Club History

Cricket in the local district has had a long history, with the earliest recorded cricket club being formed in Kilmore (some 10klms North of Wallan) in 1857. James McBain was Captain in Wallan's first recorded match played on November 11, 1877 against a Studley Park XI. By the end of the 1870's there were teams from Broadford, Byland Railways, Darraweit Guim, Kilmore, Lancefield, Wandong (known then as Lightwood Flat), Romsey and Reedy Creek. Matches were not only played amongst the local teams, but also against visiting Melbourne sides, which at times would be more than just a game of cricket, with dinners and dances afterwards.

Wallan entered a team for 1902/03 season in the Central Mernda Cricket Association. From here until the end of the 1968/69 season, Wallan had a team in one of the several different associations over the years. Success was hard to come by and more often than not Wallan finished in lower end of the ladder. Although premierships were won in 1910/11, 1914/15, 1920/21 and 1921/22, this was mainly due to the fact that in this time many players from the powerful Darraweit club elected to play for Wallan. Another two premierships were won in the 1958/59 and 1960/61 seasons.

At the end of the 1968/1969 season, the Kilmore District Cricket Association became extinct, due to the fact that there were only three teams (Wallan, Wandong and Darraweit Guim) and they had all struggled for sufficient numbers. During the winter of 1969 the Wallan DISTRICT Cricket Club was formed from the remnants of these three clubs.

In the summer of 1969/70 the W.D.C.C. gained admission into the Gisborne District Cricket Association. Wallan made its first A grade grand final in the summer of 1973/74. Woodend defeated Wallan by 26 runs. Wallan would not make another A grade finals series until the G.D.C.A. changed the grading system prior to the 1995/96 season.

Wallan's B and C grades made periodic finals appearances over the next 20 or so seasons, but it was not until 1988/89 that Wallan won its first premiership, in D grade. Two years later, in the summer of 90/91 Wallan won its second flag, in B grade.

During the 1994/95 season Wallan District Cricket Club celebrated its 25 anniversary in grand style, with a 3 day festival which included dinners, a sportsman's night, a best XI for the past 25 years, a six-a-side competition, and plenty of drinking and feasting. Players from all over the Gisborne District Cricket Association, both past and present, attended. Wallan also had success on the field with the C grade side winning Wallan's third premiership.

Before the start of the 1995/96 season the G.D.C.A. announced a new grading structure. Up until this point there had been four grades - A, B, C, and D. The structure would allow for more divisions and would also eliminate mediocrity from the top grade. The clubs in the top grade would compete for the "McIntyre Cup", this division being dubbed McIntyre.

A grade would now become the second division, with other grades being B1, B2, C1, C2, D, E, F and G. Over the next few years the grading structure would change and evolve into the current system of McIntyre, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Wallan was relegated to the newly formed A grade (2nd Division) after having finished near the bottom in season 94/95. Many at the club considered this an insult, but it was to prove, over time, to be a benefit as for the first time in many years Wallan was to become competitive.

From season 1996/97 Wallan has had plenty of on field success, although grand finals have been lost with frustrating regularity. In 1996/97 Wallan's second XI made the grand final, but were well beaten my Macedon. It was the start of a horror run of grand final losses between Wallan's first and second XI. Club Legend Ron Payne took over as coach in 1997/98 and took Wallan to the grand final in A grade. Wallan was outclassed by Riddell, and so had to continue in the G.D.C.A's second division. Wallan's second XI made the grand final in 1998/99, but they to, were to come off second best. Season 1999/2000 saw A Grade again in the grand final after a stunning and emotional victory in the semi final over Sunbury United. Wallan was once again outclassed, yet the G.D.C.A. awarded Wallan with a McIntye berth for season 2000/01.

Wallan's inaugural McIntyre side struggled with just one win to finish last. The second XI lost the grand final to now stretch Wallans run of Grand Final losses to five in five years. Wallan's McIntyre side improved considerably in season 2001/02 with 3 and a half wins and several narrow losses.

Season 2002/2003 was to be a triumph of epic proportions. Although the 2nd's, 3rd's and 4th's struggled, the McIntyre side started with all guns blazing and took down some of the bigger sides in the first half of the season, eventually finishing 3rd and in doing so was to make the finals in the G.D.C.A.'s top grade for only the second time. In a tense semi final Wallan hung on to beat Woodend by 3 runs and clinch a home Grand Final, thanks to Romsey beating top side Sunbury. With a home final and crowd support, Wallan led by 25 runs on the first innings and went on to win a hard fought match by four wickets and finally, after many frustrating years, a dream was realised with a premiership.

Over the past decade Wallan has gone from strength to strength off the field. Finally that hard work is now shining brightly on the field and now a new challenge of remaining a step ahead of the rest awaits. The club, now in its 40th year in the G.D.C.A. has a long and proud history and must continue to strive for excellence.