What became of defunct clubs?
Local cricket’s existing association started in 1963-64.
In all, 24 clubs have contested A-grade if you count a single-season Mullewa and Northampton union.
What happened to the defunct clubs is revealed in this second in a three-part series.
Kalbarri: Played last two-thirds of the 2004-05 season and the first game of 2005-06.
A big loss in their sole 2005-06 game convinced the board they were not up for the A-grade despite four successive B-grade flags from 2001-02.
Lost from the B-grade since 2011-12.
La Fiamma: Unwillingly promoted in 1978-79 and lasted four years. Played one finals game.
Better known for soccer, disappeared from both grades in 1982-83.
Mullewa: 1969-70 to 2001-02 including 1991-92 when they joined with Northampton.
Won a flag in second and third years, but stocks dwindled along with Mullewa’s population, and contested just two finals in 20 years from 1976-77.
Found players somehow and never forfeited.
Rallied at the end thanks to imports Michael Giles, Michael Librizzi and finally Ross Wintle.
Won flag in 1996-97. Twenty-two men with 1000 runs and nine players with 100 wickets.
Murchison: Hotel-sponsored. Played three years from 1984-85.
Played semifinal in first year, but lacked quality.
Survived in B-grade for two more seasons.
Several former Victorian players helped start the club and, on its demise, a few helped found Sportsmans.
Nabawa: Foundation club.
Played 1963-64 to 1973-74.
Won a title but a population drain inevitably finished them. Former players helped found other Chapman Valley-based clubs.
Northampton: Foundation club.
Played 1963-64 to 1968-69, missed a year, then four summers from 1970-71, disappeared for the next two and returned from 1976-77 to 1996-97.
Despite the efforts of Jeff Sellers, left A-grade in 1997-98, but continued in B-grade until combining with Chapman Valley in 2009-10 to again have an A-grade presence.
Played five grand finals — the last two in its last two seasons.
Seventeen players made 1000 runs and seven took 100 wickets.
FACT BOX
KALBARRI CC
Seasons: 2 part-seasons
P’ships/Runners-up: 0/0
Most Runs/Wkts: Luke Bradley 200, Barry Wood 16
Cricketers of the Year: none
LA FIAMMA CC
Seasons: 4
P’ships/Runners-up: 0/0
Most Runs/Wkts: Peter Swarbrick 1249, Peter McPherson 80
Cricketers of the Year: none
MULLEWA CC
Seasons: 33 (including season as Mullewa/Northampton)
P’ships/Runners-up: 3/4
Most Runs/Wkts: Ray Keeffe 4606, Dennis Keeffe 714
Cricketers of the Year: Ray Keeffe 1970-71 and 1971-72; Dennis Keeffe 1975-76; Michael Giles 1991-92 and 1992-93; Michael Librizzi 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1998-99; Ross Wintle 1999-00 and 2000-01.
MURCHISON CC
Seasons: 3
P’ships/Runners-up: 0/0
Most Runs/Wkts: Gary Meginess 1070, Gary Meginess 80
Cricketers of the Year: none
NABAWA CC
Seasons: 11
P’ships/Runners-up: 1/0
Most Runs/Wkts: Trevor Cooper 2587, Merv Fitzgerald 190
Cricketers of the Year: Don Breen 1972-73
NORTHAMPTON CC
Seasons: 31 (including a season as Mullewa/Northampton)
P’ships/Runners-up: 0/4
Most Runs/Wkts: Murray Criddle 6204, Jeff Sellers 433
Cricketers of the Year: Letham Burns 1976-77
