Humble Beginning

CHAPTER 1 Humble Beginning Like many clubs now famous, Carlton had humble beginnings, but a feature was the enthusiasm of many officials and supporters in forming the club in 1864 and in gradually building it into one of the bulwarks of cricket today. Until the year 1855 the Melbourne Cricket Club was the only accredited club in the metropolis. The first inter-colonial match between Victoria and New South Wales took place in Melbourne in 1866, and this match apparently sparked off a desire among young people to play regularly. In that same year several clubs were formed, with headquarters in what were known as the Carlton Gardens. A University club, with the famous Sir Redmond Barry as president, also played at the back of the University, where some of the Colleges now stand. In 1858 there was a Royal Park club and, in Carlton itself, open spaces began to be appropriated by enthusiasts. The first Carlton club was formed in 1860-1861, with Captain Radcliffe president and James, famous in the future of the club, one of the playing members. In the next season most of the top member transferred to the Royal Park club. In the meantime the Carlton Tradesmen played in the University paddock. Another Carlton club was formed in 1864, but the present club did not come into existence until later in that year when, Royal Park having changed its name to North Melbourne, a move for a Carlton Club was begun. It was constituted at a meeting held at the Orderly rooms, Grattan Street, on Thursday, 15th September, with Jos. McLean in the chair. Probably to distinguish it from the other Carlton Club, it was decided to name it Carlton Union, and first president was Sir Redmond Barry. Fred Atyeo was appointed treasurer, Ben James secretary, and the committeemen were George Bowen, Jos. McLean, M. Pierse, A. Whiffin and Walt Williams. There were 21 members of the club, and it is fitting that the names of the pioneers should be mentioned. They were David Adamson, R. Adamson, H. Apperley, T. Cupit, W. Hawkshaw, J. Hunter, Jas. Lewis, J. Lloyd, R. Rutter, A. Scales, A. Timmins, A. Webster, C. Wilson, Geo. Waugh. Naturally a ground was the first objective, and permissive occupancy of the triangular piece of land lying between the University paddock and Prince’s Park was granted to the club on 12th May, 1865. It was just above five acres and was really “no man’s land”. But the members were workers. Trees were felled, the ground was fenced, 72 young trees were planted, and plans were made to erect a pavilion. In the midst of all this activity, the name was changed, and became, as it is today, the Carlton Cricket Club. With members taking off their coats to assist, and dipping into their pockets to pay for material, the pavilion was built, and it is recorded that the first meeting was held in the new club rooms in January, 1867. RYE-GRASS AT TRIANGLE Soon the preparation of the ground became the concern of players particularly. At first it was proposed to lay down turf over a space of 80 feet by 40 feet, cutting away 2½ inches from the surface to make room for that turf. This was contingent on securing the necessary turf from the old ground at the rear of the University. But no reply came from the University and an area of 30 yards square was ploughed, levelled and planted with rye-grass seed. The pioneers soon According to the “Australasian” of October, 1870, Carlton was a promising youngster in had cause to bless the failure of University to accede to the request for turf, as the new method the cricketing arena, and, without doubt, was taking rank as a first class club. This was further of ground preparation proved most successful, and splendid wickets were almost the rule. proved by the efforts of the M.C.C., East and South Melbourne to induce it to compete for a Over the years Carlton have had some distinguished players, and this applied almost from Challenge Cup, inaugurated by those three clubs. Carlton declined with reluctance, and it was the inception of the Club. One of the outstanding personalities in the early days was Ben felt that the subsidy of £5/5/- was a weighty factor in that decision. It was not long before the James, who was noted for his sterling work as an administrator. But he was also a player of decision was regretted, particularly when Carlton defeated South Melbourne comfortably. The note. He did not play regularly with Carlton, because he had an affiliation with East tables were turned in the return game and Carlton lost to the other two clubs. But there was a Melbourne, with which club he topped the bowling average with 24 wickets at an average of cluster of promising colts, headed by John McCarthy, Blackham, destined to be one of 10.58. First century for the Club was scored by Bob McFarland, who, in a team of 14 for Australia’s great wicketkeepers, aged 15, who fielded at point in his early days, and Tommy Carlton, made 120 against Richmond. And it is interesting to note that the same player fought Horan, aged 16, neither of whom had seen turf until appearing with Carlton. strenuously against sending more than 11 men against such a strong team as Richmond. At this In that same year Bob McFarland found a place in the Victorian team to meet New South period a donation of grass seed from Mr. Owen and 60 loads of road scrapings helped improve Wales, and the famous Ben James, surely one of the finest Carltonians of the earliest days, the ground. presented him with his own bat to mark the occasion. It was reported by the cricket writers of We, in the present day, will probably laugh, but it was a real achievement in those days to those days that Ben’s slows and his under-arm bowling were often destructive, but he was have water laid on and, with donations from well-wishers, and sweat from others, the water was becoming better known by reason of his fast ball. This was really of medium pace and was secured, and the cost of fencing the oval was met. marked by a particular delivery, in which he brought the ball from his back and rested his hand Early in the history of the Club, critics referred glowingly to the excellence of the oval and in front of him before delivering the ball. It was this action which, a few years later, caused the the fielding of the team. The “Leader” of 28th November, 1868, referred to the fact that the great W. G. Grace to remark that he did not mind a man bowling at him, but he did object to the Club could boast of having one of the best grounds of any of the suburban clubs. bowler taking the ball out of his waistcoat pocket each time. A little ceremony in 1869 was the presentation of a handsome gold locket to Ben James as a small token of esteem and slight acknowledgement of many services rendered to the Club in FIRST COUNTRY TRIP the field an in the committee room. It is interesting to note that, even in those early days, there was criticism of the umpires. In that season Carlton made the first of many trips to the country. They played Bendigo This was in the days before paid officials, and it was found that a good club man more often United during Easter at Sandhurst. Of prime importance was the discovery in the Bendigo team than not made a bad umpire. In one of Carlton’s matches the opposing team refused to change of Harry Boyle and Billy Midwinter, both of whom later achieved world-wide fame. their umpire, and Carlton would not continue with the match. Of academic interest was the statement in the 1870 report that a number of trees had been planted. They came from Dr. von Mueller, now famous as the originator of the Botanic GEORGE GIBSON A POWER Gardens. In those seven years Ben James and Charles Wilson were the only foundation members who remained. George Gibson joined the Club in 1869-70, and played with Ben James. Later he joined In the meantime, principally because of the efforts of those members who were not M.C.C. and became state wicketkeeper. His influence on the players as captain was consider- ashamed to shed their coats and do manual work, the amenities of the Club continued to able and, under him, Carlton had their most successful season. Gibson, in fact, scored the impress, and it was reported that the mighty M.C.C. was the only club able to outclass Carlton second century of the Club with 102. In addition to imparting many useful hints to his young at this stage. The achievements of the pioneers were, at this stage, a source of wonderment to charges he served to keep in vogue a fast disappearing relic of the past, for his snuff box was members of that period. regularly passed around at the fall of each wicket. There must have been some officials who had an idea of finance. Early in that season a Finance continued to prove vital. Cr. Pigdon donated timber for a scoring shed. It came horse was purchased for use in rolling the wicket, but it was soon decided that manual labour from a temporary porch at St. Jude’s Church.

Load more