Get to Know Us
Established in 1886, The Greenock Cricket Club ('The Schlungers') resides in the heart of Greenock at the Greenock Centenary Park. The Club caters for young and old with a Woolworths Blast Primary program through Juniors from Rookies to U16 and Senior teams from A4 to A1. Competitive cricket with plenty of laughs!
Our Story
The Greenock Cricket Club was first established in May 1886 following the successful participation in an invitational match against a team from Daveyston. Club officials elected included Messrs C.Finck (Patron), D.H.Adams (Capt), R.Nenke (VCapt), and H. Nenke Jun. (Secretary/Treasurer). It was resolved that practices for the next season were to be held during the winter months.
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Greenock's first official match was held against Freeling on July 31st 1886 and resulted in a win to the Freeling Club by an innings and 46 runs. During the 1886/87 season, a number of matches were held between teams from Freeling, Daveyston, Tanunda, Kapunda and Greenock.
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The Greenock Cricket Club only won one game during that first season and it was apparent from published scores that the local schoolmaster and team captain Mr. D.H. Adams was the only experienced player in the team. Members of the Greenock cricket team that year were D.H.Adams, J.Devlin, R.Nenke, H.Nenke, C.Roennfeldt, H.Voss, T.Geier, J.Linane, A.Schluter, C.Koch and A.Gottwald.
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A number of successful fundraising activities were held in Greenock that year in aid of the Cricket Club and the local newspaper at the time actually commented that "it was unfortunate that the match results were not as good as the fundraising efforts".
It is believed that the Greenock Cricket Club went into recess after that season and was revived in 1891 with H.B.Nenke (Capt), D.H.Adams (VCapt) and A.F.Schluter (Secretary) as club officials. The local cricket enthusiasts expressed disappointment that the game had never really gained acceptance and support in the district prior to that time. The Club entered a team in the Barossa & Light Cricketing Association (as known at the time) for the first time in 1891. A new asphalt pitch was prepared in the Greenock Arms Hotel paddock east of Greenock. Teams competing that season included Angaston, Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Kapunda, Truro, and Greenock.
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Unfortunately, difficulty was often experienced in fielding a team, especially at away games, with reports of as few as four players attending, so on the day, the rest were then made up with spectators at the match filling the team.
The Greenock Cricket Club withdrew from the Association after the first round as a result of an insufficient number of interested and available players.
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An attempt was made to revive the Club in 1892 and a few invitational matches were held during subsequent seasons.
The club participated in the Barossa & Light Cricketing Assoc again in 1895/96.
The Club’s leaders that season included S.Plush (Capt), B.Seppelt (President) and HB.Nenke (Secretary/Treasurer).
In the 1896/97 season, leaders were Sam Plush (Capt), A.Schluter (VCapt) and G.H.Walder (Secretary/Treasurer).
In 1905 the Cricket Club was reorganised after a recess and put down a tar-paved pitch.
In April 1906 a general meeting was held to receive the balance sheet, which showed the Club to be in a very fair condition with £1/13/7 ($3.20) in hand. It was reported that the Club won 3 games and lost 8 over the season, which was considered very satisfactory for a new club.
Apart from numerous social matches each year, no further reference can be found of a Greenock team being included in an Association competition until 1908. It is believed that the Club then continued to participate in the local Association competition during most seasons until the Association went into recess at the commencement of World War l.
The Association and the Club were re-established at the end of the War and a limited competition was conducted during the 1918/19 season.
The Greenock Cricket Club remained viable for only a short period and again went into recess, however, there are mentions of cricket games against surrounding towns and club meetings being held throughout the following years.
From 1924, Greenock continued to field a team in the Association during most subsequent seasons until the onset of World War ll in 1939.
In 1930 the cricket membership fee was 5/- (50c) plus sixpence (5c) for each match. At the Annual General Meeting, the Club considered putting down a practice pitch near the big gum tree on Mr MG Schluter’s property, which it was hoped to help them “make a much better showing against the other associated B&L teams”.
In 1931 after a recess from the Association, the Greenock Cricket Club applied for readmission to the Association, but was refused on the grounds that it would necessitate a bye in each round and also would be in the best interests of cricket, as the club was weak and divided (on the subject of affiliation).
Following the establishment of Greenock Centenary Park in 1936, a cricket pitch was prepared on the oval and all subsequent home matches were played at that venue.
In 1937, the Cricket Club contributed £7 ($13) towards the cost of the new pitch and £3/11/- ($7) towards the construction of dressing rooms. Mr O Seppelt officially opened the new pitch and the ball used on that occasion was presented to him mounted on a mulga stand bearing a silver shield upon which were engraved the names of the Greenock cricketers at the time.
At this stage, it was sanctioned by the Park Executive, to plant couch grass on the oval.
To start the 1938/39 season, the game between Greenock and Angaston was changed from Saturday to Sunday as many of the Greenock cricketers (who were also footballers), wished to participate in the Greenock football trip to the League Grand Final on Saturday.
The Greenock Cricket Club was successful in winning the B Grade Premiership in that 1938/39 season, giving the Club its first silverware, and that trophy, presented by Mr G.E.Schluter, is now displayed in the Greenock Institute trophy case. Participating players during that season included T.Hempel, J.Gniel, N.Gottwald, W.Hempel, R.Mewett, B.Beckman, A.Bockmann, M.Cundy, H.Bockmann, O.Sander, R.Thorpe, C.Beckman, L.James, G.Bockmann, L.Gormann, W.Roberts, A.Bartholomaeus.
1938/39 B-Grade Premiership Cup
(Greenock's First Cricket Premiership)
Over the years, the Club was not always able to muster enough players or even enough interest to keep the Club running, it was these years that the Club disappeared and ceased to exist. In other years, even though the Cricket Club was essentially functioning as a club, with a committee and players, it did not always affiliate with the Barossa and Light Assoc. but opted to play invitational games against visiting teams from other Districts.
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As so in 1939/40, with a credit balance of £5/5/11 ($10) and playing equipment in good order, it was decided due to the loss of key players, to quit affiliation with the Barossa & Light Assoc. in the hope of being strong enough to rejoin the next year.
The Cricket Club was re-established in 1958 and competed in the Barossa and Light Cricket Association until the 1963/64 season. Players from the 1959/60 team included Claude Sims (Capt), Kevin Pedler, Ron Fuller, Barry Mewett, David Braunack, Michael Braunack, Hedley Bachmann, Richard Bachmann, Ray Obst, Bryan Obst, John Olds and Alan Hage. Patrons at the time were G.E.Schluter and Sir C.Laucke.
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A new concrete pitch was laid on the oval by voluntary labour in 1963. Trophy awards were introduced within the Club for the best batting and bowling averages each season and other social activities were held each year for the benefit of the Club’s players and supporters.
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1962 Trophies and Presentation Dinner (Greenock Institute supper room)
By 1976, cricket had a stronghold of interest and participation in the local area, with most neighbouring towns around Greenock having teams in the Barossa and Light Cricket Association. It was at this time a group of dedicated local cricket enthusiasts took on the challenge of re-establishing the Club once again at Greenock. Headed up by locals John Schulze (President) and Trevor Martin (Secretary/Treasurer), Greenock once again had a cricket team. With a team entered in the B-Grade (A2) competition for the 1976/77 season, Greenock was successful in winning the Premiership that year, in its first year back.
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Players to participate that year were John Schulz (Capt), Chris Sims, Colin Earl, David Nitschke, Trevor Martin, Peter Nitschke, Michael Hislop, Colin Gigney, Bryan Obst, Andrew Hislop and Wayne Sims.
Following this initial triumph in 1976/77, the Club was also successful in winning the 1979/80 (A3), 1981/82 (A3) and 1982/83 (A2) Premierships.
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It was around this time, according to Greenock folklore, that the need for a club emblem was answered when one of the Greenock players at the time (Stephen Minge) was getting ready to bat when a friendly brown snake slithered between his feet, leading him to bat like he had never before! Thus the ‘Schlungers’ was born.
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As a result of the popularity of the sport growing in Greenock, the Club entered a second senior team in the Association competition for the first time in the 1984/85 season. The Club, then having an A2 and A5 team, was further buoyed by both teams being very competitive over the year with both teams making the finals and the A5s finishing the season as runners-up in the Grand Final.
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During the 1985/86 season, the Club erected three full-length practice nets complete with concrete pitches at the Centenary Park in Greenock (N/E of the main oval). Most of the work was done by voluntary labour from within the Club and the completed nets were and still are a significant asset available for both club and community use.
Over the years, the Club has steadily progressed with growing interest and numbers leading to the inclusion of more senior sides and entering the A-Grade (A1) competition in the 1987/88 season. The season of 1991/92 saw a significant step forward for the Greenock Cricket Club with the introduction of its first junior team to compete in the Under 12 competition coached by Club Life Member Gary 'SA' Vogt. The junior contingent of our club has also steadily grown so far that we now field three junior teams and have been lucky to secure several junior premierships in recent years.
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In 1997/98, Greenock won its inaugural A1 Premiership, being the best team in the Barossa and Light Assoc. A feat to be proud of competing against the larger towns of the area.
Players in that team were G.Stevens (Capt), M.Obst (VCapt), D.Finlay, C.Dahlenberg, R.Allen, C.McClaren, S.Vogt, N.Schmidt, J.Schmidt, J.Fitzgerald, A.Saegenschnitter, N.Below, S.O'Loughlin.
Greenock repeated the feat in 1998/99 to once again be A1 Premiers.
Turf Wicket at Greenock Oval 2019
A turf wicket was developed in 2016 on the picturesque Greenock Oval. By doing this, Greenock now not only provides an arena worthy of A1 cricket, but provides the youth of our Club with all the opportunities to progress to the best of their ability, and as history may identify, perhaps one day a Greenock Cricketer may play for Australia!
From 1976 until now, 45 years +, the Club having reformed with an A2 Premiership with its one and only Team in the Barossa and Light Cricket Association, now has 4 Senior and 3 Junior teams participating in competitive cricket and is also very actively involved in the quest for the introduction of Girls cricket.
Achievements to date, both of the Club’s and individual members' efforts, represent the most successful period of cricket history at Greenock. Since its inception, The Club has played in 41 Grand Finals for 17 Senior Premierships and 3 Junior Premierships.
The Club has steadily progressed into a strong Cricket Club, respected by its peers, by providing Junior and Senior players the opportunity to participate and compete in the game of cricket. Well over 450 players have played senior cricket for the Greenock Cricket Club since being reformed in 1976, with Peter ‘Woolly’ Nitschke (Greenock’s games record holder) having played well over 500 games for the Club.
The “Schlungers” provide a safe and happy environment for all who play for our Club, and for a small township with a population of just over 1000 people, we “bat well and truly above our weight”.
We are a proud and successful Cricket Club at Greenock, whose members can combine humour and ability with success on and off the hallowed turf. May we continue to strive for further success and enjoy the effort that goes into it with our mates!
*Parts sourced from the book 'Greenock and District 1846-1986'
by Geoff Saegenschnitter
Other parts made up!!