winter competition: A3N,
    B1N, B3N, B4N, C2N, C3N, U14 and U15.
  • The Sunday (C2N-S) team captained by Brett Hutton
    & Wayne Hermann  took out the premiership in the Summer competition.

2008 / 2009

  • 367 players registered, of which 109 were half-season players.
  • We registered 30 teams with Brisbane North this season and four of those were half-season.
  • Life Membership was award to Ralph Shaw (Committee) in June 2009.
  • The new Dog House Club House on Field 1 has taken shape and looks great.
  • 14 Albany Creek players represented Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals.
  • Again, we had two players selected at a state level. Matthew Renshaw was again select in
    the U13 Qld State Primary School Championship team and Nicholas
    Sale     was selected in the U15 State High Schools Championship team. Nicholas is only the second
    player in the history of our club to be selected in this team.
  • Two Premiership teams this season:
    • U13 Sea Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Brett Hutton / Mike Whitney
      • Manager:  John Milne
    • and the U15 Sea Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Michael Munro
      • Manager:  Greg Pope
  • In the Warehouse competitions, we fielded four teams in the Summer comp: A3N, B2N, C1N and  C2N-S,and 11 teams in the Winter competition, including 3 under-age teams, and our first Premier League team: Premier League, A2N, A3N, B1N, B2N, B3N, C3N, U12, 2 x U14s and an U15.
  • We took out another three premierships in the 2009 Winter Warehouse competition: Premier League captained by Scott Casey, A2N captained by Michael Lloyd and the U12s coached by Steve Hillier.

2009 / 2010

  • 346 players registered players, of which 85 are half-season players.
  • We fielded 29 teams with Brisbane North – four of those were half-season teams.
  • 17 Albany Creek players represented Brisbane North in Championship and Development carnivals.
  • Two Premiership teams this season:
    • U14 Sea Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Brett Hutton / Mike Whitney
      • Manager:  John Milne
    • and the U15 Eagle Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach:  Randy Kay
      • Manager:  Ralph Shaw
  • In the Summer competition, we fielded another four teams: A3N, B2N, C1N and C2N-S and 15 teams for the 2010
    Winter comp: Premier League, A3N, B1N, B2N, B3N, C1N, C2N, C3N-S, C4N-S, 2 x U14s, 3 x U13s and an U16.
  • The Sunday (C2N-S) team captained by Ash Mears won the
    premiership for their Summer grade.
  • In the Winter competition, we took out three premierships: The U14s captained by Altus Vorster and the Sunday (C4N) team captained by Lee Dorling were both minor Premiers and won the Premiership, and the C2N team captained by Anthony Jeffers won the premiership.

2010 / 2011

  • 352 players competing in 28 teams with Brisbane North this season – six of those being half-season teams.
  • Two Premiership teams this season:
    • U17 Eagle Hawks won the half-season competition for their division:
      • Coach: Greg Pope
      • Manager: Ralph Shaw
    • U14 Eagle Hawks won the full season competition for their division:
      • Coach: John McNeilly
      • Manager: David Klingberg
  • We have nominated six teams in the Summer Warehouse competition:  A3N, B2N and B3N in the Saturday comp and  B1N, B2N and C1N in the Sunday comp.
  • The Saturday (B3N) team captained by Darryl Rohl took out the premiership for the Summer Warehouse competition.
  • Brett Hutton was awarded Life Membership for his services as coach and long standing committee man.

2011 / 2012

  • A total of 276 players across 26 teams in the Brisbane North competition, with one Brisbane North Premiership this season: U15 Eagle Hawks.
  • A total of five teams competed in the summer Warehouse competition this season. In winter, we fielded seven senior teams and six juniors teams, with the Under 15 Black Hawks winning a premiership.
  • Life membership awarded to Gary Logan.

2012 / 2013

  • This season Brisbane North introduced the Open Division for our U15 – U17 players and we also saw the introduction of two split competitions, before and after Xmas for all grades.
  • We had 259 players across 24 teams in the Brisbane North competition. We won two Brisbane North Premierships this season: Under 13 Hawks and Open Div 3 Hawks
  • In the summer Warehouse competition, we fielded three teams this season. In the winter competition, we had eight senior and four junior teams, with the Under 13 Falcon Hawks taking out a premiership.
  • Life membership awarded to Mike Whitney.

2013 / 2014

  • We had 348 players this season across 27 teams in the Brisbane North competition. We took three Brisbane North Premierships this season:
    • Open Div 3 Eagle Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 13 Falcon Hawks (Post Christmas)
    • Under 14 Sea Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • Two summer Warehouse teams this season and eight seniors/five juniors in winter, with the Under 14 Eagle Hawks taking out a premiership in the winter competition.
  • Life membership awarded to Di Cook.

2014 / 2015

  • A total of 288 players this season across 26 teams in the Brisbane North competition. We had one Brisbane North Premiership this season: Under 15 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • We had one team in the summer Warehouse competition, the C1s, taking out the premiership. In the winter competition, we had eight senior teams and five juniors teams, winning three premierships: C1, U15 Eagle Hawks and B2 Sunday.
  • Life membership awarded to Ray Frazer and Eddie Mills.

2015 / 2016

  • We had 304 players this season across 29 teams in the Brisbane North competition and we took one Brisbane North Premiership: Open Sea Hawks (Pre Christmas).
  • Just the one team in the summer Warehouse competition this season, winning the premiership for their grade. Six senior/four junior teams in the winter competition, with B1 taking out the premiership.
  • Life membership awarded to John Murray.

2016 / 2017

  • A total of 336 players this season across 29 teams in the Brisbane North competition, including our first all-girls team. Two Brisbane North Premierships this season: Under 15 Falcon Hawks (Pre Christmas) and Open Sea Hawks (Pre Christmas).
  • We fielded three teams in the summer Warehouse competition this season and in Winter, seven senior teams and five junior teams, with C2 taking out a premiership in the winter Warehouse Sunday competition.
  • Life membership awarded to Peter Cook.

2017 / 2018

  • This season we had 368 players across 36 teams in the Brisbane North competition, including 1 all girls team. We took four Brisbane North Premierships:
    • Under 13 Sea Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 13 Sea Hawks (Post Christmas)
    • Under 14 Eagle Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 14 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • Another 3 teams in the Summer Warehouse comp this season with the B2s taking out a premiership. In Winter, we fielding 6 senior teams (across both Saturday and Sunday) and 6 junior teams, one of which (U14 Falcon Hawks) took out a premiership.

2018 / 2019

  • Another big season – 367 players across 36 teams in the Brisbane North competition, including two all-girls teams. Again, we took four Brisbane North Premierships this season:
    • Under 13 Eagle Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 13 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
    • Under 14 Sea Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 15 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • Three teams entered in the summer Warehouse competition and we took two premierships: B3 and C1. In winter, we had nine senior teams across Saturday and Sunday and seven junior teams, two of which took premierships: U13 Sea Hawks and U15 Eagle Hawks.
  • Life membership awarded to Peter McFarlane.

2019 / 2020

  • We had 389 players across 39 teams in the Brisbane North competition, including two all-girls teams. Three Brisbane North Premierships this season:
    • Under 13 Falcon Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 13 Night Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 14 Eagle Hawks (Pre Christmas)
  • In the summer Warehouse competition, we fielded three teams: B1, B2 and C2.
  • In the Saturday winter Warehouse competition, we had three senior Saturday teams and nine junior teams and in the Sunday winter Warehouse competition we had three senior teams. A very successful winter for the club, taking five premierships: A3, B1, U13 Falcon Hawks, U13 Hawks and U14 Hawks.
  • We also had one team in the Queensland Sub-Districts competition: B2. They took out the premiership after being undefeated minor premiers (awarded after grand final cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Life membership awarded to Francois Basson.

2020 / 2021

  • We had 395 players in 39 teams in the Brisbane North competition, including one all-girls team. We took out four Brisbane North premierships this season:
    • Under 14 Falcon Hawks (Pre Christmas)
    • Under 14 Night Hawks (Pre Christmas and Post Christmas)
    • Under 14 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
    • Open Falcon Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • Three summer Warehouse teams this season: B1 (moved to A3 after first game), B2 and C1.
  • Winter Warehouse was strong again – 2 senior teams in the Saturday comp; 12 juniors teams in the Saturday comp; and 4 senior teams in the Sunday comp. We took out 5 premierships in the following grades – B3, U13 Eagles, U13 Sea Hawks, U15 Eagle Hawks and U15 Night Hawks.

2021 / 2022

  • A total of 390 players in 37 teams in the Brisbane North competition this season. Three Brisbane North Premierships in the following grades:
    • Under 14 Tomahawks (Pre Christmas and Post Christmas)
    • Under 13 Night Hawks (Post Christmas)
    • Under 13 Eagle Hawks (Post Christmas)
  • Three summer Warehouse teams this season: B1, B3 and C2 (Sunday).
  • One senior team and 11 junior teams in the Winter Warehouse Saturday comp and 3 senior teams in the Winter Warehouse Sunday comp. Premierships in the following grades: B2, C3 (Sunday) and 16 Eagle Hawks.
  • Life membership was awarded to Barry MacDougall.

2022 / 2023

  • In the Brisbane North competition this season, we had 381 players in 37 teams.
  • In the summer warehouse comp, we had 4 senior teams (2 x Saturday and 2 x Sunday) and 9 junior teams. We won 5 premierships: B2, C1, C1(Sun), C2(Sun) and U12 Eagle Hawks.
  • Life membership was awarded to Leon Marais.

2023 / 2024

  • This season we had over 400 players across 37 teams in the Brisbane North summer competition, with the following two teams winning premierships:
    • U13 Falcon Hawks (Post Christmas comp)
    • U14 Eagle Hawks (Pre Christmas comp)
  • In the summer warehouse competition, we had 4 senior teams (3 x Saturday and 1 x Sunday).
  • In the winter warehouse competition, we had 5 senior teams (3 x Saturday and 2 x Sunday) and 10 junior teams.
  • Life membership was awarded to Lincoln Jones.

Please note:

We are always interested about hearing the history of our club. If you can supply additional information, or have reason to dispute any of the information listed, please contact us at [email protected].