In the beginning

The Heathcote Cricket Club came into being in 1928, the brainchild of local resident Mr LB Adam, who decided to organise a cricket club after seeing local Heathcotians playing casual cricket on the Domain. The first season was declared open on Saturday 24th November 1928, with a match between married and single players. A concrete wicket was laid the following year and a mat purchased, but in these early days the Domain didn’t enjoy the fine condition that it does today, and in 1929 Mr JF Scott offered to graze his sheep on the ground to keep the grass down.

The first couple of years of the club saw only social games played, but with the AGM of 1930 came a groundswell of competitive spirit and a unanimous agreement to enter a Heathcote team in the then City and Suburban Third Grade competition. Success quickly followed, with the Junior C team winning their grade in the 1931/32 season. The club went from strength to strength throughout the 1930s, with major clearing and levelling of the Domain, and many notable performances on the pitch.

Post war

The Second World War forced the club into a five year recess. The 1948/49 season saw the Club decamp to Hillsborough Domain for about three years, following a dispute with the Heathcote Domain Board over rentals. Happily, the 1950s saw positive results on the field of play, with 3A, Junior C, and 3B among others winning their grades, capped by the 1958/59 season, the most successful year in the Club’s History to date. Junior C and 3B won their grades, and the Club was awarded the Melhuish Shield, symbol of the top Club supremacy in CSCA competitions.

1960s and 70s

This success provided the Club with momentum in the opening years of the 60s, but the next few years were something of a lean period, as various players retired or left the club. A low point came as the 1967/68 season opened, when the match wicket at Heathcote Domain was condemned by the Suburban Association as unfit to play on. Fortunately, this galvanised Club members into action; attendance at practice increased and these effort bore fruit in improved results. 1969 saw the laying of a practice wicket, followed in the 1969/70 season by a 23 point win for Senior B in their section.

1970 was the 40th anniversary of the Club entering teams into the Christchurch Suburban competition, a milestone which was celebrated with suitable social functions. A new era dawned in the 1970/71 season, with the entry of a Senior A team into Suburban Cricket’s top grade, crowned by the team winning the Senor Competition for the first time in 1974/75 – the ultimate achievement. The 70s was also a satisfying and enjoyable decade for the Juniors and third grades.

Recent history and developments

In 1978, the Heathcote Community Centre was built with the understanding that the Club would have the use of a social room, changing area and showers. However, by 1983 the Club was fielding three teams – Senior B, plus a third and fourth grade team – making the facilities crowded and leading to the development of the clubrooms, which were opened on Saturday 6th October, 1984. In the same year, Heathcote County Council (as was) overhauled the grounds, installing an underground irrigation system, and levelling and resowing the Domain. Further impetus was given to the club with the formation of the Women’s Team in 1985/85, making the Club truly representative. The Primary school teams also flourished during the 1980s.

During the period between 1984 and 1995, the Club’s finances strengthened through enthusiastic – and imaginative – fundraising efforts, and its social scene blossomed. 1989 to 1991 saw further developments with extensions to the clubrooms, outdoor terracing and the addition of an internal toilet block. These improvements set the tone for on-field results with the Club winning the Melhuish Shield in 1993/94 and 1998/99 – the first time since 1959.