It is with belated acknowledgment the WDCU wish to note the passing of Jack Kennedy.

‘Wee Jack’ had been a member of Ferguslie Cricket Club for over 80 years – more than half the lifetime of the club!

Jack’s contribution to the club had been enormous, both on and off the field.

As well as captaining the Minor XI, Junior XI and Second XI teams, he served in many positions for the club including Secretary, Social Convenor, Ground Convenor, Groundsman, President, Life Member and was until his death Honorary President.

Crucially, in the early 1970’s, Jack played a vital and influential role on the Ferguslie Sports Association, helping to purchase the ground from J & P Coats and without such help, Meikleriggs could have been a very different place today.

Jack’s contribution to cricket is highly respected and he went on to become President of the WDCU and in 1995, he was honoured by becoming the President of the Scottish Cricket Union.

The club recently recognised the enormity of Jack’s lifelong dedication and service to Ferguslie Cricket Club as a player, administrator, Presidential roles and as an avid supporter, by naming the pavilion at Meikleriggs ‘The Jack Kennedy Pavilion’ and they were delighted that Jack and all the Kennedy Family accepted this honour.

Jack sadly passed away on 13th October 2023 and the WDCU wish to belatedly pass on their condolences to all of Jack’s family. An individual who will be sadly missed on a trip to Meikleriggs.

Following an incident that took place during Saturday’s game at Greenock, Cricket Scotland have issued the following statement:

“Cricket Scotland condemns in the strongest possible terms the behaviour that took place at Greenock on Saturday.

Racism has no place in sport or society. It is a scar on cricket, and Cricket Scotland is wholly committed, along with our partners, to eradicating racist behaviour and attitudes from our game.

As this incident is now part of a live criminal case, Cricket Scotland is unable to comment further. However, the governing body can confirm it is working in conjunction with the CSMOA, WDCU and Greenock Cricket Club to ensure internal disciplinary proceedings proceed swiftly and appropriately, following due process.

The Support in Sport service offers free help and guidance to Cricket Scotland staff and players. A dedicated phone number – 07702 565916 – is available for anyone who requires support. For those involved within the club game in Scotland, free webinars and resources are available to access from Opening Up Cricket and SAMH”.

In addition, the WDCU have issued the following statement: 

“WDCU are working alongside Cricket Scotland, CSMOA and Greenock CC following this incident. We will not tolerate behaviour of this manner and are deeply shocked this has occurred. Given this is now a Police Scotland matter we will not make any further comment at this time “

SCOTLAND’S NEWEST FOOTBALL WALKING TOUR HITS THE STREETS OF FOOTBALL’S SQUARE MILE

The Glasgow Football Tour and The Hampden Collection have teamed up once again to bring a once-in-a-lifetime footballing history experience, as part of our #FITBA150 programme events, celebrating 150 years of Scottish football.

In 2014, Richard S. Young wrote the cart-upending, spellbinding and myth-busting, ‘As The Willow Vanishes’, explaining how Football and Cricket intertwined at the dawn of the association game and led to the creation of the world’s biggest sport. We are bringing Richard’s book to the streets of Glasgow for you to personally hear his groundbreaking work, whilst strolling around the world’s biggest open-air football museum, or as we call it, ‘Football’s Square Mile’.

Now we ask you to pick your jaw off the floor, please. Yes, not only did Scotland create the modern passing and running game of football, the stadium template for every football ground ever built, and taught the world how to play it via the trailblazing Scotch Professors, but did you know how cricket is fundamental to this explosion of a sport now played or watched by 3.5 billion people around the world today?

Here are some questions to get you started –

• Why was the first international football match held at a cricket ground in Glasgow on St Andrew’s Day?
• Why were 7 of the 8 clubs who founded the Scottish Football Association principally cricket clubs?
• How many cricket clubs were in the Greater Glasgow area between 1850 and 1914?

The answers to these three questions will have you clamouring for more and will change your perceptions about the ignition switch which lit up the footballing world and changed it forever.

Our walking tour begins on Carlton Place at the South Portland Street Suspension Bridge, and we take you on a three-hour journey of discovery through 600 years of football and cricket history. We explore the rich sporting history of Glasgow’s Southside through the eyes of the greats like Alexander Watson Hutton, Wattie Arnott, Hugh McColl, and Archibald Campbell before finishing our walking tour at Clydesdale Cricket Club in Pollokshields. Here in 1884, Aston Villa came to Titwood to play a FA Cup match against Queen’s Park at what we term ’The Forgotten Hampden’. Confused? Well there is only one way to find out the answer to what happened next.

Whether a football fan, a cricket fan, or both, or just a lover of social history, you will not want to miss out on this story of the origins of both sports, and how they collided in the 19th century to create the modern game.

Click HERE to book a slot

There have been a couple of instances this season where clubs have been commended for showing great sportsmanship and concern for players welfare.

On Saturday a nasty collision between two West of Scotland players immediately drew the attention of the fielding Prestwick players, in particularly Mitchell Rao and Tom Fleet who both put the players welfare before any thought of the action on the field.  Thanks also should go to umpire Billy McPate who drove one of the injured players to hospital.  Colin Mair, President of West of Scotland went to great lengths to thank all involved.

Earlier in the season a Stenhousemuir player drove an injured opponent to hospital and Stenhousemuir also provided a sub fielder for the duration of the innings to their opponents, Uddingston.

Fine example of sportsmanship and commitment to player welfare and long may it continue.

Rahul Sharma, President of Strathclyde University CC has been in touch looking for fixtures for his club. Please get in touch with him at rahul.sharma.2022@uni.strath.ac.uk  if you wish to arrange a game.

The report on WDCU effectiveness of Disciplinary procedures produced by Harper MacLeod LLP is now available for viewing on the Cricket Scotland website.

The report can be found HERE

We are deeply saddened to hear the news that Poloc CC is to be dissolved. Poloc CC have done everything they possibly can to determine whether cricket could be retained at Shawholm under a new tenant, but sadly have ran out of options. The landlord, Pollok & Corour, has engaged with The W Academy, a youth football organisation, and agreed to lease the historic Shawholm cricket ground to them, ending Poloc CC’s 143-year tenancy there, and effectively its existence.

Undoubtedly this will see Shawholm and the grounds of Pollock Park change forever. We are left to wonder if the ground will be subject of planning applications for fencing and floodlights, as well as perhaps installation of 4G playing fields – a far cry from the idilic surrounding which Poloc CC currently provide, in keeping with the surroundings of Pollok Park. We wonder how any development might fit with the ambitious plans Glasgow City Council have for net zero carbon by 2030 – repurposing grounds within one of their “dear green places” surely can’t enhance their ambitions.

In addition, not only are we witnessing the end of a historic and hugely influential cricket club dating back almost 145 years, but we see a modern cricket club who have adapted to the present day challenges all of our clubs face, being wound up. A club that has existed within a community, and provided a valuable resource. A club which has a diverse membership who represents what cricket in the west is today.

In light of all of the discussions over the last days, weeks, and months, in relation to Scottish cricket we cannot ignore that while we have clear divisions within our game we have seen a historic club fold. This should be a lesson to everyone, and should be a clear signal to us that, unless we can move on from our current issues, the real victims will be Scottish cricket, the players, supporters, and member clubs which is the very thing we can all unite behind.

The committees of the WDCU continue to work hard to maintain and support cricket in the west. We must be willing to have constructive and meaningful dialogue to ensure the betterment of cricket in the west, and across Scotland. All stakeholders need to be willing to put differences aside and work to this common goal. We are committed and determined to do our very best to support our clubs in any way we can. Again, we are deeply saddened by this news, but encourage everyone to unite wherever possible behind our common purpose, discuss and resolve our problems. If we don’t do so now, sadly the game we know and love will not survive.

WDCU