Origin of the VCCL
The Origin of the VCCL - Timeline 1921-30
1921/22 (March?): VCA Country Cricketers' Premiership, format unknown
1922/23 (March?): VCA Country Cricketers' Premiership, format unknown
1923/24 (March?): VCA Country Cricketers' Premiership, format unknown
7th March 1924: Conference of VCA & Country Cricket Associations
- proposed that a "Country Week" be held starting in 1925
7th January 1925: Conference of VCA & Country Cricket Associations
- proposed that the 1925 Country Week be limited to 48 entrants. A Sub-Committee appointed to formulate a "new scheme" for future Country Weeks
25th February 1925: Meeting of VCA Country Cricket Committee
- several new Country Week "schemes" suggested
(Date unknown): Meeting of the "Country Week Scheme" Sub-Committee
- New scheme developed, introducing two Sections, A & B
March 1925: First Country Week
- held under VCA control, using "old" scheme (dates unknown)
9th March 1925: Conference of VCA & Country Cricket Associations
- Initial plans for formation of a Country Cricket League were proposed, but rejected
- Sub-Committee appointed to devise an acceptable plan
29th December 1925: Conference of VCA & Country Cricket Associations
- New Country Week scheme considered and adopted
March 1926: Country Week
- Played under new scheme ("A" Section - Turf and "B" Section - Matting), still under VCA control
5th March 1926: Conference of VCA & Country Cricket Associations
- Proposal for formation of the Victorian Country Cricket League presented and adopted in principle
22nd July 1926:
- Secretary of the Victorian Cricket Association advised Country Associations that the Memorandum and Articles of Association which provided for the establishment of the League had been adopted by the Association.
7th September 1926: First Annual Meeting of the Victorian Country Cricket League
Office Bearers elected – President - E. Currie; Vice Presidents - A.D. Freeman and E. Perkins (G. Keast defeated in ballot); Honorary Secretary - H. Paternoster; Honorary Treasurer - G. Keast; Executive (9) - W. Stubbs (Ballarat), A. Glasscock (Bass Valley), A.V. Rankin (Wimmera), A.M. Palmer (Shepparton), J. Copplestone (Bairnsdale), W.W. Pike (Wangaratta), S. Gramlick (Mountain District), H. Liddelow (Beechworth), J.S. Stevens (Maryborough).
Selection Committee - A.D. Freeman, H. Liddelow, and A. Glasscock
Delegate to VCA - Mr. H. Paternoster
7th September 1926: First Meeting of the VCCL Executive Committee.
(Date unknown): Second Meeting of the VCCL Executive Committee
- VCCL granted representation on the VJCU, E.W. Pike appointed.
28th December 1926: VCCL Executive Meeting
- 72 entries received for Country Week. Grouping of adjacent Associations adopted to achieve 48 entries.
March 1927: First Country Week under VCCL control
18th June 1927: VCCL Executive Meeting
2nd August 1927: Special Meeting of the VCCL
- Amendment to VCCL Rules: "That Office Bearers and Executive Committee be nominated and elected at the Annual Meeting each year".
2nd August 1927: Second VCCL Annual Meeting
- All Office Bearers re-elected
September 1927: VCCL Executive Meeting
- Resolved that the League write to the VCA suggesting that the League would be happy to host an interstate match.
27th December 1927: VCCL Executive Meeting
- Letter from VCA refusing request for an interstate country match - 69 entries for Country Week, groupings arranged
March 1928: Country Week
6th March 1928: VCCL Executive Meeting
- Ballarat & Corangamite each fined two Guineas for Country Week rules violation.
7th August 1928: Third Annual Meeting
- E. Currie resigned Presidency due to ill health. A.D. Freeman elected as President.
- W. Stubbs elected as Vice President to replace A.D. Freeman
- G. Keast appointed as acting Secretary due to illness of H. Paternoster
7th August 1928: VCCL Executive Meeting
- Mr Edward Currie elected as the League's first Patron
27th December, 1928: VCCL Executive Meeting
- G. Keast appointed as Secretary following the death of H. Paternoster
- H. Wyndham elected as Treasurer to replace G. Keast
March 1929: Country Week
? March 1929: Special Executive Meeting
- To deal with position regarding games not played on March 18th 1929
20th August 1929: Fourth Annual Meeting
- All Office Bearers re-elected
- Elected to the Executive: A.V. Rankin (Wimmera), F. Just (Geelong), H. Liddelow (Beechworth), A. Glasscock (Bass Valley), R.E. Davey (Hamilton), S. Gramlick (Mountain District), ?. Crellin (Nathalia), J.S. Stevens (Maryborough), ?. Ellett (??)
- Delegate to VCA: G. Keast
- Delegate to VSDCA: R.E. Davey
- Delegate to VJCU: H. Wyndham
27th December 1929: VCCL Executive Meeting
- Decided that two entries from one city be not accepted for Country Week and that entries from matting associations at Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong be not accepted.
- Groupings for 1930 Country Week arranged
March 1930: Country Week
4th March 1930: Special Meeting of VCCL
- Moved that the Annual Meeting be held during Show Week in each year, but an amendment moved by the President, Mr. A.D. Freeman, that the meeting be held during Country Week, was carried unanimously.
- Consideration was given to the proposal that the method of conducting Country Week be altered to the method adopted in NSW. This was strongly opposed, particularly by delegates from North East associations.
- Messrs. Stott and Brereton who attended the meeting by invitation indicated that the VCA was prepared to look favourably at any scheme suggested by the League to improve country cricket. After considerable discussion it was decided that no action would be taken as the League was carrying out its functions satisfactorily for the benefit of cricket.
11th December 1930: Meeting of a VCCL Sub-Committee
- Decided that the League would advertise in Melbourne newspapers for a capable coach to visit country centres five days each week - weekends to be free, at a salary of £5 per week plus travelling expenses.
- Mr. Liddicut was to be requested to give a lecture "upon cricket" during the next Country Week.
26th December 1930: VCCL Selection Committee Meeting
The following players were selected to represent the League in the match to be played against the West Indies XI at Geelong -
F. Just (Captain), Robinson, Williams, Simpson, Hassett, Smith (all from Geelong), Zachariah (Ararat), A. Hunt (Stawell), P. Beames (Ballarat), Gray (Maryborough), R. Porter, G. Pritchard (Bendigo), G. Freeman, A. Harris (Castlemaine), and Comben (Noorat).
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